THE First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones made his first visit to Coleg Gwent’s Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone in Ebbw Vale yesterday.

Mr Jones met students doing courses in plumbing and photography as he toured the £33.5 million Ebbw Vale campus, on the former steelmaking site, with deputy principal Guy Lacey and campus director John Sexton.

The campus officially opened in March this year when a commemorative plaque was unveiled by Blaenau Gwent AM Alun Davies, but offered courses from September 2012.

The First Minister said: "The state-of-the-art facilities being enjoyed by Coleg Gwent at the new Learning Zone are already bringing huge benefits to learners.

"We want places of learning in Wales to inspire learners of all abilities. It is clear from the enthusiasm of the students and the wider community that this new Learning Zone is doing just that."

Coleg Gwent, Blaenau Gwent council and the University of South Wales all provide post-16 educational at the centre, which has become a sixth form hub for all secondary schools in Blaenau Gwent.

The campus offers full and part-time courses, including a range of higher education courses through the Universities Heads of the Valleys Institute and the University of South Wales.

There are specialist facilities for construction, science, hairdressing, performing arts as well as enhanced IT spaces with video conferencing and a roof garden.

Mr Lacey said he was thrilled to welcome the First Minister of Wales to the Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone.

"As we near the end of a very successful first year, it’s fabulous to see learners preparing to move on to the bright futures the Learning Zone has helped them aspire to," he said.

"Our excellent Estyn inspection in 2012 shows that we will bring a first class service to local people."

The site is also home to Ysbyty Aneurin Bevan and will soon boast a leisure centre and a school.