Economy Minister visits ACT Skills Centre

ACT welcomed Vaughan Gething MS to its Hadfield Road Skills Centre to meet with staff and, most importantly, hear from the young people who continue to benefit from Jobs Growth Wales+ (JGW+) since it launched nearly two years ago.

First introduced in November 2021, the Young Person’s Guarantee provides under 25s in Wales the support to gain a place in education or training, find a job or become self-employed, and has supported more than 11,000 young people to find jobs since.

ACT has been a key driver in achieving this as the leading provider of the JGW+ programme in Wales, as such ACT staff and learners joined representatives from Careers Wales and partner organisations – in the opportunity to meet with Mr Gething and feedback on their experiences of delivering and benefitting from the programme first-hand.

Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething MS, said:

“Through our Young Person’s Guarantee, the Welsh Government is fully committed to investing in the lives of young people who need a helping hand to achieve their full potential.

“It is inspiring to hear how young people, particularly from disadvantaged backgrounds, are accessing support such as Jobs Growth Wales+ and with the help of our partners such as ACT and Careers Wales, are now looking positively towards their futures.

“Through our National Conversation we will continue to engage and listen to young people as we shape the support we provide.”

Eighteen-year-old Jess Stiff is currently a JGW+ Advancement Level 1 Animal Care learner. She said of the programme: “I didn’t have a clue what to do when I left school. I worked in retail and as a housekeeper but hated them both. Then I heard about ACT and Jobs Growth Wales+, the fact that I could work and learn at the same time.

“I’m hopefully going to get a placement at a riding school which I am really looking forward to and I absolutely enjoy everything about what I’m doing now. It’s great.”

Nina De-Freitas left school two years ago and didn’t know what to do next. Now 18 and having studied Animal Care with ACT for the past two years, she has a clear career path and starts a course at Pencoed College studying Animal Care Level 3 in September.

Nina said: “School wasn’t for me, I hated it, so it was great when I found ACT. The tutors treat you like an adult and the people I learn with are fab too.”