Youths in the South Wales area are being given the opportunity to get trained and get paid straight out of school with a new initiative from a local training company.
t2 business solutions are offering youths aged 16-17 the chance to have four weeks IT training followed by up to three months work experience to get onto the employment ladder – and get paid at the same time.
Just launched, the new scheme, based in Newport City Centre, is aimed to give young adults the career start they need. Training for an IT qualification (iTQ, Level 2) will be provided, along with necessary interview skills and CV writing techniques.
Only training ten people at a time, the scheme focuses on the quality of training, building career skills, putting candidates in the right direction, and organising first interviews for work experience. IT training is also provided on the job, which will be catered around each individual and their role within the organisation. It will be agreed which software programmes the candidate will be required to use, and training modules will be used to build the qualification from this information.
Aimee Povall, age 17, from Caerleon achieved excellent GCSE grades in high school, but decided to leave Sixth Form to get a work placement and train on the job. Having recently gained a work placement through the centre, Aimee said: “When I found out that there was an opportunity to join t2, where I could gain an IT qualification with a good training provider and train for a job, I jumped at the chance.
“I decided that it was the right move for me because I had started my AS levels but was not reaching my full potential there. I wanted to be treated as an adult whilst using my skills in a job placement. Having now secured a placement in the local Careers Office through t2, I am hoping to get valuable work experience along with completing an iTQ Level 2.”
Employers will be able to interview up to four candidates for the available junior role, which will give them the choice of who to hire. After work experience is completed, employers will also have the opportunity to keep the candidates on as permanent staff, giving them the opportunity of a first job.
“Hopefully my work experience will result in full time employment after my probation period. I have already gained valuable qualifications and have been given the opportunity to succeed in a company, whilst making the first step to establishing my career.” Added Aimee.
Simon Berry, Centre Manager of t2 business solutions said: “The new centre has had a great launch. It has been newly refurbished, and resources have been modernised and redeveloped. We have taken on six trainees so far, and two of them already have work placements at local companies. The IT training that we are providing gives candidates and employers the opportunity to build skills around a job. The iTQ covers everything from general office packages, internet and email, to company intranets.
“IT is an integral part in every business, and it is important that all employees have the necessary training in every package that the company uses. That is what the iTQ does. It creates a bespoke IT training course, based on what the candidate and employer requires, creating well-rounded IT skills for the employee.
Taking fewer candidates is giving us the chance to concentrate on giving them the experience and worthwhile qualifications that they need to obtain a good placement.”
Rob Marr, Managing Director of t2 business solutions said: “Statistics show that employers need almost 8 million employees to improve their IT skills, and that more than 8 million employees have had no formal IT training. This initiative will benefit both education leavers and businesses. Businesses will be able to cost effectively hire a junior, who already has some of the skills required for the job. This can be crucial for first time employment for both employees and employers.
“The scheme will allow businesses to increase productivity with a high quality junior available to them, and with a choice of four candidates, they can choose who they wish to employ. With 9 out of 10 new jobs now requiring IT skills, candidates will be able to gain the confidence to obtain jobs and IT qualifications to support them through this.”
For more information on the Youth Training Centre, visit www.t2business.co.uk/centre |
