Thousands of visitors to the SkillsCymru event being held at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium this week (16-18 September) will be able to see just how the one-to-one evaluation and support provided by employment and skills specialist, Working Links has helped 20,000 people in Wales back to work in ten years.
Working Links will have a team of experienced consultants, trainers and advisors on hand at the event to demonstrate the techniques used to identify barriers to work and how that is translated into a tailored package of practical support. Christian Morris, Wales regional skills manager for Working Links, said: “The customer journey is different for each person, but starts with a proven diagnostic programme, not unlike psychometric testing. The profile we can build on a customer helps to structure the support we give, but also provides reassurance to employers that we are matching the right person with the right job or training opportunity.”
Working Links delivers a number of public sector funded programmes designed to help people with a variety of barriers to find and keep a new job, underlining the company’s ethos that employment is the best route out of poverty. The organisation is showcasing its employment support and training services at the Skills Cymru event to demonstrate the benefits to employers, graduates and jobseekers of engaging with the welfare to work sector to reduce reliance on benefits and increase opportunities for employment.
Commenting on the strategy behind the Skills Cymru event, Deputy Minister for Science, Innovation and Skills, Lesley Griffiths, said: “Skills Cymru is an excellent opportunity for the Assembly Government, employers, and the education sectors to join forces to help people in Wales and aid the nation’s fight back against the economic downturn.
“Employers will have a unique chance to showcase their enterprises and raise awareness of the jobs, apprenticeships and training opportunities they can offer, as well as meeting potential employees and trainees of all ages from across Wales.
“Wales is leading the way post-recession by promoting the learning of new skills. Skills Cymru is a key strand in our strategy to offset a recessionary rise in unemployment, while helping fulfil the Assembly Government’s One Wales commitment to skills,” she added.
Mr Morris continued: “Redundancy and unemployment are a symptom of any economic downturn, but our partnerships with employers suggests that there are opportunities out there for the right people. Our programmes aim to improve skills and job-readiness, helping candidates to be that ‘right person’.
“Not surprisingly, the welfare to work sector has seen an increase in activity in recent years. Whereas the downturn has led to several graduate schemes being cut-back or withdrawn altogether, Working Links has recently launched a new graduate training programme. We have also been piloting our Welfare to Work Sector Routeway, which is a specific training programme for consultants and advisors in the sector which will help participants develop a range of skills in key areas for their roles. We are currently undertaking the accreditation process which means the Routeway will lead to a NVQ Level 3 qualification – the first of its kind for Welfare to Work.”
Employers, graduates and jobseekers are invited to visit Stand 46 at the Skills Cymru Event to find out more about working with Working Links. Find out more at www.workinglinks.co.uk.
