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A new hub for employability has opened in Bargoed to help improve opportunities for job seekers and employers in the local area.

PeoplePlus Wales opened its new base in Lennox House on September 18.

The hub, which is located on West Street, will provide localised employment support to job seekers and employers through Jobs Growth Wales+, ReAct Plus, Restart and Apprenticeship provisions.

PeoplePlus works across Britain to deliver a range of public services, including employment support, skills training and independent living.

According to data from Census 2021, by the Office for National Statistics, 31.8% of people in the Aberbargoed and Bargoed ward are not in employment and have never worked – compared to 23.1% in Wales.

Director for PeoplePlus Wales, Kelly Reynolds, officially opened the new hub and was joined by the Mayor of Caerphilly County Borough Council Cllr Mike Adams, Dr Hefin David, Member of the Senedd for Caerphilly and Cllr Carol Andrews, Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Communities.

Dr Hefin David MS said: “People Plus have such a valuable service to offer residents of Bargoed and the wider Caerphilly area and it’s brilliant to see people are using the service already.

“If you are interested in employment training and apprenticeships or if you; ‘re at risk of being made redundant, there are many Welsh Government funded schemes available through the centre and I would really encourage you to pop along and speak to a member of the staff.

“I look forward to working with Kelly and the team again soon when following up on my research project Transitions to Employment; to discuss how People Plus can implement some new examples of work-based learning initiatives locally.”

Lennox House, previously Club Lennox, was converted into a non-residential training centre after its planning application was approved by Caerphilly County Borough Council on March 17.