Issue - meetings

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director Regeneration and Community Services.

The Head of Regeneration advised that the report outlined the performance of the Aspire programme and associated external business engagement. It also provided performance information on the BGCBC internal apprenticeship programme.

The Head of Regeneration advised how well the programme had progressed and added that the Aspire Programme had won a number of awards. It had been recognised alongside other apprenticeships in getting young people into work.  The Head of Regeneration further highlight key points from the report and advised that if individuals had not gone into employment they had gone on to study in higher education. It was hoped that the Aspire Programme could be continued and hoped to have discussions with City Capital Region and suggested that there may be opportunities to link with Hive.

The Executive Member for Economic Development and Regeneration felt that the Aspire Programme was a fantastic achievement to set up and seeing it grow had been a pleasure. The Executive Member welcomed the interest which had been shown from Merthyr Tydfil Council and Coleg Gwent and felt that the Aspire Programme could go up against any apprenticeships in the Country as it was excellent. It identified opportunities for the Local Authority and local business who had benefited from the apprenticeships which had been undertaken.

The Executive Member also wished to pay tribute to Mark Langshaw who had been a champion of the Aspire Programme from the start and it was hoped that Welsh Government would look to continue the funding to ensure the good work could be carried on into the future.

The Leader welcomed the report and felt it was something for this Authority to be proud of with political support of the Executive Member for Economic Development & Regeneration.

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and the information contained therein be noted (Option 2)