Ambitious plans to create 150 new training places for young people across the Caerphilly county borough have been given the green light after CCBC’s Cabinet agreed to progress the scheme earlier thsi week (5th July).
Earlier this year, the council put aside almost half a million pounds (£485,000) from the budget to invest in providing training and development opportunities for young people.
Cabinet members today considered a report that sought approval to move forward with these proposals, which will help give young people aged between 16 and 25 a real boost onto the first rung of the job market.
Cllr Allan Pritchard, Leader of the Council said, “I am delighted that Cabinet gave their approval to progress these exciting proposals, which really will help provide local youngsters with the best chance of gaining real employment for the future”.
He continued, “The project has numerous benefits both in supporting those youngsters currently not taking part in any employment, education or training, but also to us at Caerphilly County Borough Council as an organisation”.
“With over 30% of our employees aged 50 and over, there is a risk that if we do not act, in future years we may become exposed to skills gaps across the organisation – we will significantly minimise this risk by ‘growing our own’ talent and creating career opportunities and pathways for local young people”.
The programme will take a four-tiered approach, ranging from termed work experience placements (tier one) through to a programme for graduates entering the work environment (tier four).
Cllr James Fussell, Cabinet Member for Human Resources said, “This important project has the full backing of the whole council, and we will be utilising the local job centres to make sure we apply as fair process to local people who wish to apply”.
He continued, “We have made sound progress in building relationships both externally and internally, and have fully engaged managers in committing to the scheme, allowing us to identify specific opportunities for placements within our organisation”.
Earlier this year the UK government announced that it would make £60 million available to create apprenticeships and work placements for young people in the private sector.
Cllr Ron Davies – Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Planning continued, “It seems that once again we at Caerphilly County Borough Council are one step ahead, and our plans to provide training opportunities in the public sector for our young people emphasises this”.
