Itec has opened additional premises in Cardiff's city centre as the organisation celebrates 40 years in business.
The specialist Wales-wide training provider, which reported a £12m turnover in 2021, is headquartered on Penarth Road in the capital.
However, the company has now taken on a 7,500 sq ft premises at Eastgate House on Newport Road to support its growth.
The new site will become a Cardiff learning centre, home to 11 staff and housing the DWP's Restart programme.
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The premises will also facilitate Itec to deliver part of the Welsh Government's £200m Jobs Growth Wales+ scheme which aims to help young people aged 16-18 with skills, qualifications and experience needed for higher education, apprenticeships or employment.
Itec currently employs 180 staff in 15 offices across South and West Wales and has a centre in London, plus another 180 people employed indirectly through partnerships.
The firm became the first Welsh training provider to be 100% an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) in 2019.
Its success has been, in part, down to delivering government training contracts of which Itec is one of just 10 contracted providers.
Managing director Ceri Murphy said: “Forty years is a huge milestone for any organisation and celebrating it with the opening of our second office in Cardiff is testament to our growth and the commitment we’ve made to the thousands of learners we have helped on their way to the world of work, whether that has been through helping them upskill, finding the right employment or apprenticeship or simply providing the counselling and guidance to set them off on the right path.
"The location of Eastgate House means it is easy for learners to drop-in to the centre to have regular access to their tutors and support staff. The training and skills sector has changed dramatically in the last 40 years, we’ve gone from over 200 suppliers like us working for Welsh Government to now being one of just 10.
"We’ve lasted thanks for the quality of our provision and by being agile and able to adapt to a changing employment and skills landscape at pace. We’re currently seeing a significant skills gap, particularly in the hospitality and care sectors and investing in training is an obvious route to help both employers and young people."
Ms Murphy added: "Looking to the future, we want to continue to make a difference in the lives of young people and build on our people-centred culture to create more opportunities for people in the communities in which we work. Apprenticeships are often overlooked by learners and their parents thanks to old fashioned stereotypes but I am a firm believer that they will play a crucial role in helping build a stronger Welsh economy and skills base post-pandemic.
"Being an EOT means all our staff are absolutely invested in delivering the absolute best outcomes for both our customers and also our learners."
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