Time to get involved, It’s Time to talk Apprenticeships
As Apprenticeship Week in Wales draws to a close, Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology, Ken Skates, has called on employers of all sizes to invest in the future of their workforce by recruiting an apprentice.
The call comes as figures from the Welsh Government show just how worthwhile this investment can be, with success rates for apprenticeships in Wales remaining well above 80% and the number of work-based learners at a six year high.
At the It’s Time to Talk Apprenticeships Event in the Vale Resort, Hensol, the Deputy Minister outlined the many benefits that an apprenticeship can offer a business, including reduced training and recruitment costs, increased productivity and a responsive, well-motivated workforce.
The event, which is organised by the Welsh Government and National Training Federation for Wales (NTfW) and sponsored by Pearson Work Based Learning, brought together all of the key stakeholders involved in the delivery of apprenticeships in Wales.
As well as taking part in interactive debates and table discussions, delegates also heard from speakers from speakers from GE Aviation Wales and Spirit Hair team who explained why apprenticeships had been so beneficial to their businesses.
The Deputy Minister also reminded employers to take advantage of the range of support available from the Welsh Government, including the EU backed Apprenticeship Programme.
For individuals, an apprenticeship is the ideal way to start a successful career, allowing apprentices to earn whilst they learn and gain skills, knowledge and nationally recognised qualifications.
Figures show that this is a highly worthwhile investment for the apprentice and employer alike. In 2011/12, the number of successfully completed apprenticeships rose to 13,230 – maintaining a success rate of above 80%.
Meanwhile, the popularity of apprenticeships in Wales continues, with provisional figures from November showing there were over 61,000 work-based learners in 2012/13 – a 6 year high.
Speaking at the event today, the Deputy Minister said: “As we celebrate Apprenticeship Week, I’m delighted to see that demand for and interest in apprenticeships in Wales is continuing to grow.
“We’re seeing this in our own provisional figures and the unprecedented interest we received in our Young Recruits Programme.
“This represents a real vote of confidence in the unique package of support, qualifications and experience that an Apprenticeship provides – something that is highly valued by employers and individuals alike.
“Apprenticeships make good business sense and I would encourage as many of our employers, no matter what their size, to take a look at the support we provide through our range of Apprenticeship programmes.”
The Deputy Minister also used his speech today to call for applications for Apprenticeship Awards Cymru 2014 which will be held at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport on October 31, 2014.
The Apprenticeship Awards Cymru celebrate the outstanding achievements of learners, employers and providers involved in the delivery of quality apprenticeships across Wales.
Arwyn Watkins, the NTfW’s chief executive, said: “The aim of the It’s Time to Talk Apprenticeships Event is to bring together all the key stakeholders involved in the delivery of Apprenticeships in Wales, with a view to raising awareness of their value to business and the wider economy. We hope that it will motivate more employers to become fully engaged in the Apprenticeship Programme.”
The Apprenticeship Programme is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.
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