CWIC Wales

What CWIC Wales does

CWIC Wales (Construction Wales Innovation Centre) is a not-for-profit applied research and specialist training unit embedded within the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD), established in September 2016 and headquartered at the SA1 Waterfront campus in Swansea. The organisation delivers pan-Wales construction industry training through a hub-and-spoke model — anchored by a Swansea hub with satellite facilities in Cardiff (Scaffolding Academy) and Lampeter (technical demonstrator team) — and distributed through a network of partner FE colleges including Coleg Sir Gar, Coleg Ceredigion, Coleg y Cymoedd, and Coleg Cambria. Its core focus is future-proofing construction skills for the Welsh Net Zero transition, with programmes spanning scaffolding apprenticeships, Passivhaus designer and tradesperson certification, retrofit coordination, BIM, and heritage building scanning.

The underlying technology stack combines immersive learning (proprietary Virtual Built Environment Element Explorer / VBEEE VR software co-developed with CIOB), terrestrial laser scanning (Leica RTC360 producing multi-billion-point point clouds for Digital Twin creation), Building Information Modelling workflows, and purpose-built Passivhaus-aligned building performance test pods for hands-on training in air tightness, U-Value measurement, and thermal performance assessment. Notable technical assets include the £1.5m, 2,000 m2 Scaffolding Academy with CISRS accreditation and the as-built BIM model of the 1822-27 St David's College heritage building at UWTSD Lampeter.

CWIC operates a government-funded training services revenue model: programmes are predominantly free or subsidised to eligible Welsh residents and workers, with funding drawn from CITB, the UK Government Levelling Up Fund, Welsh Government Personal Learning Accounts, Swansea Bay City Deal, and Carmarthenshire County Council. Customer segments include construction industry professionals (architects, engineers, tradespeople seeking Passivhaus certification), apprentices and new entrants (scaffolding qualifications), further and higher education students (City & Guilds, VR construction experience), and partner FE colleges. Strategic partners include Alpha Safety, Coaction, Woodknowledge Wales, Retrofit Academy, CSIC, Kier UK, and Altrad UK. The organisation has upskilled 3,500+ construction staff and supported 691+ Welsh employers, but does not publicly disclose revenue figures and operates as an integral unit of UWTSD rather than an independent commercial entity.

Name

CWIC Wales

Legal name

Construction Wales Innovation Centre (CWIC) | University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Website

https://cwic.wales

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CWIC Wales is a not-for-profit innovation centre within University of Wales Trinity Saint David delivering pan-Wales construction industry training in Net Zero, Passivhaus, retrofit, scaffolding, and VR/AR skills through a Swansea hub and partner college network, funded primarily by government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Industry Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Apprenticeship Training (611513)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Universities with Architecture, Built Environment & Design Engineering (EDAHAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Qualifications & Credit Framework Authorities (EDADAEAD)

Keywords

• Construction training services
• Scaffolding apprenticeship training
• Passivhaus certification training
• Retrofit skills training
• Construction research innovation

Headquarters

HQ city

Swansea

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government-funded Training Services: Training programs funded by CITB, UK Government Levelling Up Fund, Welsh Government Personal Learning Accounts, and Swansea Bay City Deal. Services are provided free or subsidized to eligible participants (residing or working in Wales/Carmarthenshire).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Construction Wales Innovation Centre (CWIC) is a university-affiliated innovation centre within University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) that delivers applied research and specialist training for the pan-Wales construction industry. It provides scaffolding apprenticeships, Passivhaus certification training, retrofit programmes, and immersive VR/AR construction learning through a hub-and-spoke delivery model spanning Swansea, Cardiff, and partner colleges across Wales.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Scaffolding Academy CISRS Accredited Training Centre delivering comprehensive scaffolding training including Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Accessing Operations and Rigging, apprenticeship courses, COTS, Scaffold Inspection, and Scaffolding Awareness courses. Designed for apprentices and construction professionals needing scaffolding qualifications within Wales.
• Efficiency Without Compromise (Passivhaus Training) Year-long initiative providing Passivhaus standard training including Certified Passivhaus Designer and Certified Passivhaus Tradesperson courses for construction professionals in Wales, focusing on energy efficiency, airtightness, ventilation, and passive-solar design.
• CONVERT Project (VR/AR Construction Training) Pan-GB construction training programme using immersive VR and AR technologies covering drones in construction, wood finishing and paint spraying, working at height, and building deconstruction, delivered across six regional hubs including Wales.
• Offsite Ready Training Programme CITB-funded training programme to grow best practice in off-site construction across the UK, targeting up to 600 trainers across three nations including Wales.
• Skills on Site (SonS)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3,500 construction industry staff upskilled
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• CoactioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 26 February 2024Not-for-profit organisation with 12-year pedigree in Passivhaus training, official partners of the Passivhaus Trust. Crafting and delivering Certified Passivhaus Designer and Tradesperson courses for CWIC's 'Efficiency without Compromise' initiative.
• Alpha SafetycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 15 October 2020South Wales-based training supplier delivering scaffolding courses at the £1.5m Scaffolding Academy in Swansea and Cardiff. Partnership enables local delivery of industry-needed courses.
• Woodknowledge WalescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on design and construction of building performance test pods. Woodknowledge Wales partnership brings expertise in sustainable timber construction to CWIC's training programs.
• Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing strategic partnership delivering VR construction education through 'Skills on Site' initiative. Jointly launched Virtual Built Environment Element Explorer (VBEEE) software for construction student education.
• Retrofit AcademymajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner in delivering retrofit training programs funded by Welsh Government's Personal Learning Account. Addresses shortage of qualified Retrofit Coordinators in Wales (only 4% of UK total).
• Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead partner in Offsite Ready project (UK-wide training programme) and CONVERT project. CSIC leads building deconstruction strand using laser-scanning and rendering. CWIC delivers programme throughout Wales.
• Kier UKmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCONVERT project development partner leading the drones in construction industry strand. Contributes to pan-GB £2m immersive learning project.
• Altrad UKmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCONVERT project development partner leading working at height training strand as part of £2m immersive learning initiative.
• Coleg Sir GarcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKey partner college in pan-Wales enterprise. Manages Welsh Government's Personal Learning Account initiative. Collaborates on retrofit training delivery and Net Zero skills programs.
• Rob Thomas, Hiraeth ArchitectureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on design of building performance test pods reflecting Passivhaus principles and Welsh Building Regulations.
• Kenton Jones (Designers and Makers)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on construction of building performance test pods using closed panel timber frame methods.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• BRE Group (Building Research Establishment): Established UK building science research and training organisation offering construction-related certification, training and applied research across the full built environment. Comparable to CWIC in research/training remit but at much larger scale and broader scope.
• Construction Industry Training Board (CITB): Statutory industry training board for the UK construction sector. Comparable as the overarching funder/standards-setter that channels Levy and grant funding (including CWIC's own £1.5m Scaffolding Academy and £2m CONVERT grants) into training infrastructure.

Direct peers

• Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC): Scotland's equivalent construction innovation centre. Directly comparable as a regional innovation hub funded by public/industry partners, and is itself a CWIC partner in the CONVERT and Offsite Ready projects, providing a same-model benchmark across a different UK devolved nation.
• Retrofit Academy: UK-wide retrofit training provider delivering accredited retrofit coordinator and advisor courses. Directly comparable as a current CWIC delivery partner addressing the same Net Zero / retrofit skills gap, but operating at national rather than Wales-only scope.
• Construction Innovation Hub: UK-wide construction innovation programme (formerly UK CIH) focused on transforming the construction sector through applied research, digital and manufacturing innovation — directly comparable mission to CWIC's 'future-proofing construction skills' remit, but at a national rather than regional scale.
• Coaction Training: Not-for-profit Passivhaus training provider, official partner of the Passivhaus Trust. Delivers Certified Passivhaus Designer and Tradesperson courses on behalf of CWIC — directly comparable niche specialist training model in the same curriculum area.

Others

• National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC): Trade body that administers the CISRS scaffolding training scheme under which CWIC's Scaffolding Academy is accredited. Ecosystem enabler rather than direct competitor, but directly affects CWIC's go-to-market in scaffolding training.
• Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB): Professional body for construction management and leadership. Comparable as a CWIC strategic partner that co-developed the VBEEE VR platform and co-delivers 'Skills on Site', positioning CIOB as an adjacent ecosystem enabler in construction training.
• Passivhaus Trust: UK non-profit promoting the Passivhaus standard and accrediting related training. Adjacent to CWIC as the standards/credentialing authority whose curriculum CWIC delivers, rather than a direct training competitor.
• National House Building Council (NHBC): UK's leading new-home warranty and standards body offering inspection, training and technical services to the house-building sector. Adjacent comparable as a construction standards/training body, with overlap in Passivhaus, energy efficiency and technical training content.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/constructionwalesinnovationcentre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CWIC Wales