Award-Winning Facilities

Neath: High quality science labs Neath: Top-of-the-range engineering equipment

Llandarcy: State-of-the-art sport facilities

Pontardawe: Brand new motor vehicle extension Neath: A classy training restaurant - Blasus New construction centre in Neath: Award-winning construction department

The CWTCH

The CWTCH – College Within The Community Hub

Brecon Beacons College’s newest addition, the College Within the Community Hub – ‘The CWTCH’, is now officially part of the community. The former tourist information centre has created a vision for further education in Brecon and is now part of the community with open access for all. Former Member of the Senedd for Brecon and Radnorshire and Minister for Education Kirsty Williams unveiled a plaque to mark the opening. Ms Williams said: “It’s given this building re-purpose and will broaden college activity by being so accessible and central. It will be a hub and bring people together. I find this building and what ’s going on inspirational.”

The CWTCH has been refurbished and includes flexible working areas, video conferencing facilities, interactive touch screens, and ultra-fast 1GB internet access, along with state-of-the-art computing facilities for both student and public use. Also available will be tips on job hunting, setting up your own business, interview techniques, and CV writing.

Further plans to relocate Brecon Beacons College into Brecon town are also moving ahead which will allow students access directly to the town and the facilities provided by local businesses on a daily basis.

Investment to improve student experience is a winner for Neath College

The Sixth Form Academy Hub at Neath College has picked up a top award for improving the student experience at the Education Building Wales Awards 2019.

The award recognises a learning establishment which has invested in building improvements that significantly improve the experience of students. There is now a new meeting and studying area for students, a Starbucks Coffee area, student services HQ, and an open-plan work environment. The space is also used for meetings and functions.

The work included installing a new contemporary glass extension that transformed the building, increasing daylight and creating space. The design also included new external cladding and a vibrantly coloured entrance pod that signifies the College’s main entrance and seamlessly connects the old and new.

Principal and CEO of NPTC Group of Colleges Mark Dacey said: “We are delighted with the award and the new facility which showcases our commitment to investing in college facilities and providing the best possible experience for our students.”

Port Talbot

NPTC Group of Colleges has been granted provisional Welsh Government approval for the development of a multimillion college campus, bringing the first educational establishment to Harbourside in Port Talbot. The campus will boast all the latest technological facilities and a dedicated Sixth Form Centre; the new site will give the area’s shopping centre a much welcome boost by bringing in more than 1,000 students daily. This development has been planned in line with the Harbourside Development Strategy of the local authority.

Further education provision in Brecon is being transformed as NPTC Group of Colleges looks to relocate into the town centre.

Brecon’s Watton Mount and the former library on Ship Street have been transferred upon purchase to NPTC Group of Colleges by Powys County Council. The move will allow NPTC Group of Colleges to relocate its Brecon Beacons College into the town centre for a ‘university feel’ campus, leading to highly resourced, fit for the 21st century education, to be delivered in the town.

This follows an earlier deal between the council and NPTC Group of Colleges which saw the former TIC in the former cattle market car park internally reconfigured and rebranded by the NPTC Group of Colleges as “The Cwtch”, providing multiple learning opportunities for residents, becoming a drop-in centre, as well as a space to be utilised by community groups and clubs, under a 25-yearlease. The buildings will be refurbished by the College to house interactive technologies and state-of-the-art spaces for several areas of study. The two organisations are also working in partnership in the town at Brecon’s showcase attraction y Gaer, which will result in a new College library, some joint teaching spaces and a café while the opening hours of the community library will be extended to seven days a week.

Nigel Brinn, Powys County Council’s Executive Director for Economy and Environment, said: “The transfer of these prominent town centre buildings will bring considerable regeneration benefits to Brecon, boosting the trade of shops and businesses and breathing more life into the town centre.

“The council will work closely with NPTC Group of Colleges, as they deliver their development plans for Brecon Beacons College.”

Mark Dacey, CEO and Principal of NPTC Group of Colleges, said he was delighted that progress was being made. “This project has been in the pipeline for some time, and we are delighted that it is now moving in the right direction with contracts for Watton Mount and Ship Street Library being exchanged.”