Cardiff youngsters graduate BT ‘Work Ready’ programme with flying colours
The latest group of Cardiff youngsters to graduate the BT ‘Work ready’ programme were awarded their graduation certificates earlier this week during an award ceremony at BT Stadium House.
The 13 graduates were recognised for their achievements by BT Cymru Wales director, Alwen Williams and Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies after successfully completing the three week course.
The free course, which combines hands-on work experience, coaching and training is open to anyone aged 16 to 24 not in education, employment or training.
The work placement offers the opportunity for people to build confidence and learn practical work skills such as CV writing and interview techniques. Attendees are given a certificate and reference showing their attendance and achievements to demonstrate their commitment to prospective employers.
More than 800 young people have completed the BT ‘Work Ready’ programme across the UK during 2017 including 62 young people in Wales.
The next work placement in Cardiff starts on 09 March, 2018 while another work placement starts in Merthyr on 05 March, 2018.For more details or to apply visit www.bt.com/workready.
The first week of the course is mainly office based and focuses on building and developing practical work skills such as time management, interview techniques and digital skills.
This is followed by seven days ‘on the job’, shadowing employees and getting hands on experience of the working day. In Cardiff, this was an opportunity to work alongside engineers from Openreach, the business responsible for Britain’s largest phone and broadband network, as they build and maintain the millions of miles of fibre and copper cables that connect UK home and businesses to local telephone exchanges.
The final days of the work placement are spent doing mock interviews, creating a stand-out CV and developing an individual plan of the next steps to find employment or return to education.
Alwen Williams, director for BT Cymru Wales, said: “A BT work placement is a fully supported programme, which can inspire young people, giving them the confidence and skills they need to either start their working life or return to education.
“I would encourage any young person looking to get on a new career path to join a work placement. We regularly run courses in Cardiff and Wales so register your interest to make sure you don’t miss out in future.”
BT work placements are part of the BT Work Ready programme which is a series of initiatives provided to help young people, particularly from disadvantaged backgrounds, gain employment skills and get them ready for work. It’s part of BT’s commitment as a founding partner in the Movement to Work coalition of employers.**
Speaking after the ceremony, Ben Ryan, who graduated the course, said: “The BT Work Ready programme has been a massive help.”
“You learn so much – for example I’m confident that the interview, presentation, and communication skills that I’ve gained during the last three weeks will really help me find work.
“I would absolutely recommend it to anyone who is struggling to get a job – not only does it help you find work, but it can really improve you as a person.”
By delivering 810 work placement starts in 2017 BT has gone beyond its pledge of delivering 750 starts in 2017. BT has set a new target for 2018 of 950 to reflect this.
BT has been running Work Ready since 2014 and to date more than 3,500 young people from around the UK have participated in the programme.More than half have gone on to either gain employment or return to education.
Further information on BT’s Work Ready programme – www.bt.com/workready
