HiVE Estates Development
With a growing need for STEM knowledge and skills in the local economy, it’s Coleg Gwent’s ambition to educate the workforce of the future in a dedicated facility where learners will be surrounded by innovation and technology reflective of industry.
Our new High Value Engineering (HiVE) Centre in Ebbw Vale is due to open at the former Monwel factory site in 2025.
In partnership with Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council, Welsh Government, Tech Valleys, and education, we’re planning an investment in an Advanced Engineering Centre close to our Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone campus, which will offer high-quality engineering education to equip young people with skills for the future.
The project is currently in the construction phase, with building work due to be completed in time to welcome students, including those enrolled onto engineering courses at Coleg Gwent from Autumn 2025.
The carbon-neutral and entirely digital education facility, will train the future workforce in advanced engineering disciplines such as robotics, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, autonomous manufacturing, simulation, and augmented reality. The curriculum will be designed and led by industry experts, delivering new courses at levels 3, 4, 5 and 6, bringing excellence and expertise to the area and boosting the local economy.
Bringing together industry and education in high-value engineering, HiVE will offer research and development opportunities for industry partners, and it will be a base for school and employer outreach programmes, benefiting the wider community.
Student Services
- Space for around 600 learners
- Clean, open-plan and fully automated facility
- Automation labs
- Virtual and augmented reality suites
- Advanced manufacturing facilities
- Autonomous vehicle workshops
- Dennison Advanced Materials Centre (DAMC)
- Specialist motorsport and aeronautical facilities
- Facilities around space, drones and autonomous vehicles
Gallery
Updates
Updates
Completion of HiVE
Blaenau Gwent Council hands the facility over to Coleg Gwent, in readiness to welcome the first cohort of learners in September.
Coleg Gwent leads expansion of South Wales school engineering programme
22 additional South Wales schools will benefit from engineering education projects (HiVEs).
Employer Advisory Board formed
Coleg Gwent and Blaenau Gwent County Council presented their plans for the new HiVE facility to potential employers, before inviting them to join the HiVE Advisory Board.
Construction started
Contractors, ISG have started work on the site of the former Monwel Hankinson factory.
Equipment purchased
£500,000 of high value engineering equipment purchased for testing at Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone.
School outreach pilot
A £100,000 school outreach pilot engineering hub project commenced at Tredegar Comprehensive School.
Projected opening date
The HiVE is aiming to be complete and open in 2024.
Anticipated start date
Works are anticipated to start on-site in September 2023.
Project out to tender
The project is going out to tender later this month (May 2022).
Detailed design stage
The project is under the management of Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council and is currently at a stage of detailed design.
Planning permission granted
Planning permission for the HiVE project has been granted.
Planning application submitted
The planning application for a £8.5M High Value Engineering centre has been submitted.