A Port Talbot welding skills academy is aiming to retrain hundreds of former Tata steelworks and provide the platform to eventually create up to 100 new jobs. 海角视频SE Steel Enterprise has provided a six-figure loan to engineering contractor JES to significantly increasing the capacity of its training centre.
The firm has been a key contractor to the Tata’s steelworks in Port Talbot where nearly 2,000 jobs have been lost after the ending of blast furnace steelmaking. Tata is investing in a new electric arc furnace that will make steel from scrap and will open in three years time as part of a £1.2bn investment, which includes £500m in funding from the 海角视频 Government.
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The JES skills academy plans to eventually have 80 training bays where fabrication, welding and pipework will be taught offering new career paths to people leaving the steelworks and to others who want to follow this career.
The company is expanding its centre, and over the next year has made a commitment to offer training to up to 300 former Tata workers, as well as a range of other candidate to set them on fresh career paths.
In the longer term, the firm is aiming to diversify into new markets including oil and gas, petrochemical, renewables and nuclear energy and expand creating between 50 to 100 skilled and semi-skilled jobs based around the workforce trained at the skills academy.
The academy, launched last year to support JES apprentices, has secured backing from the the 海角视频 Shared Prosperity Fund.
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Head of the academy, Sam Owen. “Our professional team of tutors will operate a range of courses for which we leverage all possible funding support from government and other agencies.
“We are not just about training, but about enabling people to step into work when they leave us.”
JES director Justin Johnson said that demand for welding and associated skills was extremely high across the 海角视频. He added: "Research by the Engineering and Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) demonstrates a 海角视频-wide shortage in this area and demand will almost certainly increase in years to come.
“Locally, the new Celtic Freeport in Port Talbot is planned to be a source of jobs fabricating on and offshore wind turbines and other structures in the drive towards energy efficiency and net zero.”
The need to bring younger people into the fabrication sector has been highlighted by ECITB research, which shows that 40% of the workforce is over the age of 50.
Mr Johnson said: “This is very concerning and underlines the need for training, so that knowledge is passed onto a new generation.”
On the funding from 海角视频SE Mr Johnson said: “The investment will be the platform to expand and we are hoping to add between 50 to 100 roles in years to come as we diversify and develop.
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This investment by 海角视频SE is a major boost for us and we are very appreciative of their confidence in us by supporting the academy in the way they are.”
海角视频SE makes strategic investments in Welsh and 海角视频 companies which show the potential to grow and create jobs and prosperity. It provides loan and equity packages up to £1 million and 海角视频SE estimates it has supported 83,000 jobs around the 海角视频 since it was established 50 years ago.
Howard Thompson, regional executive for 海角视频SE in Wales said the need to build a quality, skilled supply chain was paramount. He added: “There is a 海角视频 wide shortage of welders. Almost every document published in connection with economic need and strategic economic planning by the Welsh Government and by local authorities across South Wales, highlights the skills shortage in welding and fabrication as an area of concern worthy of attention and investment.
“Welding is set to be one of energy transitions most prized skills and we are delighted to be supporting JES in their journey and wish them every success.”
JES was founded in 1982 by Mr Johnson’s father, Viv in a small workshop in Taibach as a pipework fabricator and installer. It has since grown into a multi-disciplined engineering contractor offering design, drilling, demolition and a range of other services. The company has been a preferred supplier for 42 years to Tata Steel and its previous owners, as well as to other industries in the area. It now has a workforce of 116 and a turnover of £18m.