The Welsh Government is investing £366m over the next three years to deliver 125,000 all-age apprenticeships.
Marking the start of Apprenticeship Week Wales 2022 Economy Minister Vaughan Gething said the investment will support the Welsh Government’s commitment to ensure at least 90% of 16-24 year-olds will be in education, employment, or training by 2050 - as well as eradicating the gap between the employment rate in Wales and the UK.
Mr Gething said: “Skills and qualifications are the biggest single influence on a person’s chance of being in employment, and on them earning a good income and offering a route out of poverty and protection against it.
“So at the start of Apprenticeship Week Wales 2022, I am delighted to confirm this Welsh Government’s commitment to delivering 125,000 all-age apprenticeships across Wales during this term of government – with a significant investment of £366m to deliver the programme over the next three years.
“Apprenticeships can help futureproof, motivate and diversify a workforce – offering people the chance to gain high-quality vocational skills. They are also crucial to our ambitious vision for a Wales where no one is held back.
“I urge people across Wales and employers to see how apprenticeships can supercharge their futures this Apprenticeship Week Wales 2022.”
Over the next three years, Welsh Government ministers will also invest more in supporting people with disabilities to take up apprenticeship opportunities.
Mr Gething said more funding for apprenticeships, with the winding down of the contribution from the European Union funding post Brexit, was being provided despite the UK Government failing in its pledge to make up the loss of EU structuring funding to Wales in full.
He added: "Reaching our ambitious goal of delivering 125,000 apprenticeships by 2026 has been made harder by the UK Government. With £1bn in promised post EU funds missing from the Welsh budget, tough decisions have been required to prioritise this major pledge.
“While we cannot escape the impacts of the loss of that funding in the years ahead, we will invest an additional £30m up to 2024-25 to ensure ongoing delivery of our all-age apprenticeship programme, as well as support for the expansion of Shared Apprenticeships and Degree Apprenticeships."
