Vaughan Gething: ...STEM careers in the space sector, and it's part of our engagement. And I look at the recent Science in the Senedd event, hosted by the Deputy Presiding Officer. I was really positive about the education in it, encouraging STEM activity, and how they had deliberately sought to make sure that they were available to boys and girls and to people from different backgrounds as well. That's a...
Vaughan Gething: ...Glamorgan, where they've trebled their head count because of the engagement with SMARTCymru and the links to academia as well. So, you’re quite right to draw the links between further and higher education and how that research and innovation that takes place there leads to innovation and improved business practices within the world of work, for both smaller businesses and indeed for the...
Vaughan Gething: ...of this is that we're not saying, 'Give Wales money because we deserve it.' We're saying, 'Give Wales money because we have excellent research here as well, within our sectors, within our higher education and, indeed, within our business and applied sector as well. So, there's actually a real gain to be made and do it close to where you're going to deploy it as well.' So, I think there are...
Vaughan Gething: I have not just discussions on the education aspect but practical discussions, for example, with Julie James, the housing Minister, about the impact of housing associations as important economic actors within local areas, as well as the direct engagement I have with others. Given that Jane Hutt is next to me, I should, of course, mention her continued interest and advocacy of the third sector...
Vaughan Gething: ...scene that we visited and we've supported through the pandemic to survive, but obviously, there is a really positive creative media scene around Newport as well. Of course, one of the stars of Sex Education is going to be the new Doctor Who, and I'm very much looking forward to seeing him become the new doctor. But more about Newport. I think we have lots of plans. I'm thinking about the...
Vaughan Gething: The reality is that we may not be able to ensure that universities, and, indeed, the further education sector, who also were significant beneficiaries of European funds, don't lose out. That's because of the choice that has been made. It's a clear-sighted choice not to include the Welsh Government and not to meet the clear manifesto pledge to replace every single penny of former European...
Vaughan Gething: There are challenges in this area that I'm discussing with the Minister for education and lifelong learning, and our joint engagement with the further education sector in particular. It's both about the way that funding is still up in the air—and we've had this discussion more than once about people's ability to engage in skilled work—and replacement EU funds aren't being fully matched...
Vaughan Gething: We are working with the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales to expand degree apprenticeships, moving from the pilot phase to mainstreaming, in line with our programme for government commitment.
Vaughan Gething: ...on low pay upskill in sectors experiencing labour market shortages, with examples ranging from HGV drivers to health and social care. I'm also working closely with my colleague the Minister for Education and Welsh Language on the progress of the establishment of the commission for tertiary education and research. This should put us in a better position to prioritise investments that...
Vaughan Gething: ..., as well as the partners that we have in devolved areas of responsibility too. When it comes to cross-Government working, in the questions earlier, I know that I was asked about work with the education Minister but also with the housing Minister and others, because we do know that for the employability and skills plan to work, we need to match up our own interventions to point in the same...
Vaughan Gething: ...in good work, with an improved ability for that person to acquire and then continue to gain skills through their working life. And that brings me on to your point about the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research. I'm happy to be able to confirm to you that I have met the education Minister in advance of the plan being published, in advance of the Cabinet discussion that agreed...
Vaughan Gething: ...rate for the last quarter of 2021 was higher than at any point before the last plan was introduced in March 2018. And, of course, the proportion of 19 to 24-year-olds who are now in employment, education or training is close to the highest level on record. The proportion of people aged between 18 and 64 who have no qualifications has fallen by more than 1 per cent, and those with higher...
Vaughan Gething: ...to be spent and the smaller replacement sums are not going to have decisions made at present by Ministers here, and they're going to go through local authorities, cutting out further and higher education, cutting out the third sector, and, crucially, undermining the way in which we fund skills and training programmes. For example, we expect to have lost £16 million of European funding...
Vaughan Gething: ...those interventions. The traineeship programme was aimed at helping young people aged 16 to 18 in Wales, and to give those young people the skills they need to progress further, either in further education and apprenticeships or employment. It also supports them with the development of soft skills, and tries to provide purposeful training and work experience opportunities. So, I'd be more...
Vaughan Gething: I certainly will. Actually, it's been interesting—a recently published survey from the Cardiff Business School showed that 85 per cent of businesses who responded agreed that the support from the first two phases of the Welsh Government's economic resilience fund was as important as furlough in supporting them during the first year of the pandemic. I think that's a great credit to Welsh...
Vaughan Gething: Okay, I'll take them in reverse order. On higher education, actually, one of our challenges is, and has always been, ever since I've been a Member—I'd like to think that higher education has got better at this as well—about the research and the excellence they produce and how that gets applied into the economy. So, the difference between research, development, innovation and application...
Vaughan Gething: ...going to lead engagement activities. I covered this in some of the statement. They're going to work with the businesses and stakeholders, so businesses and providers of qualifications, skills, education and training. They're going to hold a minimum of two events in each of the regions, and they're going to gather together and work with my officials to understand what business feedback...
Vaughan Gething: I remember many debates around the role of school, and by the time people are of school leaving age, the fact that many of your patterns for life are already set: your expectations about who you are, for better or for worse, but crucially also, the way you see yourself and whether you think a career is a realistic option for you. Many people have not necessarily consciously ruled out careers...
Vaughan Gething: ...person in the part of Wales in which they live, what are the barriers that face them for them to be able to get into work. Is its childcare? Is it the ability to physically get to a place where education, training or work is available? Is it that, actually, we need to do more to understand what we need to do to improve their skills base before they can practically enter the world of work?...
Vaughan Gething: ...job ready. So, we're combining those two things; that comes from listening to young people about what they said they particularly want. And it's also from listening to young people who are not in education, employment or training, where they want to be in a job, and that's their preferred option to move forward. So, we've had to think about how we provide the right support for them. And...
