James Evans MS has reiterated his support for apprenticeship schemes to mark National Apprenticeship Week for 2025.
Video from Senedd.tv
Video from Senedd.tv
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00:00statement today, in my own personal perspective, I think that learning a skill as an apprenticeship
00:05holds just as much weight as holding a degree. Sometimes it's not more in my view because it's
00:09an awful lot harder work sometimes doing an apprenticeship. But what I'd like to raise with
00:12you, Minister, is in my constituency there's a business called Keen and Steel in Llandrindod
00:18and they're doing fantastic work of attracting apprentices from rural communities to work for
00:23them to get those skills and then to continue their working life. However, they are experiencing
00:27some difficulty with apprenticeship levy. So, would you welcome coming to visit that business
00:32along with me so we can discuss these problems with them directly so you can also hear that and
00:37take that back to your government colleagues to help inform the government policy on this
00:40important area of business? I thank James Evans for that. I agree learning a skill
00:50and a trade is of particular importance across Wales. I've often said, Presiding Officer,
00:57when I was on the backbenches, we should have more apprentices or those who've served
01:02apprenticeships in positions within the Senedd and including government as well. So, I would
01:09agree with him on the importance and the recognition of apprenticeships alongside the
01:14need for those people who choose the university route. But that's not forgetting we do have
01:21degree apprenticeship programmes as well and we do have other opportunities to explore that route.
01:27The Member points to Keen and Steel in his constituency and the apprenticeship levy.
01:34He will be aware of the work of the UK Government around the new growth in skills levy. The detail
01:42of that is still being worked through but, of course, I'd like to hear the views of Welsh
01:47businesses and Welsh learning providers around that, the thinking around the apprenticeship
01:53levy. I was very pleased to see, Presiding Officer, last year, I think in October, Keen and
02:00Steel's announcement of an expansion within his constituency supported by £140,000 of Welsh
02:08Government money to support that expansion, creating 39 new jobs, including five apprentices
02:16in the space of construction and infrastructure and the steel needed
02:20around that. As I say, Presiding Officer, jobs and green growth is a key priority for this
02:25Government. It's that type of work that will help deliver against that. I'll certainly consider
02:30coming to the Member's constituency to hear directly from the business and apprentices
02:36themselves when my diary allows.