One of Wales’ biggest training organisations, ITEC, has appointed two new business managers to drive the expansion of its private sector activities.

Andrew Whitcombe, former regional Director for Wales for JHP Training Ltd, heads up business development. Previously, at Caerphilly Borough Council, Mr Whitcombe created the Stargate New Deal programme and was a panel advisor on the Government’s Pathways to Work initiative.

Neil Harris, standards author, lecturer and former head of automotive engineering at Coleg Gwent, leads ITEC’s business improvement section. Mr Harris started as an apprentice vehicle technician and later managed a large service team at JB Car & Truck (Gwent) Ltd.

Stephen Brangwyn, managing director of Cardiff-based ITEC, said “There has never been a more important time for companies and employees to upskill. Their future depends on it.

“We will continue to deliver dedicated training and education to thousands under government programmes, but the appointment of two highly experienced managers to these newly-created posts signals our intention to make our courses available to many more businesses.”

Training provider the Independent Training & Education Centre (ITEC), is revolutionising the way that it records and processes information by equipping its staff with a pen that allows forms to be transmitted instantly via mobile devices.

ITEC has awarded a contract to Destiny, an international leader in mobile data communications, to supply the pens which eliminate the need to photocopy, scan, fax, post, re-type and file documents.

ITEC says the technology also offers for greater speed and security in document handling quality of service, productivity and job satisfaction.

With offices in Cardiff and Porth and a staff of 70, ITEC has a £3.7 million contract with the Welsh Assembly Government to provide key skills training for around 4000 people this year.

It also provides dedicated training for private businesses, helping to improve skill levels, customer service and performance.

ITEC’s staff previously had to fill in 17 forms for every trainee. As well as streamlining administration, ITEC says the move will also demonstrate its responsibility towards the environment – the Welsh Assembly Government is encouraging its suppliers to become carbon neutral.

The Destiny solution combines a digital pen with a Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone. Staff fill out forms using a pen with a tiny infra-red camera in the nib that can take a hundred pictures per second of pen strokes.

Users write on special paper that is pre-digitised with a unique dot matrix pattern and an ability to recognise the person’s handwriting.

The user then simply ticks a ‘send’ box and the information is transmitted via a mobile phone to Destiny’s secure servers, converted into a data file and transferred to ITEC’s main back office system.

Steve Doyle, ITEC’s Finance Director, said: “This system will enable us to reduce the time taken to process a document from one week to around 60 seconds, with all the benefits that will bring”

ITEC runs Modern Apprenticeship, NVQ and VRQ courses in Health and Social Care, Construction, Child Care, Contact Centre activities, Customer Service, Business Administration, Retail and Health and Safety subject to eligibility. More than 400 courses, many bilingual, are provided online.

Stephen Brangwyn, Managing Director, said “Providing training to large numbers of people takes a lot of administration. By streamlining the process, we aim to free up our assessors and trainers, especially those working in the field, to concentrate more on service delivery.

Hundreds of young people in the Rhondda Cynon Taff area are being given greater opportunities to learn new skills and improve their job prospects thanks to one of Wales’ leading training providers.

ITEC, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, has taken over two units on the Lwyncelyn Industrial Estate at Porth and is investing more than £70,000 to upgrade facilities there.

The training company opened its doors (Thursday 24 January) to politicians, Welsh Assembly Government officials, local authority representatives, business partners and learners to highlight the opportunities available.

More than 100 young learners have already attended the centre, where courses include basic skills training, construction, bricklaying, plastering, health & safety and furniture manufacture.

ITEC – the Independent Training and Education Centre - also provides dedicated training for private businesses, helping to improve skill levels, customer service and productivity.

Among those currently attending at Porth are 14-16 year old pupils placed by Ty Gwyn Education Centre, Glyncoch and the Ynysybwl Partnership, with 20 learners from Ysgol Gyfun Cymer about to start.  

Next month the centre will introduce tests for the Construction Skills Certificate Scheme, giving trainees the chance to acquire the proficiency card which opens the door to employment in the industry.

The Open Day was attended by Deputy Minister for Regeneration Leighton Andrews, who pointed out that there would be big opportunities over coming years in construction work as councils seek to achieve – and maintain - the Welsh Housing Quality Standard, not least in his Rhondda constituency.
He said "I am delighted to be visiting ITEC in Porth who are going through a sustained period of expansion as demand for their services grows.
"This year ITEC will help boost the employment prospects of more than 4,000 people under its training contract with the Welsh Assembly Government.”
ITEC managing director Stephen Brangwyn said “We have used income from our commercial activities to fund the developments at Porth and provide better training opportunities for people in the area.

“But it would not have been possible without the input of the people working and studying here – their efforts have been great.”

Mr Brangwyn thanked RCT council, the Assembly’s Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills and two well-known businesses, Leekes and Travis Perkins, for their support.

ITEC training director Ceri Murphy said “We are committed to making the learner’s experience as valuable as possible. Workplaces are very dynamic these days and we constantly refine and expand the content of our courses to reflect the needs of individuals and employers.”

Rhys Griffiths, aged 15 from Glyncoch, who has been learning construction skills for the past two months, said “I have found this a great course."

“I am about to start a placement with a plasterer for a couple of days a week. It helps you decide what you want to do in life. You don’t know what these things are like until you try them.”

One of Wales’ leading training providers is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a sustained period of expansion as demand for its services grow.

Cardiff-based Independent Training and Education Centre will this year help to boost the employment prospects of more than 4,000 people after winning a £3.7 million government contract.

Formerly known as Cardiff ITEC, the company, which now covers the whole of Wales, is undergoing major changes, including premises refurbishment, the installation of new training equipment and a fresh corporate identity.

As well as its contract with the Welsh Assembly Government, the company also provides dedicated training for private businesses, helping to improve skill levels, customer service and productivity.

Founded in 1982, ITEC has grown to become one of the top training suppliers in Wales, opening up new prospects for thousands of people in collaboration with government departments, agencies and partner bodies.

It runs modern apprenticeship, NVQ and VRQ courses in health & social care, construction, child care, contact centre activities, customer service, business administration, retail and health & safety for all age groups. More than 400 courses, many bilingual, are provided online.

Referrals come through bodies such as Careers Wales and Job Centre Plus as well as directly from businesses. Many trainees are in the 14 to 19 age group.

The company has 14,000 square feet of training and meeting rooms on three floors at its Penarth Road centre and also has premises in Porth. It has just bought £45,000 worth of new IT equipment for learners and has spent £125,000 training its own staff this year.

ITEC is run by managing director Stephen Brangwyn, with director of training Ceri Murphy and director of finance and HR Steve Doyle.

Mr Brangwyn said “When I joined the organisation in 1998 we had 12 staff and a £600,000 turnover. We now have 60 employees – plus a team of associates – and our turnover is predicted to top £4.5 million this year.

“This points to two things – firstly, the ongoing and increasing demand for training places and secondly, the recognised quality of our courses.

“As we move forward, ITEC increasingly resembles a college in the planning, construction and delivery of further education and training. We have to undergo as many as 25 separate audits in a year to ensure that standards and value for money are being maintained.”

He added “We are professionally and personally delighted with the numbers of students who go on from us to find jobs and the feedback we have had following inspections by bodies such as IiP, Iestyn and ISO has been very pleasing.”

When other training providers have run into difficulties, ITEC has been among the high-reputation organisations asked to step in and take over.

Ceri Murphy said “We are committed to making the learner’s experience as valuable as possible. Workplaces are very dynamic these days and we constantly refine and expand the content of our courses to reflect the needs of individuals and employers.”