I’m pleased to welcome a new addition to our board at Itec.
Gareth Matthews, from Ynyshir in the Rhondda Valley, brings over 40 years’ experience in skills and employability in a variety of senior operational and business development roles.
Most recently, Gareth worked as Serco’s director for welfare services, delivering employability and skills contracts for the Department for Work and Pensions and the Ministry of Justice. Prior to this, Gareth worked as an executive director for Working Links and held a variety of senior leadership roles with the Department for Work and Pensions.
Gareth will sit on the board alongside joint managing directors Steve Doyle and myself.
Since 2015, Gareth has been working for Itec at its Cardiff office as a freelance consultant to identify new areas of business growth.
He said: “I’m thrilled to be joining the Itec team at such an exciting time with the Welsh Government’s commitment to 100,000 high quality apprenticeships over the next five years, and the creation of a new All Age Employability Programme.
“Steve and Ceri have built a fantastic business with strong performance, an innovative culture and excellent reputation within Wales. With my experience of successfully delivering major government contracts and my passion for improving social and economic inclusion in Wales, their invitation to join Itec’s board was one I was delighted to accept. I am greatly looking forward to working with my new colleagues to help Itec’s customers achieve their career aspirations, whilst up-skilling Wales’ workforce and providing opportunities for employment”.
Steve Doyle said “We are very pleased to welcome Gareth to Itec Skills and Employment. The expertise and experience he has in the sectors in which we operate will add tremendous value for our customers and our plans for business growth”.
Gareth will lead on business development and quality and assurance on behalf of Itec’s Board. He will also work on delivering the Welsh Government’s Employability Skills Programme, designed to help long-term unemployed adults into sustainable work; and Progress for Success, a scheme for childcare providers to access fully-funded training up to Levels 2, 3 and 5 in Children’s Care, Learning and Development and Play Work qualifications.
In June 2014, Gareth was the first person to be presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Employment Related Services Association in recognition for his outstanding contribution in helping people who are long-term unemployed back to work. In 2007 he created Rhyl City Strategy to help tackle social and economic exclusion in one of the most deprived communities in Wales, work which was to result in him being recognised as a Community Champion in 2009 by the then Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
Headquartered in Cardiff, Itec Skills and Employment is one of Wales’ largest providers of skills and employment services. Their team of 170 employees supports more than 5,000 learners and works in partnership with over 1,000 employers every year.
For more information please visit www.itecskills.co.uk
