Page 89 - Regional Employment & Skills Plan 2019

89
Aberystwyth University has secured a further investment from CIEL (Centre of Innovation Excellence in Livestock) for an animal sciences facility to work alongside VetHub1. Construction of the VetHub1 centre is underway and expected to be fully operational by spring 2020. This centre will offer fully-equipped, high-specification laboratories and office facilities to support the work of protecting animal and human health. The hub will include a unique Category 3 laboratory to undertake new tests and product development to address emerging animal diseases in livestock.
A report by Universities Wales published in November 2018 refers to the high quality jobs that will be created in the local area as a result of the project, which strongly suggests the need to develop skills in the veterinary and biotechnology sciences. An added benefit to this project is that the critical mass will be strengthened within the Growing Mid Wales area, within the priority sector areas of Animal Health and Veterinary Science.106
Yr Hen Goleg107
Works on the transformation Old College’s transformation in Aberystwyth, Ceredigion is now underway and is due for completion in 2022. The ‘new’ Old College will be home to a visitor experience that interprets the University’s heritage collections and archives through exhibitions, activities and events, art and music and performance and acts as a knowledge-exchange and learning hub for the University, schools, community and visitors.
The proposed redevelopment will act as a catalyst for economic regeneration, creating up to 40 new jobs and attracting over 200,000 visitors every year, which implies the future need for relevant skills to deliver the services proposed.108
Riversimple108
Riversimple is based in Llandrindod Wells developing and manufacturing highly-efficient hydrogen-powered vehicles, which it aims to bring to market through a 'sale of service' model. Customers of Riversimple will take the vehicle for 1- 3 years and pay a monthly fee, which covers all their costs - the car, insurance, maintenance, recovery and even fuel. Riversimple is currently testing their vehicles and the service with the general public in Abergavenny. The company expects to begin volume production from 2022, through their first plant in Powys. This plant will be the blueprint for future manufacturing facilities, each producing up to 5,000 vehicles and offering some 220 jobs.
Mid Wales Growth Deal110
In November 2017 a report titled ‘City Deals and the Regional Economies of Wales’ by the Economy, Infra- structure and Skills Committee states that that the Growing Mid Wales partnership is requesting a deal for Mid Wales, as part of a regional economic development approach.
A vision for Mid Wales has been developed within the report ‘Strategic Economic Priorities for Mid Wales’ which will underpin the region’s ambition of securing a growth deal, stating that by 2033, Mid Wales will be;
‘The digitisation and convergence of technologies is accelerating developments in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning; precision automation and next generation manufacturing; and more broadly in transport (autonomous vehicles), health and connectivity (Internet of Things).’111
107 https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/news/archive/2016/01/title-178691-en.html
108 https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/oldcollege/future-plans/
109 https://www.riversimple.com/how-the-business-works/
110 http://www.assembly.wales/laid%20documents/cr-ld11264/cr-ld11264-e.pdf
111 AECOM (2018) Strategic Economic Priorities for Mid Wales
Regional Employment & Skills Plan South West & Mid Wales Learner and Provider Consultation Analysis