Welsh Government plans to upskill people and ‘not leave anyone behind’ post-pandemic
THE PERSONAL LEARNING ACCOUNT PROGRAMME IS A FREE, FLEXIBLE WAY OF GIVING PEOPLE NEW SKILLS TO IMPROVE THEIR JOB PROSPECTS
A year ago not many people had heard of the word furlough, but it has quickly become part of the everyday vocabulary, taking its place in the changing world of work.
Health may be your wealth, but the impact of the pandemic has also made its mark on the economy and those charged with the responsibility of guiding it into smoother waters ahead have had a job and a half on their hands.
One of the tools in the Welsh Government fight back is the Personal Learning Account initiative, reaching out to people on furlough, on a zero-hours contract, or who are 19 or over and earning under £26,000 a year.
It is a programme that was piloted in 2019 and went so well that its expansion to colleges across Wales now sees more than 1,000 free courses going on, ranging from construction to ICT (information and communications technology).
Here, Ken Skates, Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales, outlines the part it is playing in the Welsh Government’s response to the health crisis and how he thinks the country is faring.
it HAS BEEN THE TOUGHEST OF YEARS FOR THE WELSH WORKFORCE. WHAT SHAPE DO YOU THINK THE ECONOMY IS IN GENERAL?
Ken Skates: We went into the pandemic with unemployment rates at a historic low, with economic activity down to almost UK average, again a historic low, with more people in employment than ever before, with a record number of businesses in existence. Our productivity rate was improving faster than the UK, so the economy was in great shape going into the pandemic. Obviously, globally coronavirus has been an unprecedented disruption in terms of economic activity and Wales, like all other countries, has suffered from this shock as a consequence.
Unemployment was predicted to have risen faster, though. The fact that it has not and the fact that we have got a lower rate of unemployment in Wales than the UK average is down to the fact that we have offered as a Welsh Government an unprecedented package of support.
And over and above the protection offered through the Job Retention Scheme, we have secured more than 140,000 jobs that could otherwise have been lost. And that represents about 10% of the Welsh workforce.
That’s a huge proportion of working people that have been protected in employment. We do expect, though, unemployment to rise, but once we are through this pandemic fully and into the recovery phase, we are determined to make sure that we invest in businesses that have potential in a post-eu exit, post-covid-19 existence. And we are keen to ensure that we place a stronger emphasis on developing a wellbeing economy that serves the purpose, not just to grow wealth, but to ensure that our wellbeing, our emotional health, our mental health, our social cohesion is enhanced.
HOW DOES THE PERSONAL LEARNING ACCOUNT PROGRAMME FIT INTO THE WELSH GOVERNMENT PLANS TO REVIVE IT?
Personal Learning Accounts are going to be hugely important in supporting people as we seek to upskill and reskill the workforce and get as many people as possible back into employment by developing their skills to meet the needs of employers. Personal Learning Accounts were introduced on a pilot basis back in 2019 and they were delivered initially by Coleg Gwent and Grŵp Llandrillo Menai, offering employed people the chance to access free and flexible courses within the Welsh Government priority sectors. Initially, they were engineering, construction, and ICT.
Essentially the programme has been such a success that we are confident, as we roll it out nationally, we can deliver it through our entire college network and the eligibility of the scheme has been expanded to include those people who are on furlough and those people who are at risk of redundancies, as well as anyone earning under £26,000 a year. So this offers a huge umbrella of support for people in Wales and it is part of what we are calling our Covid commitment to people to ensure that the impact of the pandemic leaves nobody behind, that there is every opportunity for people to retrain, upskill in high growth areas of the economy.
THIS IS HOW A PERSONAL LEARNING ACCOUNT WORKS
Access to free training is the great starting point with a Personal Learning Account, a big step on the ladder to improved job prospects.
There are over 1,000 courses to choose from, across 10 sectors, including construction, finance, digital, health and social care and engineering. Signing up to an account also gives you the flexibility you desire, with the option to study from home online around your other commitments.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Anyone over the age of 19 earning under £26,000 or anyone who is currently on furlough, on a zero-hours contract, or has been told their job is at risk.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
It’s free. All college courses under the Personal Learning Accounts programme are funded by Welsh Government. The only costs you will need to cover are your own expenses if you need to travel.
CAN i STUDY ANYWHERE IN WALES?
Many colleges are delivering teaching online only, which may mean you can explore beyond your local college. However, be aware that face-to-face learning may be required during the duration of your course, so you will need to consider travel times and costs.
HOW DO i APPLY?
Apply for a Personal Learning Account through Working Wales and speak to a local advisor. Call 0800 028 4844 or visit www.workingwales.gov.wales/contact-us for more information.
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR PEOPLE TO UPSKILL TO MAYBE STAY AHEAD OF THE GAME?
There are massive opportunities emerging in terms of employment and enterprise. And in order to seize those opportunities, we have to have a properly skilled workforce and so in priority sectors, such as engineering, ICT and construction, we have already seen how growth can deliver jobs right across Wales. But the Personal Learning Accounts will be expanded to cover the whole of Wales, with other priority areas part of the programme, and it will give people who may need just to reskill slightly or to upskill the chance to seize those opportunities in high growth areas.
WHAT SORT OF IMPACT DO YOU HOPE THE SCHEME WILL HAVE?
This is a hugely important programme with a very substantial budget of more than £17m and already 6,000 people have applied for the scheme and over 3,000 are already entering it. So it is a major offer for working adults in Wales and crucially learning is delivered in a flexible way and not within the normal, traditional 9-5 hours. So, it enables people who are on furlough to fulfil their time productively and those at work to reskill and upskill around their family or work commitments.
DO YOU THINK THE WELSH GOVERNMENT HAS OFFERED ALL THE SUPPORT IT COULD HAVE TO HELP BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS DURING THE PANDEMIC?
The Welsh Government offer to businesses has been extraordinary and we have offered the most substantial, comprehensive and most generous package of support to businesses anywhere in the United Kingdom. It amounts to more than £2bn support for businesses, and more than £1.9bn of that is now in the bank account of Welsh businesses. It has helped to protect more than 140,000 people in work who potentially otherwise would be unemployed. And the speed at which we are able to get money into the bank accounts of businesses was unprecedented, working with local authorities and Business Wales.
I think crucially it’s important to remember that the support we have offered to businesses is £400m more than we received in business-related support from the UK Government and that demonstrates the priority that the economy has within the Welsh Government. We fully recognise that the pandemic doesn’t just have major health implications, but also it’s inflicting extraordinary economic harm on the nation, and that’s why we have applied such a generous package of support to businesses.
WHAT DO YOU THINK HAS BEEN THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT?
In terms of society, I think we have seen many positive behavioural changes. People are recognising that there is far more to life than material goods and, as a result, I think we have demonstrated extraordinary citizenship during this time. We have come to revalue what matters most in life, which is a great health service, our own health, the health of people nearest and dearest to us.
Then in terms of how we have seen benefits emerge for Government and from Government, I think the degree of collaboration has been extraordinary between Welsh Government and local government, working together to protect businesses, to protect livelihoods and that can only be good for the longer term. We are seeing an unprecedented degree of co-creation of ideas, policies and innovation. And that will deliver benefits for many years to come. workingwales.gov.wales/personallearning-account or contact Careers Wales on 0800 028 4844.
COUNCIL chiefs wished Swansea Community Farm all the best for the future after agreeing to grant it a 35-year lease.
The farm’s current 21-year lease runs out this month, and cabinet members were keen to offer some long-term security.
The Fforestfach venture is a registered charity which provides hundreds of volunteers with hands-on experience of growing food and caring for animals.
Cllr Andrew Stevens - a farmer himself told cabinet members at a meeting on March 18 about the “excellent work” being done there.
He added: “It’s great to see Wales’s only city farm is here in Swansea.”
Cllr Alyson Pugh described it as a muchloved community resource.
Cllr Robert Francisdavies said he had brought the farm into being after visiting city farms in Bristol many years ago.
“Let’s hope they go from strength to strength,” he said.
The farm is on council-owned land, which may be needed for housing at some point but not for a long time.
Home to six staff, goats, ducks, bees, sheep, pigs, ducks and geese, the one-acre farm has allotments, an orchard, cafe, training kitchen and workshop rooms, among other things.
The council has provided £410,000 in funding over the years, but it came to an end two years ago. The farm has raised £3.5 million in grant funding since 2000.
Kate Gibbs, the farm’s manager, said some large funding bodies would only provide financial support for a venue if it had a long lease.
She welcomed cabinet’s decision to grant the 35-year lease.
“We are grateful and glad that what we do here has been recognised,” she said.
“It obviously gives us some security, and it’s great to see Swansea Council embracing this kind of fantastic local project.
“It changes hundreds of people’s lives each year for the better.”
She added: “I think the voluntary sector has been at the forefront of supporting people during Covid.”
COMMUNITY projects, including schemes in Glynneath and Llansaint, near Kidwelly, have received a share of £1,946,849 announced by the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip, Jane Hutt.
The cash windfall goes to community-based facilities right across Wales through the Community Facilities Programme (CFP).
The programme, which funds projects up to a maximum of £250,000, or up to £25,000 for smaller grants, helps well-used community facilities to improve their financial and/ or environmental sustainability, providing opportunities for local people to improve their day-to-day lives.
Since the CFP opened in 2015, the Welsh Government has funded 222 grants across Wales totalling £35.4 million.
Each project represents a well-used community facility which brings people together. Some of these facilities are also community owned.
Some of the projects receiving funding in Wales in the latest round include: ■ View (Glynneath) Ltd, Neath Port Talbot – £23,888 to create an indoor/outdoor play area for children. ■ Llansaint Welfare Hall, Carmarthenshire – additional £35,000 to extend and refurbish the welfare hall. These additional costs will be incurred due to the unexpected rise in costs of materials due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Jane Hutt said: “The Covid-19 pandemic and recent flooding has highlighted some specific challenges within communities, like mental health and social well-being. Shared commitment reinforces vibrant, caring communities, where citizens are bound together by close ties of co-operation and team work, inequalities are reduced, and the most vulnerable among us feel supported.
“The Welsh Government’s
Community Facilities Programme supports some fantastic local projects to evolve and grow to meet the specific needs of their area.
“Offering grants like these to community-led projects helps to improve much-needed facilities, which play such an important part in the lives of people throughout Wales. I want to thank the thirdsector organisations and volunteers who work so hard within their communities to deliver vital help and support where it is most needed – your efforts are inspiring.”
Finance Minister Rebecca Evans said: “Community facilities provide local access to a range of important services, such as health and well-being activities, and have been a focus for activity throughout the pandemic. This new money will support these invaluable assets to continue to thrive and grow both now and in the future.”
Llansaint Welfare Hall was awarded an additional £35,000 towards the total cost of £120,000 to extend and refurbish the welfare hall.
Llansaint is a small village in a rural community with few services. The Welfare Hall is community-owned, with a small play area and large field.
“There is a village pub,” said Arfon Davies, chairman of the Welfare Hall committee, “but no post office, and the local school has closed.
“The Welfare Hall is the centre of the community. We host a monthly bingo night, a quiz night four times a year, a Christmas party, Easter egg hunt and Hallowe’en party, and every summer we put on ‘the Best Little Carnival in Wales.’
“Our bingo nights are sometimes the only thing that brings people out of the house. The hall brings the whole community together, and makes a massive difference to people’s lives. All ages benefit – from the youngest children to the oldest in the village, who is 96.”
The funding will be used to demolish an old toilet block at the back of the hall, to replace it with an extension housing a brand-new kitchen and meeting room, and to upgrade the heating and electrical system.
Arfon continued: “This Welsh Government funding will transform the Welfare Hall into a facility which will benefit everyone in the village.
“The extension will mean that meetings of the Camera Club, Women’s Institute and Gardening Club can be held in a smaller, more welcoming space, and that we can cook more than hotdogs.”