Every year more than 20,000 learners start an apprenticeship framework in Wales. Apprenticeships are the cornerstone of the Welsh Government’s skills strategy, providing individuals with the chance to "earn and learn" whilst equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and behaviours essential for success in the workplace.
Medr is consulting on the Future Apprenticeships Programme in Wales. This week, the Senedd Cross-Party Group for Apprenticeships met to discuss the future of the programme.
Chaired by apprenticeships champion Joyce Watson MS and joined by Plaid Cymru Education Spokesperson Cefin Campbell MS, the meeting brought together colleges and independent training providers to discuss how to build on the successes of the apprenticeship programme in Wales so far, to create a programme fit for the future. 
Apprenticeships must be clearly defined within a broader Vocational Education and Training Strategy for Wales, using accessible language. The new programme must be inclusive, supporting all ages and backgrounds, especially those new to roles, with a strong emphasis on mental health, wellbeing, and wrap-around support for apprentices. Improved marketing and careers advice to younger people, particularly for Welsh speakers, will be essential to boost participation.
Currently, apprenticeship frameworks set out the requirements for completing an apprenticeship in a specific occupation. Greater flexibility and a move to more modular frameworks with fewer but broader options will better meet the diverse needs of learners and employers. As the new programme develops, employer engagement will be critical, especially among Wales’ many micro-businesses and SMEs, who require tailored support and simplified access. To support employers, colleges will continue to act as a ‘one-stop-shop’, offering both apprenticeships and wider employability and skills, as the needs of their workforce will vary. It is critical that apprenticeship quality is measured beyond completion rates, incorporating progression, apprentice and employer satisfaction, and support for any additional learning needs of individuals. The future funding model must be transformed towards a longer-term, more flexible, sustainable approach to ensure the programme better serves the needs of apprentices, employers, and the economy.
The Medr consultation follows a significant piece of work by the Senedd Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee, Apprenticeship Pathways, which shone a light on the role which apprenticeships play in helping citizens upskill themselves, as well as providing the correct skills to drive forward our economy and produce economic growth.
ColegauCymru Chief Executive, David Hagendyk, said,
“We warmly welcome this consultation from Medr. We have a once in a generation opportunity to ensure that the system works for learners, providers, and businesses - today and in the future. Apprenticeships play a vital role in giving people of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to gain skills that are valued by employers and that secure Wales’ economic future. We are grateful to the Cross-Party Group for contributing. We need to power the next generation of new jobs in the private sector and help rebuild public services, and new apprenticeship programme is fundamental to that success”
Senedd 2026 - Grow the economy .jpg)
Looking ahead to the Senedd 2026 election, ColegauCymru is clear that to grow the economy, industry must be equipped with a highly skilled workforce to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing economy, shaped by the transition to net zero and the development of AI. A Vocational Education and Training Strategy, for Wales underpinned by a Future Skills Authority and a renewed commitment to high-quality apprenticeships, will be critical to ensuring that learners, providers, and businesses are ready to meet Wales’ future skills needs.
To join the ColegauCymru manifesto launch on 8 October 2025, please email Tanwen.James@ColegauCymru.ac.uk.
ColegauCymru, as joint secretariat of the Cross-Party Group alongside the National Training Federation for Wales (NTfW), will continue to support this important work in the weeks ahead as responses to the consultation are developed.
Further Information
Medr Consultation
Medr/2025/17: Apprenticeship Programme in Wales
Senedd Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee Report
Apprenticeship pathways
June 2025
Jeff Protheroe, Strategic Adviser, Work-based Learning and Employability
Jeff.Protheroe@ColegauCymru.ac.uk
