- The Welsh Government has announced a package of reforms to
vocational skills training.
- A skills audit is underway, with early findings set to shape
the agenda for a Future Skills Summit planned for Autumn 2026.
- The Future Skills Summit will bring together employers,
educators, training providers, and policymakers to shape plans
for reform of vocational skills training in Wales.
The Welsh Government has announced a package of work to reform
vocational skills training in Wales.
By developing a Welsh skills system that is fit for the future,
the Welsh Government will ensure that education and training
opportunities are aligned with the real needs of Welsh employers
and industries and reflect future opportunities in the Welsh
economy.
The Deputy Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education made the
announcement at a National Training Federation for Wales (NTFW)
event in Cardiff today. This work includes a skills audit
and a Future Skills Summit planned for Autumn 2026.
The skills audit is currently underway and is gathering evidence.
Early findings will help form the agenda for the Future Skills
Summit.
The Future Skills Summit will bring together employers,
educators, training providers, and policymakers to shape plans
for reform of vocational skills training in Wales. Further
details will be confirmed in due course.
The Deputy Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education, said:
"We are at a pivotal moment for skills in Wales. Wales has real
strengths, a talented workforce, strong employers and excellent
training providers. We need to make sure those strengths are
fully realised. The skills audit we are undertaking will give us
a clearer picture of where the gaps are and where the
opportunities lie. The Future Skills Summit will be a chance for
employers, learners, and providers to help shape the reforms that
follow. This is genuinely collaborative work, and I am delighted
to be sharing our progress with the NTFW today.
Lisa Mytton, NTFW strategic director, welcomed the Welsh
Government's commitment to work collaboratively with training
providers, employers, and partners to shape the future of
vocational training in Wales. She said:
Today's announcement is an important step towards building a
skills system in Wales that is ambitious, responsive, and future
focused. Apprenticeships have a vital role to play in delivering
the skilled workforce our economy needs.
The skills audit and Future Skills Summit provide a valuable
opportunity to ensure apprenticeships continue to evolve, remain
relevant to the needs of employers and create clear pathways into
sustainable, high-quality employment.
