New service for job seekers

Councillor Tony Thomas, Cabinet Member for Resources, Workforce and Housing at Powys County Council said: “In serving the needs of our bilingual community, and to attract the best talent, we needed all external systems and communications to be in English and Welsh.

“Not only can we now communicate bilingually, but we have also seen processing costs reduced with savings on advertising and reduced administrative tasks such as telephone calls and emails. The system is so good that we’ve already taken steps to advise the Welsh Assembly and the Welsh Language Board about the system.”

Meirion Prys Jones, chief executive of the Welsh Language Board, said the council should be “congratulated” for the service that allows the public to apply for posts entirely in Welsh.

Powys is also the first Welsh authority to implement a completely integrated Welsh language HR and payroll system. It currently employs around 8,000 workers across Powys in numerous roles ranging from refuse collectors to social workers, and from teachers to highway engineers.