Teenage job-seekers' £5.5m boost

Swansea teenagers in search of essential work skills will soon be able to tap into a record £5.5m training boost.

The figure is an increase on previous years' contracts awarded by The Welsh Assembly Government's Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (DCELLS) to city-based job skills experts Employment Training.

"We're delighted that the success of our work-based learning programmes over the past few years has helped us clinch this new contract," said Employment Training manager Stephen Harris.

"This is the best offer we've had from DCELLSs and will have a positive impact on those who need skills to gain employment.

"It will support vocational learning with priority this year being given to those most in need- that is those aged 16-19 and unemployed adults."

Employment Training's successful Skill Build programme will benefit.

This is aimed at individuals who are not employed and who require occupational skills learning or are unclear about their vocational aims. It offers individuals a chance to "job taste" in a variety of work environments before starting a vocational course.

Employment Training is a Swansea Council enterprise and one of Wales' leading vocational training providers. It has more then 30 years of experience in the training and development of work-related skills.

It offers a wide range of programmes in vocational training, basic skills and key skills, vocational tasters and work experience.

Courses include NVQs, City and Guilds, Modern Apprenticeships, the Welsh Baccalaureate and Modern Skills Diplomas.

The sectors it works in include agriculture, business, construction, education, engineering, health, leisure and retail.

With key bases in Fforestfach, Townhill, Clase, Llanelli and Ammanford, it supports more than 3,000 trainees and works closely with more than 500 local and national employers of all sizes.