Young finance worker from Buckley first in North Wales to complete new jobs programme

A young finance worker was the first in North Wales to successfully complete a new jobs programme via Coleg Cambria. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Michael Shone, from Buckley, achieved the Employment strand of the Welsh Government’s Jobs Growth Wales+ scheme, aimed at people aged 16-18. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Michael spent six months at Cummins Independent Financial Advisers (IFA), based in Rossett, where he received mentoring, guidance, and gained valuable experience. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The programme was subsidised by Cambria – based in Wrexham, Deeside, Northop and Llysfasi – whose Jobs Growth Wales+ team were on hand to conduct monthly reviews, support Michael and the employer, and advertise any other roles via the college’s Job Shop. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

He has now been offered a full-time position with the organisation as a trainee administrator, following in the footsteps of family members already working in the sector. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Participating in the Jobs Growth Wales+ programme gave me the opportunity to gain an insight into a career in financial advice,” said Michael. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“I am really happy to be offered employment by the company and my next steps will be to study for the necessary exams and hopefully progress to become a financial adviser in the future.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Gerry Cummins, Director of Cummins (IFA), pursued the partnership after being made aware of the 26-week age subsidy allowance. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

This resulted in the company being the first to be awarded the funding via Coleg Cambria. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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“The funding enabled our company to offer the employment opportunity to Michael and help him follow his future career,” said Gerry. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“We have been able to share our skills and knowledge with him over the 26 weeks and he has progressed quickly, completing tasks competently and confidently. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“We are happy to offer Michael a full-time position and welcome him to the team.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Those words were echoed by Alison Roberts, Compliance and Contractual review officer at Cambria. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

She said: “Congratulations to Michael on achieving his dream job and thank you to Cummins Independent Financial Advisers for the guidance and advice he received throughout the placement. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“To see him go on to a full-time position with them is heartening and just shows how valuable the Jobs Growth Wales+Employment scheme is in helping young people into work and training. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“We wish them all the best for the future and are sure Michael will go on to enjoy a successful career in the finance industry.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Companies wanting to find out more about the Jobs Growth Wales+ scheme at Coleg Cambria can email [email protected]. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​