Apprenticeships in Wales are a success story, and this Apprenticeships Week we at ColegauCymru encourage all our partners to join the celebrations.
The next Senedd term will be defining for Wales’ future. The challenges of net zero, delivering sustainable economic growth, rapid technological change, and new demands on public services will shape Wales’ future for a generation. Wales’ success lies in the skills of our people. Apprenticeships are the machine driving progress across all these areas. They provide individuals with the chance to “earn and learn” while equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and behaviours essential for success in the workplace.
With a return on investment of up to £18 for every £1 spent, training and apprenticeships are evidently value for money.
Over the last five years Welsh Government funding has allowed us to deliver 100,000 apprenticeships across Wales – from Advanced Manufacturing and Construction, through to Digital Technology and Creative Media. We are grateful to the Senedd’s Economy Committee who recently shone a light onto apprenticeships through its ‘Apprenticeship Pathways’ inquiry, calling for all learners to have access to independent advice and guidance and addressing issues with parity of esteem between vocational and academic routes. Last year we also welcomed Medr’s (the new tertiary education funder and regulator for Wales) work on developing a new Apprenticeships Programme that can provide clearer routes of progression and greater flexibility. There is much to celebrate, especially for those learners who have successfully completed their apprenticeship and moved onto the next stage of their learning journey – be that in the workplace or further study.
Syniadau uchelgeisiol, awdurdodol a mentrus.
Ymunwch â ni i gyfrannu at wneud Cymru gwell.
With a return on investment of up to £18 for every £1 spent, training and apprenticeships are evidently value for money. For employers, especially small and medium sized businesses, apprenticeships are not an abstract benefit – they are a practical response to real world pressures. Across Wales, skills shortages continue to constrain growth, strain public services and deepen inequalities. Employers consistently report that apprenticeships improve productivity, retention and workforce planning. Returns on investment are strong, not only financially but in terms of organisational resilience.
Let’s take a deeper dive into one industry that is key to Wales – the construction industry. This industry alone tackles the housing crisis, is instrumental in decarbonising older housing stock, and is the sector that is often seen as a barometer for the wider economy.
In my own college, construction apprenticeships are key to building the careers of our young people. Marley O’Kell from Milford Haven is a Pembrokeshire College learner that is training in on-site carpentry through a placement at a housing development in Haverfordwest. Marley said the role has helped him develop core carpentry skills, industry connections, and an understanding of the construction process from groundworks to final fix.
He said: ‘I’ve always been hands-on and enjoyed working with tools, so pursuing an apprenticeship felt like a natural step. It allows me to learn directly on-site while gaining real-world experience, which is invaluable.’
Gofod i drafod, dadlau, ac ymchwilio.
Cefnogwch brif felin drafod annibynnol Cymru.
As we look forward to the Senedd election in May 2026, for Wales to be competitive, the next government must deliver a step change and invest and reform our skills system so that people of all ages can access opportunities where they live, and so that businesses can access the talent and support they need to grow. Around the world, industries are being reshaped by rapidly developing technologies and the urgency of the climate emergency. ColegauCymru is calling on the next Welsh Government, working with Medr, to recommit to a new Apprenticeship Programme to maintain the momentum achieved over the course of the last two Senedd terms. We believe that the next Welsh Government should commit to delivering a minimum of 125,000 high-quality, all-age apprenticeships over the term of the next Senedd. We need to power the next generation of new jobs in the private sector and to help rebuild key public services.
May’s Senedd election offers a fresh opportunity to recognise the unique contribution of apprenticeships – for learners, for communities, and for employers.
A new apprenticeships programme should sit within a new Vocational Education and Training Strategy for Wales – aligned with Wales’ economic and industrial priorities. The strategy is critical to driving economic growth and to developing the green skills needed for today and for the future. The strategy must provide a framework for Qualifications Wales, awarding bodies and providers, and would ensure that there is a clear line of accountability within the system. Underpinning the strategy should be a new Future Skills Authority to provide high quality labour, market intelligence, and insights, so that government, regulators and providers can understand gaps in future skills and where investment is needed.
May’s Senedd election offers a fresh opportunity to recognise the unique contribution of apprenticeships – for learners, for communities, and for employers. It is time to be bold – and colleges are ready to lead the way.
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