THE opening of the National Software Academy in Newport is good news for the city and for Wales as a whole.

The academy was one of the key recommendations back in 2013 from the Re:Newport taskforce, headed by Professor Simon Gibson and aimed at finding ways to further revitalise the city centre.

The academy - a partnership between the Welsh Government, the Newport-based Alacrity Foundation and Cardiff University - aims to address the national shortage in software engineering skills.

The academy offers degrees tailored for the software engineering industry, making Newport and Wales the first-choice for youngsters aiming to make their mark in one of the fastest-growing economic sectors.

Prof Gibson sees the academy as part of wider schemes to boost Newport’s economy, and there are already plans to use a second building in the city as the initiative expands. Around 300 graduates will be involved initially, but there is no reason why this cannot increase substantially.

Becoming a digital education and innovation hub is a feather in Newport’s cap and sends out an economic message that the city is ready to play a pivotal role in the future of Wales and the UK.