This week is Apprenticeship Week—an opportunity to celebrate apprentices, celebrate employers and celebrate training providers. As a former apprentice myself, I know how important the apprenticeship system is for developing technical expertise and professional competence, and it is a key part to preparing the workforce of the future. As well as developing learners' technical skills, apprenticeships must also equip people with the employability and transferrable skills needed for working life and to manage career transitions in an ever-changing labour market.

Good apprenticeships provide balance of on-the-job experience with technical training. Deputy Llywydd, the apprentices of today are the leaders of tomorrow, and we must equip them with those skills. An apprentice, Michael Halliday, who served his time alongside me, is now the head of engineering at a significant employer in my own constituency. Michael oversees a large number of projects and manages a team of experienced engineers; a true success story of the Welsh apprenticeship system. 

So, Deputy Llywydd, let's celebrate Apprenticeship Week by saying 'Thank you' to all our apprentices, to all the employers, and to all our training providers, like Coleg Cambria, Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol and so many others, who support apprenticeships throughout Wales and ensure that, in Wales, we do have the best apprentices and we do have the best apprenticeship system in the world. Diolch yn fawr.