Carmarthenshire boost for apprentices
Some 110 apprentices are employed in Carmarthenshire through the council and contractors working together.
They are being trained for work in construction which will provide them with skilled trades and better opportunities for employment.
The council is spending millions of pounds on new schools, improving school buildings and council homes, and new developments throughout the county.
A number of contractors are delivering the projects which are supporting their businesses through the recession and helping them to retain staff.
As part of a framework agreement, the contractors are working with the council to provide apprenticeship opportunities for local people.
At the moment, the authority employs 53 apprentices and supports a further 43 through the shared apprenticeship scheme with contractors. This is set to rise next year to 73 on the shared scheme.
The Carmarthenshire Construction Training Association (CCTAL) operates the scheme with contractors.
The apprentices have an opportunity to train on construction sites and become skilled tradespeople at the end of the process, which usually takes three years.
The council also has links with Coleg Sir Gar which provides apprenticeship training, including day release.
Recently, disadvantaged groups have been targeted for the scheme via the Construction Youth Trust.
Roadshows were held at the three Coleg Sir Gar campuses encouraging young women to enrol.
Some 95 women signed up for taster sessions which could lead to 13-week skill build programmes, and then apprenticeships.
The next phase is for CYT to work with area teams, the probation service and Jobcentre to target longer-term unemployed people and disadvantaged groups.
The council’s executive board Business Manager Cllr Pam Palmer said: “Through these apprenticeship schemes we are not only giving many people the opportunity to gain skilled trades, but also employment in the long-term.
“We are supporting businesses through our major investment programmes and helping to provide the skilled labour we need to deliver these schemes.”
They are being trained for work in construction which will provide them with skilled trades and better opportunities for employment.
The council is spending millions of pounds on new schools, improving school buildings and council homes, and new developments throughout the county.
A number of contractors are delivering the projects which are supporting their businesses through the recession and helping them to retain staff.
As part of a framework agreement, the contractors are working with the council to provide apprenticeship opportunities for local people.
At the moment, the authority employs 53 apprentices and supports a further 43 through the shared apprenticeship scheme with contractors. This is set to rise next year to 73 on the shared scheme.
The Carmarthenshire Construction Training Association (CCTAL) operates the scheme with contractors.
The apprentices have an opportunity to train on construction sites and become skilled tradespeople at the end of the process, which usually takes three years.
The council also has links with Coleg Sir Gar which provides apprenticeship training, including day release.
Recently, disadvantaged groups have been targeted for the scheme via the Construction Youth Trust.
Roadshows were held at the three Coleg Sir Gar campuses encouraging young women to enrol.
Some 95 women signed up for taster sessions which could lead to 13-week skill build programmes, and then apprenticeships.
The next phase is for CYT to work with area teams, the probation service and Jobcentre to target longer-term unemployed people and disadvantaged groups.
The council’s executive board Business Manager Cllr Pam Palmer said: “Through these apprenticeship schemes we are not only giving many people the opportunity to gain skilled trades, but also employment in the long-term.
“We are supporting businesses through our major investment programmes and helping to provide the skilled labour we need to deliver these schemes.”
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