Hydra Technologies — the Swansea-based fluids manufacturer —has praised the Welsh Assembly Government’s Jobs Growth Wales youth employment scheme for helping with its expansion plans. It was announced earlier this month that the scheme, which reimburses the wages paid to 16- to 24-year-olds, is to be extended for a fourth year at a cost of £12.5 million.

The company, which makes heat-transfer fluids and anti-freeze products for the renewable-energy, refrigeration and air-conditioning sectors, has taken on five young people since September 2012, all of whom joined on six-month Jobs Growth Wales placements. The company worked with the learning and development division of the Acorn recruitment agency.

Ken Skates, Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology (pictured), recently visited Hydra to see how the company has benefitted from the scheme. He said: “Meeting the team here has shown me yet again how Jobs Growth Wales not only helps to provide fantastic opportunities for young people who would otherwise be out of work, but also allows employers in Wales to grow their business by accelerating their recruitment plans.”

Managing director Steve Hickson said: “Getting involved in Jobs Growth Wales has been invaluable. Not only has it given us an affordable way to take on the new staff that we need to maximise our potential for growth, but we’ve also been able to give local youngsters access to credible work experience, where they have a chance to learn, develop new skills and earn a wage.”