An extra £1.4 million of European Union (EU) funding was announced earlier this month by Welsh Government finance secretary Mark Drakeford (pictured) to increase skills in the advanced-manufacturing sector in Wales.

The Materials and Manufacturing Education Training and Learning (METaL) scheme, led by Swansea University’s College of Engineering, is helping to raise skills, boost performance and improve productivity in this fast-expanding industrial sector.

The funding will enable the scheme to help more than 400 people gain technical skills in areas including energy and power, smart manufacturing, materials engineering, the ‘circular economy’ and corrosion and coatings technology.

METaL Project manager Khalil Khan at Swansea University said: “Securing this EU funding ensures the continuation of a fantastic vehicle for Swansea University to share its knowledge and experience to support Welsh businesses.

“It complements the investment of the government in supporting Welsh businesses, and it will ensure that the industrial workforce has the correct technical knowledge to compete in the global market-place.“

One of the companies that has benefitted from the METaL scheme is Tata Steel in Port Talbot, where fire and environment manager Andrew Townsend said: “The METaL courses have helped colleagues gain a better understanding of technical aspects associated with their operations.

In particular, the environmental issues course has helped people understand environmental legislation plus global, local and market-sector-based environmental issues.