Living and working in Blaenau Gwent

Blaenau Gwent offers some of the most affordable homes in Britain.

We’re very proud of the strong sense of community across our three valleys and the rich social history of the area, for example, the inspiration and birthplace of the National Health Service is in Tredegar.

Recent multimillion-pound investment into road and rail links has made commuting to Blaenau Gwent easier than ever.

There’s no shortage of things to do, with the Brecon Beacons National Park just a stone’s throw away; its picturesque landscape and hikes are some of the finest in Britain. The National Park offers a range of activities, from cycling and water sports to abseiling and rock climbing. Cardiff is a short distance away, as is Swansea’s Gower Peninsula.

Wales is a great place to work and has a culture, lifestyle and skilled workforce to rival anywhere in Britain.

The place we call Home

Blaenau Gwent is defined physically by the beautiful mountain tops which divide and watch over its vibrant, bustling valleys

  • Covering an area approximately 15 miles long and 8 miles wide, around 70,000 people call Blaenau Gwent home
  • Key towns include Abertillery, Brynmawr, Ebbw Vale and Tredegar
  • Blaenau Gwent is largely rural, with nearly half of the land area undeveloped. Wherever you are, beautiful countryside is never far away
  • Blaenau Gwent has enjoyed regeneration projects, including the re-opening of the Ebbw Valley railway and the re-development of the former Corus steelworks site in Ebbw Vale
  • Blaenau Gwent is swiftly changing from the powerhouse of heavy industry, into a region focusing on Manufacturing and Service

Key facts

  • Situated in South East Wales, approximately 30 miles from Cardiff and 20 miles to Newport. Bristol is 56 miles away and it is 95 miles to Birmingham
  • 15 miles long from north to south; 8 miles wide from east to west
  • Made up of three valleys with transport links mainly running up and down the valleys.

Why we need great people serving the communities of Blaenau Gwent

  • An ageing population of around 70,000 living in 32,000 households
  • Key settlements are Ebbw Vale, Abertillery, Tredegar and Brynmawr
  • A changing economic focus towards manufacturing and service sectors
  • The highest rate of unemployment and lowest economic activity in Wales
  • Lowest life expectancy in Wales for both men and women.

We are a Great Place to Work!

The last year has seen us continue to make changes in how we work to improve our delivery and services to our customers, but also to help us become a Great Place to Work for our people. We are a people-led organisation with a focus on our culture, which will help us to be a great employer. Our CALON values: Creativity, Authenticity, Learning, Ownership and ‘Not on your own’ are at the centre of our work and continue to embed strongly.

Elle Elliot, Head of People & Culture