Ian Williams hits apprenticeship high
as unemployment soars
Ian Williams' Cardiff business is taking on the
highest number of apprentices in its 60-year history to give young
people a foot on the employment ladder by championing the need for
Welsh businesses to support apprenticeships as record numbers of
young people face unemployment.
Figures show that the number of 18 to 24-year-olds claiming Job
Seekers Allowance in Wales increased by 3,500 to 27,000 people in
the last year, according to the government. Ian Williams has
exceeded its target of five per cent of its workforce being
apprentices. The company now has 13 apprentices working on
painting, electrical and refurbishment contracts.
Apprentices study at colleges in Barry, Coleg Gwent, Merthyr,
Pontypridd, and Bridgend, as well as Newport and Pontypool
campus.
Ian Williams is working with its customers such as Newport City
Homes to provide more apprenticeship opportunities and is looking
at other ways of creating training and employment opportunities,
despite government funding cuts for apprenticeships.
One young person who has benefitted from an apprenticeship with
Ian Williams is Daniel Llewellyn
.
The 22-year-old from Stow Hill, Newport, has just begun his
third year on the apprenticeship programme working with Newport
City Homes whilst completing his qualifications.
The painter moved to Newport from Cardiff when he was 19. At
that time, Newport City Homes was developing a partnering approach
to apprentice training with their framework contractors and Daniel
was offered an apprenticeship with Newport City Homes, working with
Ian Williams. He was offered employment with his three uncles who
run a plumbing firm in west Wales but turned it down to work with
Ian Williams.
He said: “My family were really chuffed for me that I got on the
scheme and it has been ideal. It was a route to learn my trade but
also get all the qualifications I needed. I would recommend the
apprentice route to anyone.”
Ken Jones, general manager for Ian Williams, said: “We are very
proud of our apprenticeship programme and the impact it has on
local communities.
“It is becoming increasingly hard for organisations to offer
apprenticeships in the face of public spending cuts but there are
opportunities for housing associations to work with partners and
particularly private sector contractors like ourselves to offer
apprenticeship schemes.”