New college courses for jobs in the green economy

THE Welsh Government has awarded £2 million to further education colleges to provide training for jobs in the green economy.

The funding is part of the Welsh Government’s Personal Learning Accounts programme, which supports people in lower-income jobs to retrain and move into longer term, skilled jobs with higher earnings.

Coleg Sir Gar is one of six FE colleges across Wales awarded funding to deliver the courses. These will include areas such as electric and hybrid cars, environmentally-friendly heating systems and e-bikes. The courses will be available from level 2 to level 5, with most courses at level 3. The courses are part-time and flexible, designed for study around other commitments.

The courses will be open to:

adults over 19 who earn under £26,000 a year, including employees currently on furlough, or on a zero hours contract, or whose job is at risk; and
employees of companies who have identified specific training needs in these sectors.

Personal Learning Account courses are designed to match skills gaps identified in priority sectors. Further education colleges have worked with employers to develop courses which are expected to create job opportunities now or in the near future.

The Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles, said:

“Jobs in the green economy will continue to increase in the future, as we intensify our actions to fight climate change, such as the shift towards more environmentally-friendly transport. Our further education colleges will be instrumental in ensuring we have skilled workers with the expertise to meet the demand from employers.

“If you’re worried about the certainty of your employment, or you’re on furlough or a zero hours contract, accessing a free Personal Learning Account could provide you with the skills and qualifications to embark on a new and rewarding career.”

Local MS, Lee Waters, said:

“I’m delighted to see Coleg Sir Gar benefitting from our manifesto pledge to deliver Personal Learning Accounts and a genuine system of lifelong learning. We want to build an economy based on the principles of fair work, sustainability and the industries and services of the future. Our increased investment in Personal Learning Accounts will help ensure workers across Wales can access new training opportunities to upskill or reskill and take advantage of the opportunities these new jobs will deliver.”

Further information about Personal Learning Accounts is available by contacting your local further education college.