Bute Energy has teamed up with the Big Issue to help disadvantaged jobseekers find employment at a new onshore wind development in South Wales.
Big Issue Recruit will work with jobseekers to prepare them for prospective employment with contractors for the 92.3MW Twyn Hywel Energy Park near Caerphilly.
The aim of the partnership is to help create renewable energy jobs for people facing employment barriers in Caerphilly and Rhondda Cynon Taf.
The partnership will enable the Big Issue’s recruitment service to employ a dedicated job coach who will work with candidates from local communities to overcome barriers to work and seek employment on the Twyn Hywel project.
With construction on the energy park set to begin in 2026 and completion scheduled for 2027, Twyn Hywel will be the UKs first generating onshore wind development built under the new Labour Government.
The project received consent from the Welsh Government in November and is expected to create hundreds of jobs directly and through the supply chain.
A six-month pilot will see a dedicated job coach work intensively with around 50 candidates, using Big Issue Recruit’s employability support to prepare them for various roles at local businesses contributing to the Twyn Hywel development.
Big Issue Recruit is a national service which helps candidates break down a number of complex barriers to work, such as poor mental health or digital exclusion, and prepare them for employment.
Candidates complete a full 12-week programme of training before being certified “work ready” by their job coaches, at which point they receive support with obtaining and then sustaining work.
Big Issue’s job coaches will continue with regular check-ins with any candidates that find work with contractors supplying goods and services to Bute Energy as they develop the Twyn Hywel project.
Big Issue Recruit managing director Catherine Parsons said: “Big Issue Recruit aims to support people into sustainable jobs – a goal shared by candidates and our employer partners, like Bute Energy, who want to get local people from all walks of life embarking on long-term careers at their energy parks.
“We’re excited to bring this approach to South Wales and connect people with the brilliant local employer that is Bute Energy and their state-of-the-art energy park at Twyn Hywel.”
Bute Energy’s director of communications and community investment Catryn Newton said that if the pilot is successful, it could be rolled out to other renewable energy projects.
“We’re proud to have partnered with Big Issue Recruit. They’ve shown employers that it’s possible to support a more inclusive, upskilled workforce by creating pathways to sustainable careers.
“We’re delighted to take up the challenge and contribute to their mission.
“It’s our mission to leave a positive, enduring legacy for the communities hosting our energy parks.”
Twyn Hywel Energy Park will be built on land approximately 3km north of Caerphilly in the Aber Valley.
The wind farm’s 14 turbines will provide 92.4MW of electricity – the equivalent of taking all cars off the road in Caerphilly County Borough each year, or of powering 81,000 homes.
As part of the project, Bute Energy has created the Twyn Hywel Community Benefit Fund, which has committed to invest more than £30 million into the community over the 40-year life of the project.