New training and skills academy opens doors for youngsters in Caerphilly town

Welsh rugby legend Jonathan Davies has opened a new £250,000 training centre in Caerphilly town to help boost the job prospects of unemployed youngsters.

Work-based training provider ACT opened the doors to its expanded Skills Academy on the Pontygwindy Industrial Estate on Monday. The new centre aims to help hundreds of youngsters in the region into jobs.

Local employers were also invited to the open day launch to inspect the revamped centre and find out about training opportunities.

BBC pundit Jonathan Davies hosted the day in his role as ACT’s Skills Ambassador and was joined by Caerphilly AM and Deputy Minister for Skills Jeff Cuthbert.

Both men talked about the importance of work-based training and how it helped them in their careers and personal lives.

Before finding rugby fame, Davies left school at 16 with hardly any qualifications. It was through a family friend that he was offered an apprenticeship as a painter and decorator.

He said: “My apprenticeship was very important. It’s one of these things where one, you get a skill, but two, you get the discipline and a work ethic.

“It’s irrespective if you stay in that trade all your life or whether you go on and do something else, you get that discipline and work ethic from a very young age.

“It’s so easy to languish and do nothing all day, but if you have an opportunity then grasp it, and it’s the self-discipline that gives you the motivation to be successful at it.”

Mr Cuthbert, who started his working life with the National Coal Board as an Apprentice Mining Surveyor, said: “ACT works closely with the Welsh Government through its delivery of our apprenticeship and employability programmes. This new academy will offer learners based in and around the Caerphilly area access to the high quality training to gain the skills they need for employment.

“We are only too aware of the difficulties faced by young people and adults in this challenging climate. That is why tackling both youth and adult unemployment by boosting skills remains one of the Welsh Government’s top priorities.”

Before the refurbishment, the academy offered training in hairdressing and barbering, IT, business administration, performing manufacturing operations and bricklaying.

Following the £250,000 expansion, the new facilities also include a motor vehicle training section, construction training suite and a fully-functioning kitchen equipped with the latest catering equipment, offering learners a hands-on learning experience.

The centre now offers a much wider range of training options for construction, including plastering, carpentry, plumbing, painting and decorating.

The academy also supports learners with general employability skills, including literacy, numeracy, teamwork and problem solving.

The refurbishment and expansion of the centre follows a £23m contract from the Welsh Government to deliver training to thousands of youngsters across Wales.

Michele Kerr, centre manager at ACT’s Caerphilly Skills Academy, said: “It has been very exciting to open our doors and welcome local employers, Careers Wales and other supporting organisations to tour the new facilities.

“We have seen how young people have benefited from a pro-active, hands-on learning environment through our other academies, and look forward to enabling Caerphilly youngsters to explore different career opportunities by learning new skills.”

Catering student Steven Loveridge, of Graig-Y-Rhacca, said training with ACT was better for him as opposed to college.

He said: “I was in college last year but didn’t like it. The facilities here are brilliant and I get to learn life skills as well as catering.”

The most recent unemployment figures show that 18.8% of 18-24 year olds in Caerphilly County Borough are listed as jobless, giving the area a 50% higher unemployment rate than the UK average of 12.4%. The unemployment rate for the age group is also above the Welsh average of 14.1%.

Andrew Cooksley, managing director of ACT, said: “With high youth unemployment dominating the headlines, we want to ensure that the younger generations in Wales are not left behind and that they take advantage of the excellent opportunities available to them through our new centre. Last year we provided training for 1,600 young people across Wales, and we hope that investment in the Caerphilly Academy will encourage more young people to do something really positive by engaging in our range of great courses.

“As an organisation, we are very supportive in helping young people achieve their ambitions and are looking forward to working with organisations in the local area who share the same values.”