NATIONAL TRAINING FEDERATION FOR WALES

As work-based learning practitioners prepare to gather for their annual conference at the Celtic Manor Resort, Sarah John, chair of the National Training Federation for Wales, delves into the world of apprenticeships

APPRENTICESHIPS have never been as topical as they are today following the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy across the UK combined with Apprenticeship Policy in Wales and the activity of Regional Skills Partnerships linked to the emerging City Regions and Regional Growth Deals.

Consequently, the National Training Federation for Wales (NTfW) is now taking a more active role, alongside its members, in supporting both the Welsh Government and employers to ensure that apprenticeships respond to demand and are of high quality.

Apprenticeship Policy in Wales has resulted in the emergence of apprenticeship pathways from Levels 2 to 5, allowing learners to progress through their working career and creating collaboration across all providers of post 16 learning to achieve the desired outcome of high quality.

There has been a rise in the provision of higher apprenticeships at level 4 and above containing professional qualifications as well as the traditional HNC/HND and Foundation Degree options.

Employers realise they need to utilise their Apprenticeship Levy costs through upskilling their workforce, improving productivity and efficiency, creating opportunities to recruit apprentices and investing in their future, as their organisations grow.

We need a whole government approach for Wales to continue to be successful, bringing together departments that work directly with growing employers and inward investment opportunities to align the apprenticeship programmes in preparation for future demand.

The role of the Wales Apprenticeship Advisory Board will be crucial to the creation and updating of new and existing apprenticeship programmes as employer demands change and new apprenticeships are needed.

This board has a key role in ensuring that quality is maintained whilst meeting sector specific needs, including getting key employers to ‘sign off’ the changes.

The NTFW will continue to play a role in supporting the board as it increases activity. We will also continue to be the ‘honest broker’, dealing with enquiries from employers via the Business Skills Gateway and through the recent appointment of five new members of staff, with an officer working in each region of Wales, to guide employers to successfully implement apprenticeships in their organisations via the network of providers.

The NTFW is also fully engaged with consultation on the future of Post Compulsory Education and Training (PCET) for the 16 plus sector in Wales.

By advocating the benefits and success of apprenticeships in Wales, we will ensure that we continue to have high quality programmes in the future.

Many of the senior managers and leaders involved in the work-based learning sector in Wales will gather at the Celtic Manor Resort, Newport on June 28 for the NTfW’s annual conference, with Agored Cymru and Pearson being the associate sponsors for this year.

It’s an opportunity for them to discover what the future holds as we all strive to deliver a highly skilled workforce for the benefit of the Welsh economy.

‘Building a high skilled economy from strong foundations’ is the conference theme and keynote speakers include Eluned Morgan, Minister for Welsh Language and Lifelong Learning. We are all eager to hear what the Minister has to say about the Welsh Government’s future plans.

In a year when the Welsh Government has indicated its intentions to build a strong economy by delivering higher levels skills, while at the same time renewing a focus on the ‘foundational economy’, the provision of high quality workbased learning in Wales has never been so important.

With the work-based learning sector discussing what the future may look like, the conference presents a fantastic opportunity for all involved to engage in the dialogue around what we can do to support Welsh Government’s ambition of prosperity for all.

The NTfW represents more than 100 organisations involved in the delivery of learning in the workplace, ranging from small specialist training providers to national and international organisations, as well as local authorities, Further Education Institutions and charities.

■ Sarah John is chair of the National Training Federation for Wales.