New Coleg Menai campus opens its doors!
Coleg Menai’s highly anticipated new Bangor campus will open its doors to its new and existing learners this week.
The state-of-the-art campus - which is within very close proximity to the long-established Art department already situated on Parc Menai - is the new home for ten vocational areas:
Hair and Beauty, Hospitality and Catering, Business, Travel and Tourism, Performing Arts, Music, Media (TV and Games Development), Access to Higher Education, Adult Community Learning, and English for Speakers Other Languages.
Supported by a £14 million investment from the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, the new campus consolidates and enhances Coleg Menai’s offerings by relocating from the former Ffriddoedd Road and Friars sites to this modern facility.
The campus boasts cutting-edge, industry-standard facilities designed to provide learners with practical, hands-on experience. Highlights include a professional training kitchen, an Apple Mac suite for creative disciplines, and a modern LibraryPlus space.
Additionally, the Hair & Beauty salons and nail bars will be open to the public from September, providing real-world experience for students. The Performing Arts department will host theatre performances and live shows in a 150-seat performance studio, while the on-site training restaurant will also offer fine dining experiences to the public.
Students and staff will benefit from a spacious, open-plan refectory and coffee bar, promoting a social and collaborative environment. A robust Learner Services team will be on hand to provide careers guidance, confidential support, and a range of wellbeing activities.
Aled Jones-Griffith, Chief Executive of Grŵp Llandrillo Menai, said,
“We’re delighted to be able to welcome our learners to this state of the art facility that affords the young people of Gwynedd and Môn access to sector-leading equipment and technology to support them with their studies.
Learners will be taught by industry experienced staff who are eagerly looking forward to accessing the excellent resources at their disposal to ensure that their learners are prepared and skilled for progression into employment, or the next level of studies in the various sectors that are covered by this new facility”.
I’d like to thank all that have been associated with this project, from staff that have contributed to the design and contents of the building, to the Welsh Government Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme for making this amazing campus a reality.”
Cabinet Secretary for Education, Lynne Neagle MS, said,
‘Welsh Government are pleased to support the delivery of the Parc Menai campus with £16m from our Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme. It is important that our learners have the best facilities that we can provide with access to a variety of progression and employment pathways and student support to reach their potential. This is something that the new facility at Parc Menai undoubtedly provides for the learners in the Môn and Gwynedd area.’
Applications to study at the new campus are still invited. Please visit gllm.ac.uk to browse the wide range of courses and to apply today.
