Community Verified source

Wales gets its first STEM Racing Centre of Excellence at Cardiff and Vale College

Cardiff and Vale College will open Wales's first STEM Racing Centre of Excellence, giving 11 to 19-year-olds access to engineering equipment, mentoring and hands-on design challenges.

By The TEA Editorial Desk · 28 August 2026

Young people competing at a STEM Racing event Image: STEM Racing / Business News WalesOriginal source

Need something explained?Tap a highlighted word, phrase or concept, or select any part of the article and choose Explain this.

Cardiff and Vale College is becoming the first STEM Racing Centre of Excellence in Wales, opening up specialist engineering equipment and mentoring to young people across the region.

The centre is due to open in September and will give students aged 11 to 19 hands-on experience in design, manufacturing, aerodynamics and racing. Around £40,000 of specialist equipment is being installed, including a CNC machine, wind tunnel and official STEM Racing track.

Neighbouring schools will also be able to use the facilities for workshops and competition preparation. The programme combines engineering with project management, finance, marketing and teamwork, using miniature racing cars as the practical challenge.

When Cardiff and Vale College's new Advanced Technology Centre near Cardiff Airport opens in 2027, the STEM Racing centre will move there too. For young people wondering whether engineering might be for them, the answer will no longer have to begin with a textbook.