On 25 November, Senedd Members will discuss the findings of the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee’s inquiry into Apprenticeship Pathways. The inquiry looked at both good practice and the barriers associated with apprenticeship pathways, ranging from the information, support and access for learners to the support and challenges facing employers. The Committee also considered the role and responsibilities of the Welsh Government and Regional Skills Partnerships among other stakeholders.
There are a number of different types of apprenticeship. These range from junior apprenticeships, for those aged 14-16, to degree apprenticeships for those looking to combine the workplace learning of a traditional apprenticeship with a higher education qualification.
Some issues concerning apprenticeships were also covered within the Children, Young People and Education Committee’s report on Routes into Post-16 Education and Training.
Apprenticeships in Wales
While some aspects of apprenticeships, such as the apprenticeship levy and employment law, are relevant to all four nations of the UK, the policy direction and administration is devolved, resulting in four distinct systems in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England.
Medr, the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research, provide a quarterly publication regarding apprenticeship learning programmes started which are recorded against the Welsh Government’s target of 100,000, which was reduced from the initial Programme for Government target of 125,000 apprenticeship starts at the start of the sixth Senedd.
The latest provisional data states that by April 2025 there have been 77,385 apprenticeship starts since Q4 2020/21 as part of the progress towards Welsh Government’s target. In July 2025, the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership, Jack Sargeant MS, stated he is confident the Welsh Government will achieve its revised target.
Medr is currently looking to design a new Apprenticeship Programme for Wales which will start on 1 August 2027, and has consulted with employers, learning providers and those with experience of apprenticeships as part of this work.
Responses to Medr’s consultation on the Apprenticeship Programme in Wales highlighted good practice across all employment sectors, but raised the need for more flexible delivery and to respond to the changing economy and needs of industry.
Key policy issues
Over the course of the Committee’s inquiry, stakeholders reported various cases of good practice within the apprenticeships system as well as a range of limitations of the existing apprenticeships programme in Wales. Key issues raised include:
More needs to be done to promote apprenticeships as a viable option to learners
Some stakeholders such as Educ8 training suggested the information provided to learners can prevent some learners from recognising an apprenticeship as a viable pathway. They believe the lack of clarity and confusing nature of information provided to young people can:
Result in misleading, biased or incomplete guidance, leaving potential learners without access to the comprehensive range of options necessary to make informed decisions about their future.
While Swansea Bay University Health Board reported:
More work [needs] to be done from a younger age in schools on apprenticeship routes and pathways and also with parents/ carers.
The Committee believes learners should be provided with unbiased, accurate information about their choices and the options available through both academic and vocational pathways. It said that continued emphasis on parity of esteem should be achieved by promoting apprenticeships as having equal value to academic choices.
Apprenticeship support and opportunities vary across the different regions of Wales
Some stakeholders reported that factors such as travel and infrastructure impact apprenticeship provision unevenly across Wales, with rural areas particularly feeling the negative impacts. During the Committee’s citizen engagement work, a participant highlighted the impact of regional differences on their decision where to raise their children:
I come from a rural area of Wales but live in the city at the moment, as I want my children to have career opportunities that aren’t available to them in rural areas.
While recognising some such factors are not fully in control of the Welsh Government, the report says it should use every lever to remove or reduce barriers to all learners.
Work experience must be targeted and meaningful
While ACT Training highlighted the important role work experience has to play in the education and career paths for learners, the National Training Federation Wales highlighted the critical role of “meaningful work experience” in raising awareness of apprenticeship pathways.
The Committee conclude that for the best impact, work experience opportunities should be high quality to ensure students are aware of options available to them.
There is a concern over the reduction in the number of apprenticeship starts
Medr’s two most recent statistical releases, from August 2025 and June 2025, indicate a fall in apprenticeship starts when comparing data like-for-like with the same quarter of the preceding year.
Estyn attributed this fall in apprenticeship starts with the 14% reduction in apprenticeships funding for providers as well as the loss of European Social Fund contributions.
The Committee believe Welsh Government need to understand the impact of a decline in apprenticeship starts on business confidence, learners and the Welsh economy.
What’s next for apprenticeships in Wales?
In the run up to next year’s Senedd elections, a number of organisations have called for more to be done on apprenticeships:
- The National Training Federation Wales’ manifesto for apprenticeships call for all parties to commit to 200,000 apprenticeship starts over the next Senedd term.
- ColegauCymru call for the next Welsh Government to recommit to a new Apprenticeship Programme.
- The Open University call for better support and funding for degree apprenticeships
- Universities Wales call for greater freedom for universities to design and deliver apprenticeships in partnership with businesses in addition to an independent and transparent review of degree apprenticeships
- The Association of UK Dietitians call for alternative routes into the profession such as degree apprenticeships
- Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol call for the Welsh Government to boost the number of Welsh language and bilingual apprenticeships through additional investment
The Committee found that pathways for those looking to pursue an apprenticeship are not as clear as those for academic routes. As noted in the Chair’s foreword:
Whilst the academic route is clear, and schools work hard to signpost and encourage their students to progress to A-levels and degrees, the same cannot be said for the apprenticeship pathway.
Article by Dr. Thomas Morris, Senedd Research, Welsh Parliament
