Regional Centre of Excellence

A bold new phase is beginning for Offshore Renewable Energy in the Swansea Bay City Region. In partnership with Neath Port Talbot Council (CBC) and leading industry experts, this project will create a Regional Centre of Excellence designed to supercharge local ambition and unlock world class opportunities.

The Celtic Sea is on the brink of a renewable energy revolution. Multiple companies have already secured test and demonstration leases, and The Crown Estate has awarded an additional 4.5GW of major commercial leases - representing around £18 billion of investment and a wave of high value contracts waiting to be claimed. To deliver these projects, developers will need hundreds of giant floating turbine platforms and advanced marine systems. This means unprecedented prospects for local businesses — but only if they can compete at scale. Currently, many SMEs are held back by limited capacity and visibility compared with Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers. The Centre of Excellence is designed to change that.

By bringing companies together, building capability, and strengthening regional influence, the project will give local SMEs the edge they need to win significant supply chain work and establish themselves in a rapidly expanding global industry. Along with the creation of centre of excellence, outputs will include 65 higher skilled individuals, 243 individuals with additional skills, 85 new apprenticeships, and 450 jobs created.

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Building for the Future

This inspiring pilot project is set to transform how young people experience construction as a career. Delivered entirely through the medium of Welsh, the programme offers Year 10 and 11 pupils a hands on, high energy Level 2 Construction course designed to spark curiosity, build confidence, and connect learners directly with industry. Working with Bouygues Construction, the project blends expert led classroom learning, practical workshops, real world site visits and industry insight sessions, giving pupils a powerful, holistic understanding of modern construction.

Students will walk away with recognised qualifications, practical skills, and a much clearer route into apprenticeships, further education, or employment. The project also strengthens the local talent pipeline, providing employers and the community with a future workforce that is skilled, motivated, and ready for opportunity Outputs will include: the development of a new career pathway and 51 Higher skilled young people.

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Futurescape 2

Building on the success of Futurescape, this new project shifts its focus to an older cohort. Futurescape 2 will specifically target pupils in years’ 10 and 11 who are a risk of becoming NEET. Working closely with industry, Learners will work in teams to create and manage their own mini construction businesses, navigating a series of live, challenge-based scenarios provided directly by construction sector partners. These scenarios, from rising material costs to on-site safety incidents and shifting client deadlines, mirror authentic challenges in the modern workplace and are designed to simulate high-pressure environments while encouraging critical thinking and resilience. Outputs include; 160 individuals gaining a qualification and a framework created

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SEMICON WEST – Semiconductor Skills, Education and Re-training in West Wales

The key aim of this innovative pilot project is to enhance the skills pipeline within the semiconductor industry, focusing on upskilling participants across educational levels from primary to higher education and reskilling industry professionals. The partnership of Swansea University and CSconnected seeks to foster greater awareness of semiconductor technologies and career opportunities in the semiconductor sector and related supply chain. This project will specifically target career pathway development, re-training and re-skilling in the Swansea Bay City region, extending activities aligned with the Compound Semiconductor Cluster. In 2024, the semiconductor industry was valued at approximately £600 billion. Within this, the Welsh semiconductor sector generates around £1 billion in turnover and supports about 2,600 direct jobs. This industry and its associated supply chains in Wales are projected to rapidly expand driven by a rapidly increasing demand for skilled workers. Outputs include; 50 apprenticeships created, 100 upskilled individuals, 160 individuals with additional skills, 700 career pathway opportunities developed in schools, 3500 pupils engaged, 50 jobs created , 2 new frameworks developed, and 2 centres of excellence created.

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NET ZERO WALES – Manufacturing Energy Environment (N0W MEE)

The N0W MEE pilot project is a comprehensive programme designed to upskill the Swansea Bay City Deal region’s workforce, ensuring they are prepared to support Wales’ transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy. This project focuses on three key areas: renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, and environmental sustainability. Working closely with schools, Further Education and Higher Education institutions, the project not only addresses the immediate skills gap but also builds a long-term pipeline of talent for the future. A central feature of the project is the skills escalator, which provides a structured pathway for participants to progress from foundational knowledge to advanced expertise, meeting the needs of diverse learners and industry requirements. Outputs will include 325 higher skilled individuals, and 6 new frameworks created.

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Green Work Experience

The Green Work Experience Project is a crucial initiative that practically addresses the Net Zero Agenda. It offers onsite placements to participants with coordinated learning and mentoring support throughout. Working closely with local businesses it will build awareness and routes into net zero construction. It covers both new build and retrofit and includes the new technologies such as heat source pumps, solar, thermal and other renewables that reduce energy and carbon emissions. It will equip the participants with an understanding of the new skills and technology that will allow them to thrive in the net zero environment. Outputs include: 80 Higher skills individuals, 80 Apprenticeships created, 20 Jobs created.

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Advancing Skills in Technology and Robotics Applications (ASTRA)

This project sees the establishment of a cutting-edge Automation Lab within Neath Port Talbot College to address the evolving needs of the region’s engineering sector. It will support the development of new units in the current curriculum, specifically around smart factory and logic controllers. Working closely with local industry, this will allow students to be exposed to advanced equipment and tools giving them a hands-on, clear career pathway and progression opportunities in this new technology. Outputs include: 20 higher skilled individuals, 20 individuals with additional skills.

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Hydrogen Safe

This pilot project will develop and deliver innovative training courses for the region’s rapidly growing hydrogen industry using cutting-edge 360-degree immersive filming techniques. It addresses the skills gap in the region’s hydrogen industry and will help develop a skilled workforce, better able to compete on the global stage. This project will also have a significant impact on the hydrogen industry in the region by attracting new investment and promoting the industry to a global audience. Outputs include: 100 higher skilled individuals.

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Fit for Offshore Renewables Wales

Ore Catapult Fit for Offshore Renewables (F40R) project will provide a unique service to help prepare the regions supply chain to bid for work in the ever growing and competitive offshore renewable energy sector. It will support a wide range of the region’s businesses to develop or diversify into the sector both locally and globally, offering tailored advice and the opportunity to grow a network of supply chain contacts. Once the company is F4OR ‘granted’, it will be promoted to industry contacts who would be potential future customers. This project will ensure that the region has the supply chain and skills necessary to deliver on it’s renewable energy targets. Outputs include: 80 Higher skilled individuals.

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Energy Transition Hub

This UK first will see the establishment of a Control Room Operator facility based in Pembrokeshire College. With a room capable of training groups of 24 learners, including students and existing workforce, the facility will accurately emulate the environment seen in all major energy plants in the region. This will include both current facilities such as Oil refinery, LNG plants, Power Station and Food and Drink facilities, as well as future plants such as Offshore Floating Wind and Hydrogen plants. This unique training facility will enable individuals who are looking to work in these sectors to gain an understanding of how the Control Room Controls and operates the plant. Outputs include: 450 Higher Skilled Individuals.

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ECITB – Advanced industrial Drone Course

The industrial sector’s growing use of drones (UAS) in its operations is delivering a range of benefits, from improved safety to increased efficiency and significant cost savings. This crucial project will provide the advanced accredited training for pilots to be able to undertake inspection flights required for regular inspection and identification of plant and equipment in industrial settings. Outputs include: 12 Higher Skilled Individuals gaining a qualification,1 New Pathway opportunity developed, 1 New/updated Course frameworks developed.

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Swansea University AGOR skills – Sport Health and Wellbeing

This Pilot Project addresses the skills gap in the rapidly growing sector of Sport, Health and Wellbeing. It will take advantage of the wealth of opportunities arising around the City Deal Campuses and the Pentre Awel development. Working closely with businesses, this exciting project offers a collaborative environment for online and in-person learning, hosting innovative courses, explainers and events for a range of market led, sector focused skills. It will connect learners, educators and the organisations who will require their skills. Outputs include: 50 Higher Skilled Individuals gaining a qualification,1 New Pathway opportunity developed, 3 New/updated Course frameworks developed.

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SPARC

SPARC is an innovative pilot project which will encourage females into careers in underrepresented industries across Pembrokeshire. Working closely with schools and industry, the project will work to empower and inspire young women to consider and pursue careers in sustainable power, renewables, engineering and construction to create a more diverse and inclusive workforce for the future. Outputs include: 40 Higher Skilled Individuals gaining a qualification,1173 individuals benefitting from increased learning, 1 New Pathway opportunity developed, 1 New/updated Course frameworks developed.

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Renewable Horizons

This innovative STEM education project focuses on the renewable energy industry, with particular emphasis on the growing offshore wind generation and solar farm sector. Working closely with industry partners, the project will design a new qualification for Key Stage 3 learners covering themes and skills that will act as an entry point to the renewable energy sector. The project will engage 40 schools across the region to deliver this unique hands-on learning experience and inspire learners to expand their knowledge of the sector and the range of opportunities it can offer. Outputs include: 1 Career Pathway Developed, 1 New Framework Developed, 800 pupils engaged with additional skills.

 

VR/AR Technologies Training Project

This Pilot project will promote the use of VR (Virtual Reality) and AR (Augmented Reality), and the exciting benefits it can bring to the region’s business community. Working closely with industry, this project will design a VR training centre to provide a platform to deliver an exciting learning experience to the region through blended learning, on-line or face to face learning environments. The training will also be available to school leavers, currently unemployed, as well as students and career changers. Outputs include: 500 Higher Skilled Individuals gaining a qualification, 2 New/updated Course frameworks developed.

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Futurescape

The Young Dragons – Futurescape Pilot project will introduce pupils to the construction industry using a combination of Virtual Reality and hands-on experience. Using realistic workplace scenarios, the project will help develop key employability skills such as problem solving and creative thinking, as well as enabling the application of maths, science and enterprise skills. Outputs include: 800 Individuals benefitting from increased learning, 1 New Pathway opportunity developed.

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Construct Net Zero – Not business as usual

Construct Net Zero – Not business as usual will provide a range of innovative courses in energy-saving building techniques, delivered by industry experts with a combination of practical and theoretical work education at various levels. Based on ‘Fabric First’ design, the project will work closely with partners in industry, higher and further education, schools and the third sector to establish the training need and build a unified Net-Zero construction curriculum across the whole spectrum from Level 1 to Level 7. This project will enable the region to pioneer a proposed integrated education and skills matrix that will support its’ built environment and help achieve its’ decarbonisation targets. Outputs include: 450 Higher Skilled Individuals gaining a qualification.

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Future Skills for Land & Sea

This project directly addresses a skills need in the region’s growing maritime sector. It will develop a 2 year programme of Pre-Cadetship in maritime studies, delivering courses in maritime specific qualifications and visits to industry. On completion of the programme learners will be offered direct entry onto a fully funded Officer Cadetship. The project will also develop pathways in schools to engage learners with the STEM aspects of marine renewable energy including: renewable energy technologies and project development processes for wave, tidal, onshore wind, solar and offshore wind. Outputs include: 294 Higher Skilled Individuals gaining a qualification, 1 New Pathway opportunity created, 3 New/updated Course frameworks developed.

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5G Technologies Training

Working closely with industry, the focus of this pilot project is on upskilling businesses and their employees in the region with higher level skills in the rapidly expanding area of 5G technologies helping them take advantage of the opportunities it presents. This Pilot project will address the current lack of awareness, by providing the knowledge needed to enable businesses within the region to fully understand 5G’s structure and operability. The training will also be available to people who are currently unemployed, as well as students and people who are looking at a potential career change. Outputs include: 120 Higher skilled individuals gaining qualifications,1 Career pathway opportunity developed.

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How Green was my Valley

This engaging pilot project is developing the digital upskilling of teachers and PGCE students across the region. Using the medium of the popular Minecraft game and with a focus on Net Zero, the project is providing in-depth teacher training sessions in the key areas of digital, construction and energy. It will help the teachers and students further engage with primary school children and increase the number of pupils following the STEM subjects in FE and HE. Outputs include: 500 Higher Level Qualifications, Create a Career Pathway for 10,000 pupils.

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N0W skills

The Net Zero Wales pilot has developed a framework of short micro credential courses designed to address the increasing issue of the green skills gap in manufacturing related industries both in the private and public sectors. This innovative range of courses will help to build knowledge and skills in this crucial area and develop career pathways to support Wales in meeting the national net zero goal. Outputs will include: 70 Higher skilled individuals gaining qualifications, 6 new/updated course frameworks developed.

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21st Century Skills

The 21st Century Skills project is developing a practical hands-on, work experience offer for learners. The pilot project is working closely with the construction company Bouygues at their Pentre Awel site to develop a, sustainable Careers and Work Related Experience model. The project is inspiring pupils from Bryngywn, Coedcae, St John Lloyd, Strade and Penrhos primary school to understand and develop the skills required to not only work, but to thrive in the 21st Century Construction sector. Outputs will include: 669 Individuals benefiting from increased learning, 1 New career pathway opportunities developed, 1 New/updated course framework developed.

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Careers in the Digital Sector

Careers in the Digital Sector focuses on the identified need to increase the digital skills of young people to enable them to take advantage of the exciting opportunities within the creative industries, increasing both their digital knowledge and understanding of the importance of digital technologies. This project is delivered by Neath & Port Talbot Council working closely with Yr Egin, Swansea University, Swansea City Waterfront and Digital District, NPTC colleges and a range of private companies to develop career pathway opportunity to attain jobs in this exciting and fast paced sector. Outputs will include: 170 Higher Skilled individuals gaining a qualification,1900 Individuals benefiting from increased learning,1 New career pathway opportunities developed.

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Nurturing Health & Wellbeing in a Digital Sector

The digital health care sector is of critical importance and is a huge growth area, which provides many rewarding careers within the region and beyond. Led by Gowerton Comprehensive School, the innovative Nurturing Health & Wellbeing in a Digital Sector Project is working with schools in the city of Swansea. This will teach 3 -16 year old pupils about life science, health and sports sectors including the development of new technologies to support a healthy and well-balanced lifestyle. Outputs will include: 12,016 Individuals benefiting from increased learning, 1 New career pathway opportunities developed, 1 New/updated course framework developed.

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Low Carbon Net Zero Awareness Raising

The issue of carbon reduction in the construction industry is fast developing and much needed, and those with the right skills will be very much in demand. Working closely with the regions Schools and colleges, the low Carbon Net Zero Awareness Raising Project led by Cyfle, who specialise in providing Building Skills Apprenticeships. This region wide project will address the growing need for awareness of net zero and low carbon technologies in the construction sector by introducing industry relevant carbon reduction training. Outputs will include: 2400 individuals benefiting from increased learning, 4 New/updated course frameworks developed.

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Pembrokeshire Passport to Employment

The Award winning Pembrokeshire Passport to Employment brings together students and businesses who specialise in the renewable energy sector, creating an industry led framework on Blue-Green Energy which will prepare young talent for upcoming local job opportunities, and will introduce primary and secondary aged pupils towards a career in the ever growing renewable energy sector. It is taught collaboratively between industry, schools and Pembrokeshire college. Outputs will include: 1730 individuals benefiting from increased learning, 30 Higher skilled individuals gaining qualifications, 2 New Career Pathways opportunities developed, 3 New/updated Course Frameworks developed.

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Developing a Learning Pathway in Engineering and IT fields

This project sees two Welsh Medium schools in the region (Maes Y Gwendraeth & Bro Myrddin) along with University of Wales Trinity St David working closely together to address a specific skills gap. It offers students the opportunity to achieve a previously unavailable level 2 & 3 qualifications in Engineering and Digital Studies through the medium of Welsh. By working in partnership with the University, the students will gain a greater awareness of the opportunities the sector can provide and help them develop more practical skills using the equipment, and research undertaken by the University. It also provides the opportunity to practice with equipment within the schools, allowing a seamless transition to higher education. Outputs will include: 403 Higher Skilled Individuals gaining a qualification, 4 New/updated Course frameworks developed.

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