Latest News

Plans for new Training Academy

Published: 09/09/2015

Flintshire County Council’s Cabinet are being recommended to approve plans to set up a new training academy which aims to create 250 local jobs and 40 apprenticeships in construction over the next five years. If the plans are improved, the Council will establish its own Community Benefit Training Academy and become the employer of trainees and apprentices across a number of areas of construction. With £500m of investment on building projects planned in the county over the next five years, the Academy would seek to maximise opportunities for local communities and provide a lasting legacy. The £500m investment is being spent on three programmes: · The Welsh Housing Quality Standard, which will see improvements to council properties across the county · 21st Century Schools which is building new education facilities at Holywell and Connah’s Quay · The Strategic Housing and Regeneration Programme (SHARP) which will see 500 new homes built, with about 200 being council homes. As part of the tendering process for all three programmes, contractors are required to confirm the number of local jobs, training opportunities and traineeships that will be available. It is proposed that The Academy would then manage the employment opportunities for all three projects. It would work in partnership with local employment and training agencies including schools and colleges, to target young people aged 16-24 not in education or employment and the long term unemployed to make the most of the opportunities available. In addition to the job creation, community initiatives will also be developed such as funds towards the refurbishment of community centres, events, art walls and community gardens. The Academy will be self-sufficient as the funding would be provided by contractors as part of their contractual arrangements. Council Leader Aaron Shotton said: “There’s a lot of money being invested in Flintshire through these projects and we want to make sure that we maximise job and training opportunities and develop a lasting legacy for the county and the authority. The aim is to create over 250 local jobs and 40 apprentices over the next five years. The skills gained will be of huge benefit to local communities and the local economy.” The plans will be discussed at Flintshire’s Cabinet on 15 September.