Employability hub opens in Maesteg town centre

A NEW support hub for job seekers in Maesteg town centre has opened up this month, following a ceremony held by Bridgend County Borough Council’s Employability team.

The hub, which is located on Llynfi Road, Maesteg, will be open on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30am to 3:30pm, and will offer a range of resources to assist people in all aspects of finding employment.

The hub is part of the council’s Employability programme which is funded by Welsh Government and European Social Fund, and is designed to overcome the employment challenges faced by people in local communities. It is aimed specifically at those aged over 16 who are unemployed and need a second or new job.

Councillor Neelo Farr, who attended the official opening of the new hub said it would be a great benefit to the people in the Maesteg area in the coming years.

She said:

“Our Employability Bridgend team have an excellent track record of providing help and support to people either starting out on their employment journey or looking to get back into work.

“This new hub will benefit the people of Maesteg by ensuring that they can easily access Employability Bridgend’s services. Individuals can now drop-in and speak to a member of the team who can assist with information on current vacancies, including within the local authority, plus advice on training and support opportunities, volunteering positions and much more.

“This is the first of three new hubs to be opened in the county borough, with similar hubs due to be opened in Bridgend and Porthcawl shortly.”

The Maesteg hub will be equipped with a training room for courses, a job club and access to the internet to support people in their search for employment. There are also smaller meeting rooms available which can host individual appointments with dedicated mentors, who will help to plan a person’s employment journey.

The programme also sources vocational qualifications and volunteering opportunities, with a triage service available for matching individuals with the right help as quickly as possible. The hub will also offer connections to a variety of other support networks such as local job centres and Citizens’ Advice Bureau, along with Maesteg and Bridgend Colleges.