Wrexham’s Techniquest Has ‘Bright Future’ Despite South Wales Funding Cuts

Techniquest in Cardiff faces a 22% funding cut, with funding also due to be reduced at a similar level at the sister site up here at Glyndŵr University in Wrexham.

Although both are known to the public under the same Techniquest brand, the Cardiff and Wrexham operate as separate entities.

Earlier this week Education Minister Huw Lewis told the BBC that Techniquest was ‘overly dependent on public funds; and ‘it had to change’; with other comments from Mr Lewis saying it was ‘not a sustainable position’ and that Techniquest has ‘got to be restructured’.

Currently the Welsh government provides Techniquest in Cardiff with a £1.3 million grant. However this week the science and education centre was told the funding is due to be cut by 22% from April.Wrexham’s operation is due to have a similar 22% cut but on a lower overall sum.

Techniquest Cardiff have also been told they could lose all the funding by 2019, a move that is mirrored locally, with Wrexham facing ‘further reductions planned in succeeding years’.

In Wrexham, Techniquest have said that since the news that Welsh Government funding support for North Wales’ very own science discovery centre in Wrexham was being reduced, management of Techniquest Glyndŵr have ‘worked hard with their staff to develop an action plan to create a long term financially sustainable future for the popular independent charity’.

Techniquest tell us there are currently over 80,000 engagements with school students, family visitors and community events each year, but it is hoped they will be able to substantially increase this figure to generate the additional income to support the business.

The site itself on the Glyndwr campus ,along with ties to the University could mean the local Techniquest is at an advantage over their Cardiff relations, with Wrexham.com being told it means that: “There are good links with a range of science and engineering departments and a popular aspect of the secondary school programme have been science workshops offered by Techniquest Glyndŵr followed by tours round relevant departments of the university. These help to give students a realistic introduction to higher education and to make use of the sophisticated facilities and equipment that are available at the University.”

Scot Owen, Education Manager at Techniquest Glyndŵr said: “Whilst the reductions in funding over the next few years are disappointing and are going to make it more difficult for us in the short term, through the cooperation and ideas of our enthusiastic and committed team we have focussed on a variety of ways to make our business financially sustainable in the long term without ongoing core funding from the Welsh Government.

“We are already working hard to strengthen our existing good links with local industry and there are plenty of opportunities for us to develop beneficial partnerships with the private sector to support our mission to enthuse and educate people of all ages in science and engineering.

“Our aim is to become a well-respected and financially strong social enterprise that not only is able to deliver an extensive educational programme to schools at primary and secondary level in the region, but also attracts significant numbers of visitors to the area because of the exciting offer we have to families wanting a good value and educational day out.”

Iwan Thomas, Chair of the Board of Trustees to the charitable company North Wales Science that operates Techniquest Glyndŵr added: “The reductions in funding from Welsh Government have prompted a significant review of how Techniquest Glyndŵr operates, forcing us to look long and hard at our strengths and weaknesses and identify the range of opportunities to develop the business into a more sustainable model without high levels of public finance.

“I was present for the recent event at Techniquest Glyndŵr to celebrate the launch of UK Astronaut Tim Peake to the International Space Station and it showed to me what a worthwhile and valuable organisation it is with its significant strengths. There were over 120 schoolchildren at the event who witnessed the excitement of the launch and they were then treated to an engaging live science show about the space mission and the science behind it. It was clear to me that the children there were fully engaged with the topic and I’m sure that more than a few will be inspired to follow a career in science or engineering as a result.

“That for me sums up what the organisation is about and we will be working hard over the next few months and years to make sure that not only will the organisation survive but it will become a centre of excellence for the region in STEM education.”

Techniquest Glyndŵr say they are particularly keen to work with local companies who have aspects of their activity related to science, technology or engineering to help make the science of the classroom come alive by linking real life situations which demonstrate various scientific principles. Links can be through sponsorship of outreach visits to schools, the offer of on-site visits to industrial operations or collaboration in the development of additional interactive exhibits to augment the 75 or more examples currently at the centre.

Stats from Techniquest Glyndŵr say this year a total 25,000 family visitors are projected to visit the facility. In addition nearly 20,000 outreach engagements take place in primary and secondary schools across North Wales and a further 7,000 in England. Interaction with the public at various events in the region amount to a further 8,000 engagements.