A select group of highly skilled teachers in leading digital development roles from educational establishments across South Wales, were met and welcomed by the Labour Party Parliamentary Candidate for the Aberavon Constituency, Stephen Kinnock.

A champion of the use of technology in education, Stephen Kinnock took time off a busy election campaign, to support the event hosts, local international award winning company, Aspire 2Be.

The event launch was brought to Margam Park in recognition of Aspire 2Be status as ‘Apple Professional Learning Providers’ and their roots in Neath Port Talbot . Based on the company’s acknowledged expertise in developing pedagogy through technology and the development of a team of accredited Apple learning specialists, Aspire 2Be recently became the first, and to date only UK company, to achieve this award.

The Apple Learning Institute is a new 3 day professional learning experience for educationalists, that enhances digital knowledge and skills by using the strategic implementation of Apple’s iOS technology to improve learning outcomes in schools and colleges. Launched in Port Talbot, its impact will be felt nationwide.

At the event and alongside Joe Perkins, Apple UK’s National Learning Development Manager, there to welcome attendees to the County Borough and celebrate Aspire 2Be’s success in gaining the award and their role in bringing the event in Port Talbot, were Stephen Kinnock, local dignitaries, civic leaders, the Directors and staff of Aspire 2Be.

Speaking at the event, Aspire 2Be’s Education Director Simon Pridham said, ‘We are delighted to welcome a global tech giant like Apple to Port Talbot. The attendees of this inaugural ‘Apple Learning Institute’ event are already digital leaders. Our aim is to enhance their skills as part of their ongoing professional development and return them inspired and empowered to make a digital impact on the pedagogical process at their schools across Wales.

As part of our ongoing commitment to the development of digital skills, Aspire 2Be has launched this groundbreaking UK initiative in Port Talbot with Apple. We do this for the purpose of demonstrating that Wales and in particular Neath Port Talbot is a place where the future of education is irrevocably bound up with the development of digital technology. We are delighted that so many local dignitaries and civic leaders, have given up their time to support us in this initiative today and we thank Apple for endorsing us in this exciting venture’.

Aspire 2Be are an international award winning Learning Technology Specialist Company in education, business and sport.  The company is Welsh based with its roots in Neath Port Talbot and its offices at the SA1 waterfront development in Swansea. They are staffed by a team of skilled educators, ICT technicians, former headteachers,  Directors of Education, local authority leaders and WG education advisers. You can follow their work on www.aspire2b.eu on Twitter @Aspire2Be1 and FaceBook www.facebook.com/aspire2be1