As ColegauCymru colleague Amy Wiliams celebrates 10 years at the organisation in September 2026, she reflects on a decade of change in the Welsh FE sector, from major policy reforms and political change to the challenges and successes experienced by colleges, learners and communities.
This month marks my ten-year work anniversary at ColegauCymru, which feels like a good moment to reflect on how much FE in Wales has changed since 2016. Over that decade, colleges have navigated political change, major reforms, rising demand and a global pandemic, while continuing to support learners, communities and employers.
One of the biggest structural changes has been the creation of Medr, the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research, which became operational in 2024. Medr now brings FE, HE, apprenticeships, adult learning and school sixth forms within a single tertiary education and research system.
The political landscape has shifted significantly. Wales has held two Senedd elections since 2016 and now has a Welsh Government led by Plaid Cymru. The new government has an opportunity to recognise the central role colleges play in education, skills, economic growth and stronger communities.
The wider education system has been transformed by the Curriculum for Wales. Its introduction has changed what young people learn and how they learn it, with important implications for their transition into post-16 education. The Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act has been another major piece of legislation. It created a unified system for learners aged 0 to 25 and placed new responsibilities on colleges to identify needs and provide individual support.
Navigating Covid-19 and a Cost-of-Living Crisis
No reflection on the decade would be complete without mentioning Covid-19. Colleges moved teaching online at remarkable speed while continuing to support vulnerable learners, lend digital equipment and help communities and employers. The pandemic accelerated digital learning but also highlighted inequalities, lost learning and the growing need for mental health and wellbeing support.
The cost-of-living crisis brought new pressures for learners and their families. Colleges saw first-hand the difficult choices some young people faced, with some stepping away from education altogether to support household finances or enter employment earlier than planned. The effects are still being felt today, particularly around learner transport. Welsh Government's £1 bus fare scheme is a welcome step in helping young people access education and training. However, there is scope to go further, particularly for college learners and apprentices who can still face significant travel costs and barriers to participation.
Skills for Life and Work
Apprenticeships have continued to deliver life-changing experiences for learners, but have also faced significant challenges over the past decade. As employers have grappled with economic uncertainty, apprenticeship opportunities have come under pressure due to funding challenges, with Wales seeing a significant reduction in apprenticeship starts in recent years as a result. ColegauCymru worked closely with colleges, employers and other stakeholders to make the case for additional investment and protect opportunities for learners. Despite these challenges, apprenticeships remain a major success story for Wales, providing thousands of people with the chance to earn while they learn, supporting workforce development and helping employers address skills shortages.
Adult learning has faced particularly significant challenges. Funding reductions at the beginning of the decade contributed to falling participation, with adult community learning budgets cut by more than a third. There have since been welcome increases and renewed recognition of lifelong learning, but rebuilding provision will require sustained investment so adults can retrain, improve essential skills and respond to economic change.
Meeting Growing Demand
Perhaps the most significant trend of recent years has been the growing number of young people choosing FE as their preferred post-16 pathway, attracted by a diverse mix of academic, vocational and technical qualifications. This September, colleges across Wales are once again reporting unprecedented demand.
But that success brings its own challenges. Colleges are increasingly oversubscribed, with many enrolling learners beyond funded numbers rather than turning young people away. Without additional investment from Medr and the Welsh Government, colleges face difficult decisions about provision, staffing and learner places. The alternative is unacceptable: more young people without opportunities and a rise in the number not in education, employment or training (NEET).
Looking Forward
As Wales begins a new political chapter, the next decade presents an opportunity to build on this progress and ensure colleges have the capacity to meet future demand. Colleges have shown they can deliver skills, opportunity and economic growth, often in the face of significant challenges.
ColegauCymru will continue to work closely with the new top team in Welsh Government to ensure the voice of colleges, learners and communities is heard at the highest levels of government. Now is the time for Welsh Government and Medr to match the sector's ambition with the investment needed to ensure every learner who wants a college place can access one.
Looking ahead also makes me reflect on the past. The last ten years have brought major changes in my own life, alongside everything I have witnessed across FE in Wales. There have been joyful milestones, including the birth of my children, my wedding and moving home, but also moments of loss and sadness that are an inevitable part of life.
Throughout it all, ColegauCymru and the FE sector have been a constant. We often think of work and life as separate things, but over time they become intertwined. The people we work with, the challenges we share and the purpose that brings us together become part of our own story.
Perhaps that's what makes an anniversary meaningful: recognising not only how much the world around us has changed, but also how the organisations, colleagues and communities we are part of help shape us through life's many ups and downs.
As I look ahead to the next decade, I feel fortunate to have spent the last ten years working in a sector that changes lives every day, and I am excited to see what the future holds for colleges, learners and Wales.
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Thank you, Amy, for ten years of commitment, insight and dedication to ColegauCymru and the FE sector in Wales. Your contribution over the past decade has made a real difference to our colleagues, our colleges and, most importantly, the learners and communities we serve.
Congratulations on ten years - and here’s to the next chapter!
