Businesses urged to join new scheme to take on youngsters
HUNDREDS of new jobs could be created for young people across Wales – including dozens of opportunities in Rhondda Cynon Taff.
Itec Skills and Employment is offering employment across south, mid and west Wales, which involves Welsh Government funding 50% of a 16 to 24-year-old’s salary for 26 weeks.
Jobs Growth Wales is now urging Welsh businesses to sign up to the scheme so they can hire more young people.
It comes after the scheme was set up in 2012 to allow employers to offer opportunities to young people and create new roles in their organisation.
Staff are paid a wage and benefit from gaining work experience and developing on-the-job skills while also helping Welsh businesses to grow.
Itec has worked with more than 2,500 Welsh employers through Jobs Growth Wales, jointly funded by the European Union and Welsh Government.
Sales and vettings consultant at Itec, Lee Grindlay, said: “Jobs Growth Wales has been incredibly popular as it allows employers from a range of sectors to take on the candidates they are specifically looking for and train them in the precise skills needed for the business.
“In many cases, the member of staff ends up staying on within the or- ganisation, so it’s a good way of giving someone the opportunity to get started in their career while creating a role to enable your business to grow.”
As part of the scheme, Itec Skills and Employment has 100 opportunities available for businesses in Cardiff to take up.
A further 57 opportunities are available for businesses across Bridgend and the Vale and 34 oppor- tunities will be available for businesses in Merthyr Tydfil.
Businesses in Rhondda Cynon Taf will also have 65 opportunities available while 26 will be up for grabs in Blaenau Gwent.
Dean Jones runs Adventure Wales, an outdoor activities company based in Porthcawl.
The business was formed in 2003 and now employs a team of five with around 10 to 12 freelance instructors.
It offers quad biking, paintballing, canyoning, surfing and mountain walking to small and large groups and businesses.
Since 2013 Adventure Wales has been supported by Itec in taking on five young people to become outdoor instructors through Jobs Growth Wales which has allowed the organisation to grow while giving them the qualifications they need to work in the industry.
Ben Collins, 17, from Porthcawl, is currently being trained through Jobs Growth Wales and will become fully qualified by April 2018.
Adventure Wales’ director Dean Jones plans to take on Ben as a permanent member of staff once he completes his training.
Dean said: “Jobs Growth Wales has benefited our business in many ways. We’re not a traditional industry in that all our instructors have to go through six months’ rigorous training to become fully qualified.
“Until they have gone through their training they cannot run any activities without a senior instructor. The outdoor sector can be really tough to start a career in and so Jobs Growth Wales has al- lowed us to give five young people a great start to an exciting career in the outdoor industry and with more trained instructors, we have been able to grow our business by taking on more clients.”
To find out more about the scheme contact Itec’s Jobs Growth Wales Team on 02920 710 511 or email jgwsales@itecskills. co.uk.