Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Welcomed A Staggering 1400 People

Employment and training opportunities for younger residents, including 33 apprenticeships being offered by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council in the coming months, were showcased at a successful Jobs Fair this month. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council welcomed a staggering 1,400 people to the event at the Muni in Pontypridd, who all arrived to find out more about the exciting opportunities on offer from the authority, partner agencies and private sector employers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The event was held to mark National Apprenticeship Week and followed the Council’s recent announcement that an additional £550,000 is to be invested in its successful Apprentice and Graduate schemes, in order to create more job opportunities for young people. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

People were given the chance to find out about 33 new Apprenticeship posts being created this year across a range of Council services, including Business Administration, Financial Services, Mechanics, Housing Energy, ICT, Civil Engineering, Building Control, Children’s Services and more. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Each Council Apprenticeship is paid and offers a fixed-two year position which leads to the securing of industry-specific qualifications. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Graduate Scheme, which is, again, a two-year paid placement with opportunities across a range of services , was also showcased. There will be nine places on the Graduate Scheme offered when it opens later this year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Major employers in the area that also offer Apprenticeship and Graduate opportunities also attended the event, allowing visitors to get a full insight into the many ways in which they, as young people, can develop their careers and employment opportunities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The guest employers included some of the county borough’s highest-profile firms, including R&M Williams, GEs, Royal Mint, Morgan Sindell, BBC and Griffin Mill (full list below). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Maureen Webber, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Council Business, said: “The Council has always had a strong commitment to providing the best-possible employment and training opportunities for young people and this commitment was cemented recently with a further £550,000 investment to provide even more Apprenticeships and Graduate Officer positions. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We knew the Jobs Fair was going to be popular because of the huge amount of information and opportunities it was offering and the calibre of the businesses and private sector employers attending, but to see so many people come along to find out more was wonderful. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“A huge thanks to everyone who showed their support, especially our private sector partners. We hope that the event has reassured young people, their parents and carers that we are working innovatively and investing in the services and initiatives that matter the most.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Keep up to date on the latest Apprenticeship and Graduate Officer news and opportunities via www.rctcbc.gov.uk/jobs or follow @RCTCouncil on twitter or like Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Facebook page. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Those who supported the Jobs Fair and attended were: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• R & M Williams
• Asda
• Y Prentis/Melin Homes
• RCT Council
• Renishaw
• Waldron Ltd
• Deloitte
• GE’s
• Whitbread
• Royal Mint
• Morgan Sindell
• BBC
• Griffin Mill
• British Gas
• Laing O Rourke
• AB Connectors
• Capita