The largest provider of Jobs Growth Wales is urging Welsh businesses to sign up and take advantage of this year’s remaining allocation before 31st March deadline.
Itec Skills and Employment has over 400 opportunities across south, mid and west Wales, which involves Welsh Government funding 50% of a 16-24 year old’s salary for 26 weeks.
Jobs Growth Wales is a jobs creation programme that was set up in 2012 to allow employers to offer opportunities to young people and create new roles within their organisation. Staff are paid a wage and benefit from gaining vital work experience and developing on-the-job skills while also supporting Welsh businesses to grow.
Itec has worked with more than 2,500 Welsh employers through Jobs Growth Wales (JGW), jointly funded by the European Union and Welsh Government.
Lee Grindlay, sales & vettings consultant at Itec, 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 organisation, 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. There are only limited opportunities available for businesses to sign up to Jobs Growth Wales so it’s best to get in touch as early as possible.”
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 10-12 freelance instructors. The company 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 allowed 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.”