WIREDGOV

Job seekers and businesses across Wales can gain skills advice and support from a new Welsh Government service, recently launched by the Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology.

The Skills Gateway will offer an inclusive service for both adults who need careers information support and advice on how to improve their skills and employability or get back into work and businesses looking to upskill their workforce.

Julie James, Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology, said:

“The Skills Gateway will work towards bridging the skills gap in Wales, offering a seamless, all-age, all-needs service.

"By using existing infrastructure, streamlining services and giving users access to additional services, the Skills Gateway should make a significant difference to both businesses and job seekers.

“The Skills Gateway for adults will seek to help tens of thousands of unemployed adults to access advice and guidance and opportunities to get back into work as well as provide progression advice for those in work.

“Businesses will be able to gain access to the advice and support they need from across the Welsh Government’s portfolio of support including grants, funding and advice on a workplace’s skills or skills gaps.”

The Skills Gateway for Adults managed and delivered by Careers Wales, will complement the existing all-age, bilingual, all-Wales careers information advice and guidance services already offered by the organisation. Although all individuals will be able to access the new Skills Gateway online via careerswales.com and the Careers Wales telephone helpline services, unemployed adults aged 25 and over will now be able to access free face-to-face guidance support.

This support will be delivered by professional careers advisers at Careers Wales high street centres and through additional outreach facilities across Wales. Its main aims are to help unemployed adults identify their career options, gain new skills and get back into work.

Huw Thomas, Senior Group Partnership Manager for Wales at Job Centre Plus, said:

“We welcome the launch of Skills Gateway. The programme will be of great benefit to our customers and help to streamline the way in which careers advice is given.

“It’s good to see the service building on the existing working relationship between the Welsh Government, Department for Work and Pensions and Careers Wales. This allows us to present the best opportunities to our clients in Wales. By considering what employers want and what unemployed individuals need, the Skills Gateway will ensure advice is linked to current labour market activity and referrals made to demand-led training.”

The new Skills Gateway for Business will improve the way employers access the skills help they need through a new website and telephone helpline service delivered by Business Wales.

Businesses will be able to complete an online Skills Assessment of their workforce using the new website’s interactive Skills Assessment Tool. This free service will allow employers to receive a personal company skills profile which identifies workforce skill gaps and provides advice on how to fill them. They can then work with the dedicated skills helpline team, to discuss how to access support and advice for the development of their workforce.

Scott Waddington, Wales Commissioner to the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES), added his support to the initiative. He said:

“The consolidation of skills services into a no-nonsense, one-stop shop will be hugely beneficial to business and industry leaders in Wales who will be looking to build on their operational strengths further in 2015 as the UK economy continues to improve.

“I have no doubt the new Skills Gateway will prove hugely supportive to Welsh businesses that have already shown themselves to be amongst the most open minded in the UK when it comes to providing training opportunities for prospective and existing employees.”