Working out a new career

23 year old Aled Rees is fighting fit after landing a job as an administrative assistant at The Gym in Burry Port.

Through the Prince’s Trust, Aled recently completed a ‘Get Started with Football’ course with Swansea City F.C. Community Trust which reinforced his self-confidence and his determination to overcome any obstacles to achieve his goal of finding a job. And thanks to the support of Carmarthenshire Communities First, Aled was able to combine his I.T GCSE and BTEC National Certificate for IT practitioner’s qualification with his passion for sport, securing a job at The Gym.

Aled Rees said: “I’m really enjoying it, it’s nice to get along with a boss really well and be surrounded by positive people every day,” said Aled.

Communities First, in partnership with Cambrian Training Company, approached local employer Dave Morgan of Morgan Fitness Ltd to discuss helping young people by offering exclusive job opportunities. The Jobs Growth Wales scheme provides unemployed young people with a job opportunity for a six month period, paid at or above the national minimum wage for a minimum of 25 hours per week.

He said: “Aled has settled into the day to day running of our gym very well.

“His IT knowledge and experience is a great help to us and he is actively helping us set in motion and implement new systems into our daily routine.

“I’m very pleased at present and I see him becoming an integral part of our team, every gym will want an Aled.”

The programme focuses on helping young people living specifically within the Llanelli and Ammanford cluster areas to gain high-quality, paid work experience in order to progress into sustained employment or where appropriate, an apprenticeship.

Communities First Jobs Growth Wales Mentor, Hannah Evans, said: ”Companies are seeking dynamic young people who can contribute positively to their business and workplace environment. We are committed in supporting young people transform their lives by assisting them into jobs and training.

“We now have a number of companies approaching us to organise placements for them.”

To be eligible to apply for one of these Communities First JGW vacancies you must be living within one of the Communities First cluster postcodes. For more information on vacancies call 01554 784847 or email communitiesfirst@carmarthenshire.gov.uk .