Finance Secretary will today [Wednesday 9 May]
announce £22.5m of EU funding for schemes to help young people
and women in Wales improve their skills and employment prospects.
This extra help, which is being announced on Europe Day, will
ensure almost 8,000 people receive support and training.
The projects to benefit from EU funding include Inspire2Work,
Trac 11-24, Achieve through Work Experience and Agile Nation II.
Finance Secretary said:
“I am delighted to see EU funds being invested in projects to
support people to gain the skills they need to achieve their
potential.
“Wales has benefited hugely from EU funding programmes for 20
years and these projects highlight the importance of Wales
receiving replacement funding from the UK government once the UK
leaves the EU.”
David Blaney, chief executive of the Higher Education Funding
Council for Wales, said:
“We are pleased the GO Wales: Achieve through Work Experience
scheme has been recognised with further investment through the
European Social Fund.
“By focusing on students whose backgrounds mean they have
traditionally been more disadvantaged in the jobs market, the
scheme – through work experience opportunities and up-skilling –
has already shown positive outcomes for participants.
“We look forward to seeing more students referred to the scheme
and taking advantage of a range of work experience opportunities
with local employers, which will further improve employment
prospects and reduce the risk of disenfranchisement.”
The new funding announced today is in addition to more than £650m
of EU funds, which have been invested in training and work in
Wales - more than £200m of which has supported young people.
Notes to editors
- Inspire2Work will receive an extra £6m to provide more
support and training to young people in Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon
Taf, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil and Torfaen. The project is
already supported by £5.3m of EU funding.
- Trac 11-24 will receive an extra £9.5m to continue to address
barriers to education so young people can remain in school or
training across North Wales. The project is already supported
with £11.5m of EU funding.
- Achieve through Work Experience will receive an extra £1.6m
to provide more tailored work experience opportunities for young
students across Wales. The project is already supported with
£4.6m of EU funding.
- Agile Nation ll will receive an extra £5.5m of EU funds to
continue helping women gain new skills to progress in the
workplace and move up the career ladder. The project is already
supported with £8m of EU funding.
