UK Steel Enterprise’s 40-40 Challenge has given a major boost to entrepreneurship at a South Wales college.

Last year UKSE, a subsidiary of Tata Steel, celebrated 40 years of helping business in Wales and other steel areas, and launched the Challenge to mark the milestone.

As a result, Cross Keys College has benefitted from a donation of £6,000 from UKSE and the funds have been used to improve facilities for students.

Students now have an impressive seminar room to hold business meetings, as well as a work area with broadband and IT equipment.

Ian Millward, campus director said: “It has been a two-fold project which will benefit students from different schools within the college.”

He explained that on top of the curriculums being studied, students on business-related courses undertook various challenges within the college.

“They are asked to tender for projects within the college, for example to design the strip for the college rugby team and other such tasks.”

The new facilities were an important contribution towards developing a spirit of enterprise across the college, he added.

Andy Morris, manager in Wales for UK Steel Enterprise, said: "Last year UKSE celebrated 40 years of working with business in Wales and other steel areas in the UK. To mark this, we created the 40-40 fund to support enterprise among young people, and this is part of this programme.

“I am delighted that Cross Keys College has taken advantage of this imaginative programme to bring long-term benefits to students.”