Coleg Cambria Llysfasi unveiled the state-of-the-art Hwb Arloesi (Innovation Hub) – backed with more than £5.9m from the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme – over the Christmas period.

The 1,095 square metre, two-storey carbon-neutral complex was built by Wrexham-based Read Construction and includes a library, classrooms, laboratories, a coffee shop, climbing wall, meeting spaces, atrium, a HE (Higher Education) centre and wellbeing hub.

Head of Llysfasi Elin Roberts revealed the investment will benefit the site after a 70% rise in learners.

“The building is incredible and is already a big hit with the students and staff, as the equipment, the meeting and academic and workshop spaces and all of the facilities are cutting-edge,” said Elin.

“While the site itself is improving all the time, introducing innovative machinery, methods and sustainable practices, it is the people that makes Llysfasi special, and we have some brilliant bilingual tutors and staff to have joined us in past months.

“They are excited to be here, and teaching in this amazing environment, and with further plans for the college in the pipeline for 2025 the future looks very bright for agriculture and education in north east Wales and beyond.”

Among those to have started recently is Gethin Jones, from Ruthin, a lecturer in Engineering.

Formerly a secondary school teacher in Connah’s Quay, and owner of a fabrication business, he said: “This is a fantastic building and with the leading-edge technology we have here it’s the perfect place to educate the next generation of agricultural engineers.”

Joining Gethin are Forestry, Countryside Management and Ground Care lecturer Geraint Ellis, from Porthmadog, and Cyffylliog’s Gruff Jones, an Instructor/Demonstrator in Forestry, Estates and Countryside Management.

“I am a farmer myself and have long practiced regenerative agriculture and conservation,” said Geraint.

“I always had a passion for land-based industry so I can speak to the students using my own experiences.

“Making this move was fantastic, what better place to teach than in this incredible new building, I’m excited to be here and to be part of this next chapter at Llysfasi.”

Other new recruits were Aled Williams, from Llannefydd, an Instructor/Demonstrator in Agriculture, and Agriculture lecturer Anna Lewis.

Visit www.cambria.ac.uk for the latest news and information from Coleg Cambria.

Come along to our Llysfasi open event and see Hwb Arloesi (Innovation Hub) for yourself, Saturday 8th March.

Book your place now https://www.cambria.ac.uk/campaigns/openevents/.