New Quickstart service aims to help people find work and gain skills.

Bridgend County Borough Council has launched a new supported employment programme to help local people find work, develop new skills and gain valuable experience.

Using funding from the UK Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the Quickstart programme will support local people aged 16+ who are unemployed or economically inactive to access paid work placements lasting up to 22 weeks.

The placements will be designed to help them gain valuable experience, enhance their employability skills, and increase their chances of finding full-time secure work once the placement has ended.

The programme will support up to 100 participants by January 2025. Each participant will be paid for 25 hours per week, with all individuals receiving the relevant national minimum wage for their age group.

Host employers will all be businesses based within Bridgend County Borough that employ between 10 and 250 staff. They will be able to interview applicants using their usual processes before appointing those deemed most suitable for the role.

As part of the work placements, participants will also be able to gain new qualifications by accessing accredited training opportunities.

The Quickstart programme will be delivered on behalf of Bridgend County Borough Council by Whitehead-Ross Education, who specialise in government-funded training and social welfare programmes.

Councillor Neelo Farr, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economic Development and Housing, said “This initiative will offer much-needed support to people who want to gain valuable experience and develop new skills designed to help them find full-time work.

“The Quickstart Bridgend service will complement both the council’s existing Employability Bridgend programme, which provides a range of employment and training support to residents across the county borough, and our ongoing work alongside partners such as the Department for Work and Pensions.

“In line with our Economic Strategy and Wellbeing Assessment, the programme will also support local businesses while helping people to meet their full potential, and I am delighted to see it being launched here in Bridgend County Borough.”

Ian Ross, CEO of Whitehead-Ross Education, said: “We are delighted to be delivering the Quickstart programme to help reduce levels of economic inactivity by providing intensive employment support for people furthest from the labour market. The programme also provides opportunities for local businesses to create jobs and boost community cohesion, through investments that build on existing industries and institutions.”

For further information on the Quickstart programme, please contact Bridgend.Quickstart@wrecltd.co.uk.