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Rhondda Cynon Taf man proves hearing impairment won’t hold him back BT Help Case Management team leader, Gareth Martin (left) with Twm Draper (right)
Disabled people are under-represented in several industry sectors as apprentices, according to the Welsh Government. Traditionally there has been under-representation from protected groups on the apprenticeship programme In Wales, with only 1.5% declaring themselves as having a disability or health condition. The Welsh Government is concerned that this fi gure is disproportionate to the disabled population of Wales and is now launching the ‘Inclusive Apprenticeships - Disability Action Plan’ which aims to drive a culture change on the apprenticeship programme in Wales and remove barriers to participation for disabled people. Twm Draper, 20, from Gilfach Goch, is a full-time consumer help case manager at BT in Stadium House, Cardiff city centre. He fi nished an 18-month level three customer care apprenticeship in March, working and completing training at his workplace.
Twm said: “After sixth-form, I didn’t want to go to university, I wanted to work for a big company and I wanted to start earning money, so I looked into what apprenticeships were out there.” Twm has a bilateral hearing impairment which was diagnosed when he was three years old and wears a hearing aid in both ears. He wasn’t assigned a note-taker to support him in class until his last year at school, when he was in the second year of his A-Levels, and his grades, he says, suff ered as a result. Twm continued: “I’d encourage people to speak up as soon as they realise they need support. I used to worry about how I’d manage at work but there’s been no problem at all.” Twm is also a member of NDCS (National Deaf Children’s Society) Cymru’s Country Advisory Committee, helping to inform the charity’s work and develop campaigning resources.
At work, Twm uses an adapted headset that blocks out background noise and he says he and his employers have not needed to discuss his hearing impairment since. BT Help Case Management team leader, Gareth Martin, said: “Twm is an exceptional employee and he’s progressed within the company. I gave him the opportunity to cover my team recently and he did a fantastic job and was able to demonstrate leadership qualities. He’s always looking to improve and has the determination and drive to succeed without letting his disability aff ect him.” Apprenticeships allow individuals to gain job- specifi c skills and professional qualifi cations while working, along with a regular wage, paid holidays and benefi ts, and they’re available to people aged over 16, living in Wales and not in full-time education. Almost all job sectors have apprenticeship programmes and the majority of apprenticeships can be made accessible for people with additional needs. Minister for Welsh Language and Lifelong Learning, Eluned Morgan, said: “In Wales, only 45% of working- age disabled people are in employment compared to 80% of those who are not disabled, and so it’s important to encourage disabled people to apply for apprenticeships and make sure everyone knows about the support that is available. The Welsh Government’s Apprenticeship Disability action plan aims to remove any potential barriers that may currently be preventing disabled people from applying for apprenticeships by calling on employers, apprenticeship providers and other specialist organisations to work with them to ensure that there are opportunities for disabled people to fi nd and stay in work. The Inclusive Apprenticeships – Disability Action Plan is available on the Welsh Government website. For more information on apprenticeships and the benefi ts of a diverse workforce search Skills Gateway for Business.
Severn Crossing toll removal to bring jobs home to Wales
With just a few days until toll charges on the Severn Crossing are abolished (Mon 17 Dec 2018) Chris Sutton, lead director at property consultancy JLL in Cardiff , said: “The M4 is the route to market for two thirds of the Welsh economy. The removal of the tolls opens up a major opportunity for the nation’s businesses - and none more so than the logistics sector. Major players in retail distribution have laid roots over the water on the Avonmouth stretch of the M5/M49 at Bristol but are reportedly struggling to attract labour. Growing the industrial sector here, once charging is no longer a barrier to business, will bring those employment opportunities home. “The distribution sector is leading across all markets in terms of property take-up and demand, primarily due to the growth of online retailing. And admittedly Wales has its challenges here, including the quality of the M4 and the uncertainty around the relief road that has so far created anything but relief, and the limited pipeline of industrial sites and buildings. But at last, a charge on every lorry as it makes its return journey to the depot will no longer be one of them. And given that decision time on a relief road may slip yet again, we may well fi nd the reality of toll removal actually strengthens the case for it. “We cannot underestimate the positive impact going toll-free will have. The logistics sector is already a star performer in the Welsh economy, driving demand for construction and development. Along with a plentiful supply of labour and attractive residential property prices, distribution is set to go from strength to strength.”
www.cardiffandsouthwalesadvertiser.com Cardiff & South Wales Advertiser - Friday 14th December 2018 - 17
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