Workers in Wales who have been made redundant from Tata Steel UK or a business within the company’s supply chain and other associated contractors can now access dedicated funding to help them re-skill and regain employment.
The ‘Employment & Skills Flexible Fund’ is part of a £13.5m UK Government funded programme coordinated by the Tata Steel Transition Board to support people and businesses affected by Tata Steel UK’s transformation programme.
The fund, which is open to affected workers and individuals employed in the supply chain anywhere in Wales, aims to maximise their chances of finding appropriate employment through training, upskilling and providing other practical support.
The grants for individuals can be used for a wide range of purposes including training costs, exam fees, work related certificates and licences, tools and equipment or public liability insurance for self-employment with other support considered on an individual basis.
Grants will vary depending on the needs of the individuals and type of support needed. Grants will be awarded where they lead to a guaranteed new job (capped at £1,000) or skills development, qualifications, professional certificates and licences which will lead to a meaningful new career for the individual (capped at £10,000).
Funding for more specialist qualifications, certificates, licences that lead to jobs will be considered on a case-by-case basis (capped at £20,000).
The programme runs alongside Tata Steel UK’s own £20m outplacement programme to support employees who are being made redundant.
In Neath Port Talbot, which is projected to see the most significant direct and indirect job losses, funding has also increased capacity in the council’s NPT Employability service to meet the surge in demand.
The funding is administered by Neath Port Talbot Council but available to affected workers anywhere in Wales via their local authority employability service.
Port Talbot-based workers can access face-to-face support via the two NPT Employability drop-in centres in the town or at the newly opened support centre in Aberafan Shopping Centre, run by the Community union in conjunction with Welsh Government.
An online resource with a range of support for anyone affected is available, hosted by Neath Port Talbot Council on behalf of the Tata Transition Board. For further information please select the following link: www.npt.gov.uk/TataTransition.