Bouygues UK has officially marked the start of construction on two major projects for Cardiff and Vale College (CAVC): the Barry Waterfront Campus and the Advanced Technology Centre.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held at the Barry Waterfront site, a brownfield location within the town's Innovation Quarter, which is set to be transformed into a modern community college and further education hub.

The development represents a £119m investment in the Vale of Glamorgan, delivered in partnership with the Welsh Government and the Vale of Glamorgan Council. This initiative is the first Net Zero Further Education project in Wales, with both sites being built under the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme.

The 6,000sqm Barry Waterfront Campus will provide a variety of vocational courses and facilities for adult learners and young people. Meanwhile, the Advanced Technology Centre, situated near Cardiff Airport, will accommodate nearly 2,000 learners. This centre will be located next to the International Centre for Aerospace Training (ICAT) and will feature specialised robotics and mechatronics labs, an advanced composites manufacturing hub, and a "green skills house”.

Mark Cesenek, Managing Director for Bouygues UK for Wales and the South West, said: "Breaking ground on these exciting and innovative builds marks the start of something truly special. Although today marks our official groundbreaking, we are proud to have made good progress including ground remediation work, concrete piles and foundations, with pre-cast cores and steel frame being the next major activity over the coming months. In the coming weeks, the steel frames will begin to rise from the ground, bringing this development to life. Education projects are particularly rewarding because we know they'll benefit young people for generations to come, and we can't wait to see students walking through these doors in 2027. Thank you to our partners for sharing this vision and helping make it a reality. Above all, our ambition is to leave a lasting, positive legacy for the local community."

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Social value is a core component of the project delivery. The construction team has already provided 800 weeks of employment and training alongside 600 individual pupil engagements. Furthermore, a 'Student Ambassador' programme has been launched, allowing ten CAVC students to gain firsthand experience of the construction process.

Cardiff and Vale College Group Chief Executive Mike James said: "We are delighted to mark this important milestone for two new campuses that will make a real difference to the communities of the Vale of Glamorgan. These developments reflect our commitment to creating high-quality learning environments for our community and employers, as well as our drive to invest in skills for the future. As the builds progress, we look forward to engaging with young people, families, community groups and employers, ensuring all are part of the journey as these campuses take shape. When the doors open in September 2027, these spaces will belong to the communities they serve, delivering long-term educational, social and economic benefits for the Vale."

The project has involved extensive collaboration between several organisations. Christian Stanbury, WEPCo CEO, said: "It was a privilege to attend this week's groundbreaking ceremony at the Barry Waterfront Campus – a major milestone in bringing this ambitious project to life. This moment is the result of outstanding collaboration and commitment across the partnership, including WEPCo, Cardiff and Vale College, Bouygues UK, Meridiam, the Development Bank of Wales, our funders, and the many individuals working tirelessly behind the scenes to make it possible. Both the Barry Waterfront Campus and the Advanced Technology Centre campuses will play a transformative role in their communities, creating exceptional spaces for student learning, teaching, and wider community engagement for many years to come."

Both campuses are scheduled to open to students in the summer of 2027.