10. 9. Statement: Employability Support in Wales

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:53 pm on 5 July 2016.

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Photo of Dawn Bowden Dawn Bowden Labour 4:53, 5 July 2016

Thank you, acting Presiding Officer. It’s a very brief question. Minister, in addition to the support for apprenticeship programmes, European structural funds did provide for discrete training towards vocational skills and qualifications, and such qualification-focused training is currently provided both in our further education colleges in Wales and through private learning providers. This training is clearly an important element in ensuring that there’s a suitably trained and skilled workforce for businesses looking to set up in local communities. A prime example of that would be the Tenneco-Walker arrangement in Merthyr, which required skilled welders when setting up the new factory there, in Merthyr Tydfil. Would the Minister agree with me that, should pressures on funding for such schemes arise in the future, any funding should be prioritised towards further education colleges to deliver this crucial training, rather than being channelled towards private learning providers to maximise the moneys kept within the system?