Economy, Skills, Welfare to Work

– £17.5m investment in Welsh skills

The Deputy Minister Lesley Griffiths called on Welsh employers to support a new initiative and sign up to the new Employer Pledge which is supported by £10m from the European Social Fund.

skillscymru, is the largest ever interactive careers and skills event to be held in Wales. It is part of a major push by the Welsh Assembly Government to aid Wales’ recovery from the global economic downturn by preparing the population for a new higher-skilled era.

This investment is geared to raise the skills of 30,000 people working in businesses and organisations of all sizes across Wales. It is expected that 1000 employers will sign up over the next four years and commit to improving the basic skills of their workforce.

The emphasis will be on results with learners being encouraged to gain recognised qualifications that for many will mark their first step towards further workforce skills development.

“The Employer Pledge is one of the commitments highlighted in Economic Renewal: a new direction and is designed to help employers tackle the costs and wasted potential arising from low levels of literacy and numeracy in the workforce.

The  Employer Pledge Award will be presented to Cartrefi Cymru, a Welsh national charity that provides social care and house-related support for people.

Cartrefi Cymru employs over a thousand staff and works in twelve local authority areas across Wales. It was one of the first social care providers in Wales to be recognised for its pledge to improve the basic skills of its employees.

It participated in the first phase of the Employer Pledge programme in 2006 and by March 2010 over ninety staff had received support within the organisation, with one member of staff progressing to an assistant manager.

It has resulted in huge benefits for the organisation including improvement in staff retention rates. The Award recognises the organisation’s commitment to embed the Employer Pledge within the company ethos.

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