The County Borough of Blaenau Gwent is located in the northern area of the South East Wales valleys and has a population of approximately 72,000.
During recent years, unemployment has risen steadily and the Blaenau Gwent area has suffered as a result.
In 2002, one of the remaining major employers in the area, Corus, closed its tinplate works at Ebbw Vale. The closure of the Corus works brought fundamental changes to the structure of the Blaenau Gwent economy. It took away a source of well-paid, secure employment and created massive challenges for the public authorities throughout South East Wales. However, it also provided the opportunity to create exciting new links with businesses and develop ambitious plans to regenerate the area with the help of substantial Welsh and European government grant funding.
