The Deputy Minister for Skills visited the British Gas Green Skills Training Centre in Tredegar to hear about the work being done with the long term unemployed in the Heads of the Valleys area.
The Green Skills Training Centre was officially opened in May 2011 by the First Minister, Carwyn Jones. It is one of British Gas’ first facilities in the UK dedicated entirely to green skills. The Centre serves as a base for new renewable technologies and specialises in new systems such as solar hot water, biomass and solar photovoltaic.
It has been developed through partnership between British Gas, Welsh Government, JobMatch Wales, Jobcentre Plus, SummitSkills and Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council. The Centre aims to train over 1,300 people each year including local long term unemployed people. British Gas also use the Centre to up-skill its existing workforce, as well as training new apprentices in renewable technologies.
The Deputy Minister for Skills, Jeff Cuthbert, said:
“The sterling work of the British Gas Green Skills Training Centre is key in terms of delivering training opportunities for local people and providing new skills to its current workforce.”
“The Welsh Government places great importance on renewable energy, energy efficiency and supporting low carbon skills for Wales. Our task as a government is to prepare for the challenge we face and to ensure our response to climate change maximises new employment opportunities for Wales.”
Kevin Watts, British Gas Green Skills Centre said:
“This facility will ensure our workforce can acquire the skills we need to move towards a low carbon society. It is also playing an invaluable part in providing upskilling opportunities to local communities. Through partnership with organisations such as JobMatch, our aim is to translate skills acquisition into job opportunities for the future.”
