MPCT, which runs Traineeship programmes including The Military Preparation College, Sports Academy and Prince’s Trust for young people throughout England and Wales has taken both floors at Tenby House in Cardiff Gate Business Park to accommodate its expanding business. The extra 4,000 square feet will house its new head office as well as providing a training base for new staff, following the doubling of its government-funded contract in Wales.
The acquisition has freed up space at its Dumballs Road premises, where it has now been able to introduce three new courses and 250 additional learners. This expansion has created 36 new training jobs throughout the organisation. Cooke & Arkwright acted on behalf of MPCT in the deal and Fletcher Morgan and Emanuel Jones were joint agents for the private landlord.
Huw Lewis, founder and Managing Director of MPCT said, “We needed more space to accommodate the additional courses and the associated extra trainers that resulted from the increased funding. We now deliver training to over 1,500 learners in England and Wales. Tenby House has provided us with new space for our head office as well as an excellent training base which is far more easily accessible to our employees than our previous location.”
Kate Simpson of Cooke & Arkwright said, “Our client’s work with young people in preparing them for life’s considerable challenges is very effective and delivers tangible results, so we are very pleased to have been involved in this important new stage of MPCT’s development.”
Chris Terry who acted for the landlord with joints agents Emanuel Jones said, “Our client had the confidence in difficult market conditions to carry out an extensive quality refurbishment of the whole building which has resulted in Tenby House ticking all the boxes for MPCT.”
The new funding has enabled MPCT to broaden its training activities to incorporate sports courses, motivational courses, and public services training. The Military and Public Services programme is a valuable preparation for the Armed Forces and Public Services, which provides learners with the skills to embark on a rewarding career or continue their education and training. It fuses physical training, vocational instruction, academic work and personal development, and equips them to make informed decisions in unfamiliar environments and situations. Full use is made of local military bases and training areas to increase the learners’ stamina and robustness prior to selection procedures. The Sports Academy helps prepare young people for a career in the sports and leisure industry, improving fitness and self-discipline, developing confidence and encouraging empathy and respect for others. Finally, the Prince’s Trust Team Programme is a motivational experience for young people, which helps them improve self-confidence and develop skills which will help them move into education, employment or further training.
MPCT was founded in 1999 by ex-military man Huw Lewis, who comes from Dolgellau in North Wales. Since then 1,300 students have joined the military and 3,000 have gone on to study in further education or have found full time employment. In excess of 100 staff are employed throughout Wales and England and approximately 2,000 students undertake training each year.
As part of the MPCT’s formal ‘adoption’ of Bute Park in Cardiff, students have been regular partners of the Bute Park Restoration Project over the last 12 months, clearing weeds, litter picking, trimming woodland areas and carrying out a variety of maintenance tasks. On 11th September 2011, they manned the water stations in support of the 10 kilometre Cardiff Marathon for the Kidney Wales Foundation, which attracted 3,000 runners.