A SOUTH Wales education organisation marks not only twelve years in operation but also having supported more than 12,000 people from across South Wales to improve their employability prospects.
Whitehead-Ross Education opened its first office in Skewen in 2012 to offer employability services to people across Neath Port Talbot. Since then, it has opened five more training centres across South Wales as it supports more than 2,000 people in Wales each year. In addition to this, they have opened a further seven centres in England.
Each training centre offers a tailored support service to meet the needs of the local community whilst assisting people who are economically inactive to improve their employment prospects.
Last week, South Wales West MS Sioned Williams paid a visit to Whitehead-Ross Education’s Aberavon Employability Academy to join in with their celebrations and discover more about the support available to the local community.
Visiting the Employability Academy, Sioned Williams said: “Support for people to upskill and move into employment has always been important, however it has become even more crucial for both individuals and our economy following the recent job losses at Tata Steel.
“It is fantastic to see Whitehead-Ross Education building on their experience in the local area in order to support the community at this very challenging time.”
Across Neath Port Talbot in the Skewen office- the first to open back in 2012- staff support people who are unemployed and those experiencing mental or physical health conditions through its Working on Wellbeing programme. In addition, digital skills training is provided through the UK Government’s Multiply programme.
Economic inactivity in Wales currently stands at 28% of the population, which is the highest in the UK. Employability programmes offered by Whitehead-Ross Education help to tackle this by offering those who are economically inactive the chance to access training and skill development, while facilitating job opportunities.
CEO Ian Ross said: “Our services often provide tailored and specialist support to economically inactive and disadvantaged groups of people across Wales, whose future could be hanging in the balance.
“The courses we offer enable people to improve their life chances by improving their skills. This in turns helps to facilitate job opportunities, enables them to secure a higher paid job, improves living standards, increases spending, and restores a sense of pride.
“Employability services go far beyond securing employment. Education, skills, and training play a crucial role in tackling poverty, improving living standards, spreading opportunities, and improving employment prospects.”
In addition to the variety of support programmes it offers, Whitehead-Ross Education also organises a variety of fundraising events for local charities throughout the year, with the next being their Christmas Carol Service and Party at the end of November in Mumbles. Raising funds for Radio City, the hospital radio for Swansea Bay University Health Board, staff and guests will be joined by the Briton Ferry Silver Band who will be providing the music throughout the evening.
Whitehead-Ross Education is an adult education and social service provision that operates six training centres in South Wales and supports 2,000 in Wales people to improve their skills and employability prospects every year. Working across the UK it has now supported over 16,000 unemployed individuals to secure and retain jobs through employability programmes, adult education and social service provision.
For more information visit www.wrecltd.co.uk
