Llandrillo and Menai colleges merger to create Wales' largest education body

The colleges want the merger to take place in April next year

Coleg Llandrillo and Coleg Menai are set to merge, creating the largest further education body in Wales, it has been announced.

The new Grŵp Llandrillo-Menai will cater for 34,000 students every year, across Conwy, Denbighshire, Gwynedd and Anglesey.

It follows the merger of Llandrillo with Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor in 2010.

The colleges say they will now submit their case to the Welsh government, and hope to formally merge in April 2012.

Chair of Coleg Llandrillo Cymru John Bellis said: "This merger represents a merger of two strong partners and will add value to learners in the central and western areas of North Wales."

His counterpart at Coleg Menai Dr Griff Jones said: "I am pleased that the merger will provide the capacity for future expansion and development, and will build on the excellent reputations enjoyed by both partners to the merger."

70,000 courses

As with last year's merger with Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor, the colleges in the new group will retain their current names at their sites.

Coleg Menai institutions serve mainly sixth-form students in the Arfon and Anglesey areas, with around 20,000 courses enrolled each year, and an annual turnover of £24m.

It employs 573 staff.

Its larger partner, Llandrillo, enrolled more than 21,000 students on 70,000 courses in the last year at its colleges across Dwyfor and Meirionydd in south Gwynedd, and its main campus at Rhos-on-sea.

It employs over 1,400 staff, with an annual turnover of £47m.