£6.6m EU funding to support Gower College Swansea employability programme

A major £6.6m EU investment is set to expand and extend a Swansea employability programme through to 2021.

Five new projects, part of the ‘Better Jobs, Better Futures’ programme, will be delivered by Gower College Swansea, in partnership with local employers.

The programme is targeted at people who are unemployed, under-employed or in lower paid jobs, and will offer a range of individualised support including coaching, mentoring, work placements, and opportunities to achieve qualifications.

The Better Jobs, Better Futures projects will aim to boost career prospects and skill levels for more than 3000 people over the next two years, helping to reduce poverty and disadvantage in the Swansea area. 

Support will focus on under-employed women, over 25s with low skills or work limiting health conditions, young people, and under-employed people facing disadvantages such as disabilities or childcare responsibilities.

Around 120 employers will also receive support through the programme to develop more inclusive and flexible workplace practices.

Counsel General and Brexit Minister Jeremy Miles, who oversees EU funding in Wales, said:

“The Better Jobs, Better Futures suite of projects support the creation of a vibrant and responsive regional workforce with the skills to respond to the needs of a knowledge-based economy.

“Welsh Government is committed to making Wales a more prosperous and secure place to live and work. This is another example of EU funds supporting partner organisations to future-proof the regional economy.”   

Mark Jones, Principal of Gower College Swansea, said:

“Gower College Swansea is delighted to be leading this programme which builds on one of our key priorities – the delivery of employability skills – whilst meeting the specific needs of our local Swansea communities.”