Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire’s Senedd Member has challenged First Minister Eluned Morgan on how the Welsh Government plans to meet the skilled employment needs of emerging industries and technologies, and as to whether local businesses are being listened to when it comes to exploring the new employment opportunities presented by the Celtic Freeport, Pembroke Dock Marine Project, and Pembroke Net Zero Centre.
In the Senedd Chamber, Conservative MS Sam Kurtz highlighted Pembrokeshire’s proud industrial heritage and the importance of the hydrocarbon sector, including Valero oil refinery and RWE power station.
He added that with the Celtic Freeport and the potential for significant new investment in the region through Floating Off-Shore Wind, new opportunities are emerging to bring prosperity back to Pembrokeshire.
Speaking after the plenary session, Mr Kurtz said: “Pembrokeshire is home to a diverse mix of established and emerging industries, and it is vital that our workforce has the flexibility to transition into the jobs of the future.
“Businesses understand their needs better than anyone, so the Welsh Government must engage directly with the very industries that will be creating these opportunities.
“It is unacceptable that the Welsh Labour Government has yet to present a clear plan to support workers in traditional industries should they wish to reskill. Their slow response is damaging investment, harming businesses, and failing those whose future careers depend on decisive action.”
At Welsh Parliament, Mr Kurtz highlighted Pembrokeshire’s skilled economy, that has been strengthened by the excellent employment opportunities provided along the Haven Waterway, particularly in the hydrocarbon industry, with companies such as Valero and RWE at the forefront, supported by an outstanding supply chain, which includes Jenkins and Davies, and Ledwood.
He asked as to how the Welsh Government is working with employers, such as those mentioned, to harness their expertise, to listen to their voices and to ensure that the right reskilling and upskilling programmes are being delivered to address the skills gaps identified by key industries and businesses along the Haven Waterway.
In the Senedd Chamber, Conservative MS Sam Kurtz highlighted Pembrokeshire’s proud industrial heritage and the importance of the hydrocarbon sector, including Valero oil refinery and RWE power station.
He added that with the Celtic Freeport and the potential for significant new investment in the region through Floating Off-Shore Wind, new opportunities are emerging to bring prosperity back to Pembrokeshire.
Speaking after the plenary session, Mr Kurtz said: “Pembrokeshire is home to a diverse mix of established and emerging industries, and it is vital that our workforce has the flexibility to transition into the jobs of the future.
“Businesses understand their needs better than anyone, so the Welsh Government must engage directly with the very industries that will be creating these opportunities.
“It is unacceptable that the Welsh Labour Government has yet to present a clear plan to support workers in traditional industries should they wish to reskill. Their slow response is damaging investment, harming businesses, and failing those whose future careers depend on decisive action.”
At Welsh Parliament, Mr Kurtz highlighted Pembrokeshire’s skilled economy, that has been strengthened by the excellent employment opportunities provided along the Haven Waterway, particularly in the hydrocarbon industry, with companies such as Valero and RWE at the forefront, supported by an outstanding supply chain, which includes Jenkins and Davies, and Ledwood.
He asked as to how the Welsh Government is working with employers, such as those mentioned, to harness their expertise, to listen to their voices and to ensure that the right reskilling and upskilling programmes are being delivered to address the skills gaps identified by key industries and businesses along the Haven Waterway.
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NewsTranscript
00:00For many years, Pembrokeshire's skilled economy has been strengthened by the excellent employment
00:05opportunities provided along the Haven waterway, particularly in the hydrocarbon industry,
00:10with companies such as Valero and RWE at the forefront, supported by an outstanding supply
00:16chain which includes Jenkins and Davis and Leadwood. These industries and businesses
00:21will remain essential for years to come. However, with the success of the Celtic
00:26Freeport and new opportunities emerging from initiatives such as Pembroke Dock Marine Project,
00:31the Pembroke Net Zero Centre and floating offshore wind developments in the Celtic Sea,
00:35there is potential for some jobs to transition into these new sectors through targeted training.
00:41So how is the Welsh Government working with employers, such as those that I've mentioned,
00:45to harness their expertise, to listen to their voices and ensure that the right reskilling and
00:51upskilling programmes are being delivered to address the skills gaps identified by key
00:56industries and businesses along the Haven waterway?
00:59Well, thanks very much, and I'm sure you were as delighted as I was to hear that those tax
01:05reliefs are now open in relation to the two Freeports, not just in relation to Anglesey,
01:13where I was privileged to visit last week, but also in relation to Port Talbot and Milford Haven.
01:20But you're quite right, we do need to get people prepared for the transition
01:25and I know a huge amount of work is being done through and with Pembrokeshire College,
01:30for example. One of the projects I'm particularly pleased about is the individual learning accounts,
01:38and what that does is to target people who are already in work, perhaps on a lower salary,
01:45but it helps them to transition into higher-skilled jobs while they're in the workplace,
01:51so it improves their opportunities in those areas where we know we have skills shortages,
01:58and I think it's a really exciting project, and that has increased in terms of the funding.
02:05We've got funding for 23, 24, the amount of money was close to £21 million, we invested that,
02:14so thousands of people are using that opportunity, so I would recommend people in your area to take
02:21a look at those individual learning accounts. John Griffiths. Diolch Llywydd.