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Independent education charity, the Edge Foundation has announced today that Coleg y Cymoedd has been selected as one of the recipients of a grant from the Edge Innovation and Development Fund.

The grant fund was established in the year of Edge’s 10th anniversary to support innovation in technical, practical and vocational education.

Coleg y Cymoedd has been awarded £100,000 to set up a Centre for Excellence to deliver high quality training for railway engineers. The project addresses a specific skills issue for Wales relating to the electrification programme for Welsh railways. The Centre will offer a mixture of NVQ qualifications from level 2 to 6 together with an apprenticeship programme and more than 19 companies have expressed a commitment to taking on apprentices. The College will also work with local schools to raise awareness of engineering careers.

Jan Hodges OBE, CEO, the Edge Foundation said: “The Centre for Excellence for Railway Training will be a beacon for technical, practical and vocational learning in the sector and we are delighted to be able to support Coleg y Cymoeddas they embark on this venture.

Edge has worked hard over the past decade, seeking a closer alignment between education and the skill needs of the UK economy. The grant fund has allowed us to reach out across the country so that Coleg y Cymoedd, and the other grant recipients, can help this unfold at a local level; providing young people with many high-quality paths to success.”

This is the second round of applications since the fund was launched in 2014.

Judith Evans, Principal, Coleg y Cymoedd, said:“Coleg y Cymoedd is delighted to have received support from the Edge Innovation and Development Fund. We are pleased to be able to support the development of the railway network across Wales which will create employment opportunities for the young people of Rhondda Cynon Taff and Caerphilly. This funding will ensure that our staff continue to upskill to meet the needs of the sector and ensure sector leading practice.”

All applications to the grant fund supported Edge’s Six Steps for Change and addressed at least two of the following three aims: support the creation of new institutions, support the development of profound employer engagement, address areas of skills shortages for the UK economy.

Additionally all projects will support effective dissemination of best practice in vocational education and training and be able to support further development or replication.

For more information about the Edge Innovation and Development Fund visit: www.edge.co.uk/projects/the-edge-foundation-innovation-and-development-fund

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