Quickstart Bridgend success with local businesses

Businesses across Bridgend County Borough are benefitting from the new Quickstart Bridgend scheme, with new recruits making a great impression in their new roles. The host employers can reclaim the salary costs of the new placements for up to six months, supporting them with their growth ambitions.

The Quickstart Bridgend project supports short term, paid work placements across the county borough with a view to participants gaining a permanent job within their host business at the end of that period. Placements are for 25 hours per week and will run for between 3 and 6 months, concluding before the end of February 2024. There are already 22 participants enrolled in the programme with a further 12 people scheduled to start their placements.

Victoria Clarke, who is working as a Quickstart Admin Assistant for Gone Solar through the programme said, “Since joining Gone Solar, I’m pleased to say I’ve settled in quickly and was welcomed into a positive and inclusive environment.”

Simon Minett, Managing Director at Challoch Energy, said, “Challoch Energy used Quickstart to find a project assistant for our work in South Wales. The programme aligns well with our philosophy of fair employment. This opportunity allowed us to recruit Jessie Edwards. The whole process was very straightforward and allowed us to find an excellent candidate for the role. I would thoroughly recommend QuickStart to other employers in Bridgend.”

Companies who employ between 10 to 250 employees will be the primary focus of consideration; however, in exceptional circumstances, businesses that employ less than 10 staff but can potentially offer ongoing employment will also be considered.

If you are a Bridgend based employer interested in hosting a placement, you can register your interest on the Bridgend County Borough Council website.

This project is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and is being delivered in partnership with Whitehead Ross Education, Employability Bridgend and the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).