A £10 million agriculture innovation centre has been launched with a prizegiving ceremony.
State-of-the-art Hwb Arloesi at Coleg Cambria Llysfasi was backed with more than £5.9 million from the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme.
The 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 said:
“This fantastic new facility has already made a great impression on both students and staff. From cutting-edge equipment to inspiring meeting rooms, academic spaces, and workshops — every corner of the building has been thoughtfully designed to support innovation and learning.
“Students enrolling in our FE and HE Agriculture courses will benefit from outstanding teaching in a welcoming, state-of-the-art environment that’s truly one of a kind in the region.
“There’s never been a better time to choose Coleg Cambria for the next stage in your academic or professional journey in the farming and agriculture sector.”
The college's Learner of the Year Awards were also held during the event, which was attended by guest speaker Abi Reader. Abi won the Farming Hero: Flag for British Agriculture at last year’s British Farming Awards 2024.
Among the winners were:
- Welsh Studies Award – Tomos Morris
- Learner of the Year Land-Based – Nichola Wright
- Foundation Skills in Land-Based Studies – Best Endeavour – Charlie Hessian
- Livery Company of Wales Award – Rhys Pinder
- Student of the Year: Tilhill Diploma – Gabriella Francis
- Student of the Year: Royal Forestry Society – Matthew Whitehead
- Learners of the Year: Skills – Lottie Bailey and Abi Packer
The launch was conducted by Abi Reader and Bryan Williams and comes after Llysfasi unveiled a series of new HE courses for 2025/26.
Among them were Business and Business Environment, Managing a Successful Project, Principles of Livestock Production, Animal Health and Welfare, Land-based Machinery and Technology, and Rural Business Administration and Accounting.
