First Cymru take apprentices

First Cymru has taken on four new young recruits as engineering apprentices at its Port Talbot and Swansea bus depots. All aged between 17 and 20 years old, the trainees have started fully funded four year full time apprenticeships. They were selected from 445 applications from across Wales. The company is particularly glad to welcome a girl to the traditionally male dominated engineering industry. It is hoped that her appointment this year will help to encourage more females to apply for the apprenticeship scheme in the future. The candidates are: trainee coach builder David Davies, fitter Jay Edwards, electrician Sally-Anne Sheldon, all from Swansea, and electrician Michael Conahan from Neath. Manchester Business School at Manchester University will provide the ongoing training and education for the apprentices, with classes six times each year for around a week at a time. Additionally, First Cymru recently provided employment for a Welsh student, Aled Williams, through its intern scheme.

First Cymru’s MD, Justin Davies, said, ‘As one of the key local businesses in the area we are proud to be taking on these young apprentices to join our team. Youth unemployment is of course a big concern for everyone at the moment and it’s important that young people in Wales be given the right opportunities to develop themselves and their future prospects. Taking on these new recruits is part of First Cymru’s long-term aim to involve more local young people in the business. With a mixture of hands on learning and employment, an apprenticeship is a great way to make that transition from education to the work place.’