Latest news with #Cyfle
South Wales Argus
25-05-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Y Prentis apprenticeship scheme Closure confirmed by council
Y Prentis was set up by Monmouthshire County Council and housing association Melin Homes in 2016 and provides apprenticeships across the 10 authorities that make up the Cardiff Capital Region in South East Wales but has struggled to provide opportunities in recent years. That has resulted in it recording a loss, of £75,123, in 2023/24 on top of loss of £24,311 the previous year and only a minority of those in training were completing their apprentices and gaining the required qualifications. Melin Homes, which was the joint shareholder with Monmouthshire council and paid a management fee for hosting the programme, decided earlier this year it no longer wished to do so following its merger with Newport City Homes to create the Hedyn housing association. Monmouthshire council's Labour-led cabinet has now agreed to close Y Prentis and around 50 apprentices and staff will transfer to South West Wales-based training body Cyfle. Run by the three independent construction industry training groups it holds charitable status and is the largest shared apprenticeship scheme in the UK and currently employs 95 apprentices and will expand its operating base to take in South East Wales. Council deputy leader Paul Griffiths described the closure of Y Prentis as 'unfortunate' but said the relationship with Cyfle is 'very postitive'. It's estimated Y Prentis will have a surplus of around £100,000 on closure and any money remaining after paying off creditors will be transferred to Cyfle in line with its article of association that any surplus is transferred to an organisation with similar objectives. A Monmouthshire council officer will also have a seat on Cyfle's directors board to provide future updates to council committees and the cabinet.
Business News Wales
14-05-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Applications Open for Shared Apprenticeship Scheme in Pembrokeshire
Limited places are available for an award-winning programme offering a gateway into a construction career. Cyfle Building Skills is accepting applications for its Shared Apprenticeship Scheme in the Pembrokeshire region – with just 10 places available for motivated individuals looking to kick-start a career in the construction industry. The award-winning scheme enables young people and career changers to gain valuable hands-on experience while studying towards a recognised vocational qualification. Through a shared apprenticeship model, participants rotate between a number of reputable local construction employers, gaining a wide range of real-world skills and on-site experience alongside one-day-a-week college learning. To help interested candidates find out more, Cyfle's Pembrokeshire Coordinator, Paul Falzon, will be hosting a drop-in information session at The Corner Room, Haverhub, The Old Post Office, 12 Quay Street, Haverfordwest, SA61 1BG, on Wednesday 21 May 2025, between 09:00 and 13:00. No appointment is necessary. Now in its 12th year, the Shared Apprenticeship Scheme has supported nearly 1,000 apprentices across South West Wales. Apprentices have the opportunity to specialise in a wide range of trades, including bricklaying, plastering, carpentry, electrical, plumbing, painting and decorating, maintenance/multi-skilling, and technical roles. The scheme offers an ideal route into the industry, with around 90% of apprentices securing full-time employment upon completion. Backed by local construction businesses and supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, it helps meet the growing demand for skilled workers while offering a flexible and supportive path for those entering the sector. The scheme plays a key role in developing a future workforce for the construction industry, ensuring young people and career changers alike have the skills, knowledge, and experience to thrive. Paul Falzon, Pembrokeshire Coordinator for Cyfle Building Skills, said: 'This scheme has helped hundreds of young people across South West Wales take their first steps into the construction industry, and we're excited to be expanding opportunities here in Pembrokeshire. Whether you're a school leaver, career changer, or simply someone who enjoys hands-on work, I'd encourage you to come along to the drop-in session or get in touch. It could be the start of something great.' Applications for the Pembrokeshire Shared Apprenticeship Scheme close at the end of June 2025. Those interested are encouraged to apply early due to limited availability. In addition, contractors in the Pembrokeshire region who are interested in supporting the scheme by offering placements are encouraged to get in touch. For more information, or to express interest, please contact Paul Falzon directly on 07799 716 567 or
Western Telegraph
11-05-2025
- Business
- Western Telegraph
Cyfle Building Skills launch apprenticeship scheme
Cyfle Building Skills has announced that it is accepting applications for its Shared Apprenticeship Scheme in Pembrokeshire. There are only 10 places available for individuals who want to start a career in the construction industry. The scheme allows young people and those looking to change careers to gain hands-on experience while studying for a recognised vocational qualification. Participants will rotate between several local construction employers, gaining a wide range of skills and on-site experience alongside one day a week of college learning. To help interested candidates find out more, Cyfle's Pembrokeshire coordinator, Paul Falzon, will be hosting a drop-in information session at The Corner Room, Haverhub, The Old Post Office, 12 Quay Street, Haverfordwest, SA61 1BG, on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, between 9am and 1pm. No appointment is necessary. Now in its 12th year, the Shared Apprenticeship Scheme has supported nearly 1,000 apprentices across south west Wales. Apprentices have the opportunity to specialise in a wide range of trades, including bricklaying, plastering, carpentry, electrical, plumbing, painting and decorating, maintenance/multi-skilling, and technical roles. The scheme offers a route into the industry, with around 90 per cent of apprentices securing full-time employment upon completion. Supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund with the backing of businesses in the county, it helps meet the growing demand for skilled workers while offering a flexible and supportive path for those entering the sector. Applications for the Pembrokeshire Shared Apprenticeship Scheme close at the end of June 2025. Those interested are encouraged to apply early due to limited availability. In addition, contractors in the Pembrokeshire region who are interested in supporting the scheme by offering placements are encouraged to get in touch. Paul Falzon, Pembrokeshire coordinator for Cyfle Building Skills, said: "This scheme has helped hundreds of young people across south west Wales take their first steps into the construction industry, and we're excited to be expanding opportunities here in Pembrokeshire. "Whether you're a school leaver, career changer, or simply someone who enjoys hands-on work, I'd encourage you to come along to the drop-in session or get in touch. "It could be the start of something great." For more information, visit the Cyfle Building Skills website.
Pembrokeshire Herald
09-05-2025
- Business
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Ten apprenticeship places up for grabs in award-winning construction scheme
Young people and career changers invited to apply for Cyfle Building Skills initiative APPLICATIONS are now open for the Cyfle Building Skills Shared Apprenticeship Scheme in Pembrokeshire – with only ten places available for those looking to begin a career in the construction industry. The highly regarded programme, now in its twelfth year, offers hands-on experience across a range of trades while participants study towards a recognised vocational qualification. Uniquely, apprentices rotate between several trusted local construction firms, gaining a broad range of on-site experience. One day a week is spent at college to support their training. Paul Falzon, Pembrokeshire Coordinator for Cyfle, is hosting a drop-in information session on Wednesday (May 21) at The Corner Room, Haverhub, The Old Post Office, Quay Street, Haverfordwest, from 9:00am to 1:00pm. No appointment is needed. The scheme has supported nearly 1,000 apprentices across South West Wales and has a strong success rate – with around 90% of apprentices going on to full-time employment after completing the programme. Trades on offer include bricklaying, plastering, carpentry, electrical work, plumbing, painting and decorating, maintenance/multi-skilling, and technical roles. Backed by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the programme aims to address the growing demand for skilled workers in the construction sector and provide a flexible, supported route into the industry. Mr Falzon said: 'This scheme has helped hundreds of young people take their first steps into the construction industry, and we're thrilled to be expanding our presence in Pembrokeshire. Whether you're a school leaver, a career changer, or someone who enjoys practical work, I'd encourage you to come along to the drop-in session or get in touch—it could be the start of something great.' Applications close at the end of June 2025, and with limited availability, early application is advised. Local contractors who would like to support the scheme by offering placements are also encouraged to contact Mr Falzon directly on 07799 716 567 or For more information or to apply online, visit:
Business News Wales
08-05-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Bouygues UK Delivers More Than £35m in Social Value at West Wales Project
Bouygues UK, the lead contractor for Llanelli's Canolfan Pentre Awel, has overdelivered on its social value commitments and targets during the build – including more than 400 extra weeks' work for trainees or new entrants into the industry. The Canolfan Pentre Awel team has made it a priority during the nearly two years on site to enhance the lives of the people in Carmarthenshire, providing career opportunities, improving education and skills, engaging with the local community and supporting local businesses. Bouygues UK's project team has delivered more than £35 million in social value through their employment, education, supply chain and community engagement (Social Value Portal 2025). When it comes to career and skills development, Bouygues UK partnered with the local supply chain to create 76 new entrant jobs and provide 62 apprenticeship opportunities in mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) roles. Through collaboration with Whitehead Building Services, 10 mechanical and plumbing apprentices also joined Cyfle's Shared Apprenticeship Scheme. In partnership with Acorn by Synergie, an on-site employment hub was established, helping match candidates with career opportunities. The hub facilitated 15 sessions, resulting in 36 people securing employment – 32 at Canolfan Pentre Awel and four at other sites run by supply chain partners across Carmarthenshire. Bouygues UK also engaged with local schools and colleges. Led by Nina Williams, social value advisor on the project, the team delivered more than 100 hours of educational activities, and directly engaged with more than 2,000 primary and secondary school students. A standout initiative was the Pentre Awel design challenge, funded by the Regional Learning and Skills Partnership's Skills and Talent Fund and shortlisted at the Welsh STEM Awards 2024. This programme connected 50 learners with Bouygues UK mentors, who dedicated over 70 hours to mentoring pupils on a real work problem through a 10-week project to design a fit out for a vacant floor at Pentre Awel. Additionally, art students from Coleg Sir Gâr collaborated with Bouygues UK to create seven hoarding board designs, celebrating the project's positive impact. Community initiatives also flourished throughout the project, with Bouygues UK, alongside its supply chain, organising a street football festival raising £5,000 for homelessness. At Llanelli's Foodbank, Bouygues UK's Wellbeing initiative delivered eight sessions focused on healthy eating education, building confidence in preparing nutritious meals. From the outset, Bouygues UK prioritised community inclusion, including regular resident surgeries, newsletters, and the involvement of Community Ambassadors to ensure that local people were informed and actively shaping the project's success. Canolfan Pentre Awel is an innovative, multi-million-pound development which will bring together life science and business innovation, community healthcare and modern leisure facilities at the 83-acre Delta Lakes site on the Llanelli coastline. It is part-funded by the Swansea Bay City Deal (£40million) and is the largest regeneration scheme in south-west Wales. Nina Williams, Social Value advisor at Pentre Awel, said: 'Canolfan Pentre Awel has been a shining example of how construction projects can create lasting social value for the communities they are working within. From supporting local businesses to fostering educational opportunities and providing career pathways, this development has positively transformed lives and, we hope, strengthened the local community. We're proud to have played a role in making this vision a reality.' Project manager Peter Sharpe said: 'Working on Canolfan Pentre Awel has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Seeing the tangible difference we've made — whether it's helping people secure jobs, inspiring students through education initiatives, or engaging with the community, has been truly humbling. This project isn't just about construction, it's about building brighter futures for the people of Carmarthenshire and we're thrilled to have played a small part in achieving that.' Carmarthenshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Leisure, Culture and Tourism, Cllr Hazel Evans said: 'Canolfan Pentre Awel is driving forward health and wellbeing in Carmarthenshire, by encouraging its residents to lead active and healthy lives. This pioneering project has taken its first steps in recruitment, come and be part of something truly innovative and exciting and apply to work at Canolfan Pentre Awel today.'
