Minister highlights Barry College’s role in Defence Academy

Barry College and other Further and Higher Education institutions will play a key role in the development of the new Defence Training Academy at RAF St Athan.

That was the message from Deputy Minister for Skills John Griffiths during a recent visit to the college’s prestigious International Centre for Aerospace Training (ICAT).

“I am looking forward to seeing future joint working between the new Defence Training Academy and Barry College’s ICAT,” the Minister said. “The new facility will provide the college with the opportunity to further expand its specialist training provision.”

ICAT, recognised as a national centre of excellence by the Welsh Assembly Government, is one of the country’s leading aerospace education and training providers. It offers unique courses and degrees and award-winning online learning qualifications which are studied internationally. The new academy and other opportunities for development within the Aerospace Park are expected to create thousands of new highly skilled jobs in engineering and IT.

John Griffiths added: “The academy project means much to Wales; it will not only create new highly skilled jobs, but will also offer first class engineering and communications training which will have knock-on benefits for the Welsh economy. The skills that will be developed at the academy will serve trainees in civilian life after they leave the armed forces.”

In the last six months John Griffiths has also visited Barry College’s state-of-the-art Cardiff Construction Training Centre, showing his support for the role the college plays in the One Wales skills and employment agenda.

Notes

• Pictures available on request. For further information, contact Chris Baker at Barry College on 01446 725015 or by email at [email protected].

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