BGC members to create apprenticeships for young people

The UK’s Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has pledged to launch 5,000 apprenticeships for young people in Britain’s betting and gaming industry.

UK.- The industry group the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has said its members will deliver 5,000 apprenticeships between now and 2025 to provide training for young people looking to work in the gambling sector.

The move aims to support the UK government’s Plan for Jobs following the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. BGC members are also taking part in the government’s Kick Start scheme, which aims to provide job opportunities for 16 to 24-year-olds that currently receive universal credit, and plan to launch a graduate recruitment scheme.

BGC chief executive Michael Dugher said: “As the UK emerges from the pandemic, creating more good jobs and training for young people will be more important than ever before.

“The Government’s own Plan for Jobs is a fantastic opportunity to create more apprenticeships and traineeships, tackle unemployment, increase productivity plus support British business overseas through Global Britain.

“BGC members alone already support nearly 120,000 jobs in world-leading tech through online gaming and bingo, in hospitality, tourism and entertainment through casinos, and across our hard-pressed high street jobs through modern betting shops. Our industry stands ready to play a key part in the national recovery.”

He added: “Young people have been hardest hit by the pandemic – this pledge is an important step in enabling them to be a part of the wider recovery.

“The future remains highly uncertain and the impact of the pandemic will be felt for a long time to come. Betting and Gaming Council members are ready to play their part by giving young people – our country’s future – the skills and opportunities they need to thrive.”

Meanwhile, the BGC has said it will “maintain the momentum” on safer gambling and protection for young people. It welcomed the decision by the social media platform Snapchat to allow users in the UK to opt out from seeing gambling adverts.

The BGC has congratulated Marcus Boyle on his appointment as chair of the British regulator, the Gambling Commission.

Brigid Simmonds, chair of the BGC, said: “As part of our continued commitment to ever higher standards on safer gambling, the BGC will continue to work with the Gambling Commission, as well as with the government on their evidence-led Gambling Review.”