AN INDUSTRIAL site in St Athan has been officially handed over to Aston Martin, where the car firm has built a new manufacturing facility.

The site was signed over at a ceremony earlier this month attended by Vale AM Jane Hutt and others.

The decision by Aston Martin to develop the facility in St Athan means cars will be built in Wales for the first time in 50 years.

The facility will create 750 highly skilled jobs and more than £60 million of contracts throughout Wales. All of the Aston Martins made in Wales will be stamped Hand built in Wales.

Ms Hutt said: "It is a hugely exciting time for the Vale of Glamorgan.

"It was great to talk to some of the young Welsh apprentices that have been taken on ahead of Aston Martin going into production at St Athan.

"It was wonderful to hear them sound so confident and happy in their new roles."

The official handover follows Ms Hutt's Engineering Change Breakfast which brought together schools and local companies including Aston Martin to reinforce the importance of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) roles in education and employment, identified the importance of links between schools and local businesses.

Ms Hutt said: "The Breakfast was a great success. Several schools and businesses have established new links and some have meetings and visits already in the diary.

"One of the comments in the feedback said the Breakfast had helped build bridges between educators and employers.

"It was noticeable that companies said yes to the invitation almost immediately.

"They recognise how important it is that we encourage and nurture our young people – particularly young people in our local schools – to consider STEM subjects."