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Coleg Cambria: building for a net zero future
A further education college in Wales is investing in state-of-the-art sustainable facilities at its agricultural campus, with support from Lloyds.
Read time: 4 mins Added: 05/05/26
A college built on collaboration
Coleg Cambria has been shaping futures in North East Wales for more than a decade. Formed in 2013 through the merger of Deeside College and Yale College, the institution has grown into one of the UK's largest further education providers, serving communities across Wrexham, Flintshire and Denbighshire.
Today, the college operates five campuses, employing 1,400 staff and educating around 6,500 full-time and 20,000 part-time students, as well as 2,500 apprentices. With an annual turnover of approximately £95 million, Coleg Cambria offers everything from GCSEs and vocational qualifications through to degree-level programmes.
Teresa Dagnall, Director of Finance, said: "We are one of the largest colleges in Wales and our growth is driven by a clear vision and commitment to provide specialised, high-quality learning environments that bridge the gap between education and employment. We are seeing record numbers of school leavers choosing Cambria over traditional sixth forms because they recognise the value of our professional facilities. This funding ensures we continue to scale our impact, supporting everyone from young learners beginning to build their careers to adults re-entering the workforce.”
Among the college's distinctive offerings is Llysfasi, a specialist agricultural campus in Denbighshire featuring a fully working farm. The site delivers courses in agriculture, forestry and land-based industries, and holds an exclusive contract with agricultural machinery manufacturer Kubota to train its apprentices.
Teresa Dagnall Director of Finance, Coleg CambriaSustainability is a big priority for us and we are working to retrofit many of our older buildings with solar panels and LED lighting. Not only does this help us access funding, but being more energy efficient helps keep our costs down too.
Building Wales's greenest learning space
The college has now completed a landmark development at Llysfasi: the Hwb Arloesi (Innovation Hub), which has the distinction of being among the first net zero public buildings in Wales. The facility houses classrooms, laboratories, a library, meeting spaces, a climbing wall and a wellbeing hub, all constructed using sustainable practices and materials, and powered by solar panels and air source heat pumps. The building recently received national recognition for its architectural design, reflecting Coleg Cambria's commitment to creating inspiring learning environments while meeting the highest sustainability standards.
The Welsh Government provided 65 per cent of the funding for the development through its Sustainable Communities for Learning programme, with the college contributing the remaining 35 per cent through cash reserves and a £7 million Buildings Transition Loan from Lloyds.
The loan is also helping to fund a new 50-bedroom student accommodation block at Llysfasi, which is due to open in autumn 2026. Unlike teaching facilities, student accommodation does not attract government grant funding, making the Lloyds loan essential to the project.
Teresa said: "Agricultural courses often tend to be residential. Learners stay on site, and Kubota apprentices come in for block courses too. The accommodation is vital for that. The Innovation Hub has been a massive success with staff and students. It is such a lovely space - open, bright and spacious - and the learners have been really appreciative of the investment."
The state-of-the-art hub has been named Best Public or Community Building at the Local Authority Building Control Building Excellence Awards, which recognise outstanding achievement in design, sustainability and construction quality.
A relationship built on trust
Coleg Cambria has banked with Lloyds since the 2013 merger, but when it came to financing the Llysfasi development, the college undertook a competitive tender process, receiving four proposals from different lenders.
Lloyds won the mandate decisively, offering the most competitive terms and the opportunity to access favourable rates reflecting the sustainability credentials of the project.
Teresa said: "Lloyds was the most competitive, hands down. The lending margin was great, and it was an opportunity we couldn't miss"
Throughout the process, the college worked closely with Lloyds Relationship Director Michele Donnelly and Associate Relationship Manager Louis Parker, holding weekly meetings to keep the project on track.
Teresa added: "That support was invaluable and it meant that the whole process went very smoothly.”
With the Innovation Hub now open and the accommodation block on track for completion later this year, Coleg Cambria is already planning its next phase of development, including a new small animal care centre at its Northop campus as part of a nine-year strategic outline programme agreed with the Welsh Government.
Michele Donnelly Relationship Director, LloydsColeg Cambria is delivering genuinely pioneering facilities for learners in North East Wales. The Innovation Hub sets a new standard for sustainable public buildings in Wales and we're proud to have supported the college with funding that supports the college’s ambition to decarbonise. We look forward to continuing to support their ambitious plans for the future.
The Lloyds Buildings Transition Loan provides discounted lending for businesses with an annual turnover between £3 million and £100 million to refinance or purchase properties that are rated EPC-A or EPC-B. It can also be used to refinance or purchase properties rated EPC-C to EPC-G if there is a commitment to improving the property to at least an EPC-B rating within an agreed timeframe.
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