Success Fuels ITEC Growth
24.03.11
One of Wales’ leading training providers is poised for major expansion after being selected to take on a much bigger role in upskilling school-leavers, apprentices and job-seekers.
ITEC Training has been notified by the Welsh Assembly Government of the intention to award the organisation a new three-year agreement which will more than double its work-based learning activities across south-east Wales.
News of the contract, which starts in August and is linked to performance, came as ITEC officially unveiled its new Training Academy in the centre of Cardiff.
ITEC is one of several training organisations taking on extra teaching responsibilities following a quality-driven overhaul and rationalisation of the learning provider network in Wales by the Assembly Government.
Work-Based Learning (WBL) includes Apprenticeship and Skill Build programmes. The latter will shortly be replaced by the new Traineeship programme for unemployed young people and by Steps to Employment for non-employed adults not eligible for training through JobCentre Plus.
Opening ITEC’s new Academy building in Crawshay Court, Curran Road, Lesley Griffiths, Deputy Minister for Science, Innovation and Skills, said tackling youth and adult unemployment remained one of the Assembly Government’s top priorities, with more than £126 million invested in WBL programmes across Wales this year.
She said "It is pleasing to see the amount of investment ITEC is making for the future of learners from the south Wales area in what is currently a very difficult economic environment."
ITEC has been delivering training for more than 25 years. The organisation consistently scores highly in official audits and will shortly be given the results of its latest inspection by Estyn, the education and training inspectorate for Wales.
Until recently, ITEC’s Cardiff Academy, opened in 1997, was housed in a 100-year-old building in Trade Street, comprising a complex network of offices, teaching rooms and corridors over four floors.
The organisation, which also has centres in Newport and Porth, has now transferred the Academy’s 25 staff and all activities to nearby Crawshay Court. It says the modern, flexible accommodation provides a better learning and teaching environment.
Between 80 and 130 people are on courses at the Academy at any one time, ranging from young learners aged 16 and above on basic skills courses to adults training for more job-specific qualifications.
ITEC managing director Steve Brangwyn said "We are delighted that the Assembly Government has shown continuing confidence in our ability to deliver value-for-money training and improve the skills of those who need it.
"We often hear comments from employers that job-seekers lack certain skills and that’s something we, in partnership with the Assembly Government, are determined to address."
He added "ITEC provides a structured, disciplined, supportive environment in which learners can acquire the skills and, where necessary, the confidence for work. It is a matter of personal and professional pride for our staff to send people on their way in life with more hope."
