PLA

Stuck in a Rut?

Published in Newport Matters - January 2020

Coleg Gwent is working with the Welsh Government on an initiative offering people the chance to gain the skills and qualifications they need to rewrite their career.

Courses are designed to tackle skills shortages in Wales in the engineering, construction and ICT sector to help people who are looking to enhance their career or change it all together.

A Personal Learning Account (PLA) is available to anyone over the age of 19 who is in employment, but earning less than £26k per year. The scheme offers them access to free and flexible courses to gain the relevant skills and qualifications needed to kick-start a new career.

All courses will be run during theevenings or weekends, as well as during the week, to offer flexible and convenient learning around existing work and family commitments. This means you can remain in existing employment while gaining the skills and qualifications that employers want and need.

Coleg Gwent is the only college in South Wales to run this two year pilot scheme backed by the Welsh Government. It is expected that the project will support around 1,000 participants over the lifetime of the pilot.

Kirsty Williams, the Minister for Education, said: “Employers within the engineering, construction and ICT sectors are experiencing rising skill shortages and are looking to recruit individuals with the relevant vocational skills and qualifications they need to fill current and future gaps. This new project will help them to do that.”

Apply now - www.coleggwent.ac.uk/pla

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