Training group wins valuable contracts

More than 400 young adults will be found traineeships in various industries across the Midlands thanks to £1 million-plus of Government contracts won by the region’s leading training group.

The BCTG Group has received the funding through two of its subsidiary companies, with £710,000 won by BCTG Ltd and another £300,000 going to PTP Training.

The investment from the Government’s National Apprenticeship Service will support 400-plus traineeship places through to the end of July 2021, targeting unemployed aged 19 to 24. A traineeship is a skills development programme that includes a work placement and can last from six weeks up to a year, with the aim of getting young people into work.

Employers can claim £1,000 to cover the costs of providing the work placement, and currently up to another £3,000 if that trainee then becomes an apprentice.

Chris Luty, chief executive of Black Country-based BCTG, said: “We’re delighted to be working with the Government on this substantial programme which aims to move young people into jobs quickly – usually within six to eight weeks.

“We will be recruiting for the traineeships in a range of sectors including construction, healthcare, digital and IT services, leather manufacturing, childcare, administration and logistics.”

Mr Luty said that each young person involved would be provided with skills training, vocational qualifications, English and maths and work experience to get them ready for an apprenticeship or job if they don’t have the appropriate skills or experience. To do this safely, BCTG will be currently providing the training online, building up to the work experience.

He said the traineeships project was one of Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s big initiatives for his recovery plan, with the aim of finding each trainee an apprenticeship or job.

Mr Luty, whose BCTG group supports the training of almost 10,000 young people and adults each year, said: “We take the safety of our trainees very seriously, so we vet all employers in advance to check their COVID-19 safety measures.”

Young people can find out about the scheme here www.bctg.org.uk/individuals/traineeships-/, and interested employers should visit http://www.bctg.org.uk/employers/traineeships-/.

Pictured: Chris Luty