SAM ROWLANDS, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, calls on the Welsh Government to offer young people more apprenticeship opportunities.
Speaking in the Senedd, Mr Rowlands, asked Rebecca Evans, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, to provide an update on what the Welsh Government is doing to tackle economic inactivity in North Wales.
Mr Rowlands, a keen supporter of apprenticeship schemes said: “One of the routes to tackling economic inactivity is having that well-trained workforce. And for younger people, in particular, a large part can be done through apprenticeships, which provide a great way to learn a trade and genuine skills that they can use throughout their working life.
“Unfortunately, compared to other places in the UK, and in particular England, the range of degree apprenticeships on offer here is poor. Couple that with recent cuts that the Welsh Government have made to the apprenticeship programme, and we have problems in our degree apprenticeship programme here in Wales.
“I recently met with the new vice-chancellor of Wrexham University, and I also met with the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, who were both very clear that degree apprenticeships can make a big difference not just to the economy, but to the services that the Welsh Government are responsible for here as well.
“I’d like to ask what is being done to increase the range of degree apprenticeships on offer, and, importantly, how you are engaging with those educational institutions and others to see the increase in take-up that I’m sure we’d all want to see.”
The Cabinet Secretary said they recognised the importance of apprenticeships and were encouraging providers to collaborate with university sectors and the education sector more widely.
