The Welsh Government has confirmed plans to hold a future skills summit this autumn as part of a broader reform of vocational skills training in Wales. The announcement was made by Deputy Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education, Cefin Campbell.
Summit Aims to Shape Vocational Training Reforms
The summit will bring together employers, educators, training providers, and policymakers to help shape the future of vocational skills training in Wales. It follows a skills audit, which was a Plaid Cymru Senedd Election manifesto pledge, currently under way.
Mr Campbell said: “We are at a pivotal moment for skills in Wales. Wales has real strengths, a talented workforce, strong employers and excellent training providers. We need to make sure those strengths are fully realised. The skills audit we are undertaking will give us a clearer picture of where the gaps are and where the opportunities lie. The future skills summit will be a chance for employers, learners, and providers to help shape the reforms that follow. This is genuinely collaborative work.”
Apprenticeships Play a Key Role
Lisa Mytton, strategic director of the National Training Federation for Wales, which represents organisations and individuals involved in workplace learning, welcomed the announcement. She said: “This announcement is an important step towards building a skills system in Wales that is ambitious, responsive, and future focused. Apprenticeships have a vital role to play in delivering the skilled workforce our economy needs. The skills audit and future skills summit provide a valuable opportunity to ensure apprenticeships continue to evolve, remain relevant to the needs of employers and create clear pathways into sustainable, high-quality employment.”
