BUSINESSES, apprentices and training providers across Wales will be uniting during Apprenticeship Week from February 7-13 to celebrate the positive impact of apprenticeships.

A week of events and social media activity will highlight how apprenticeships can give individuals the skills and knowledge required for a rewarding career and how businesses can develop a talented workforce that is equipped with future-ready skills.

The National Training Federation for Wales (NTfW), which represents work-based training providers across the country, has organised three virtual events during the week to showcase the diversity of apprenticeships.

The free events, which will take place online via MS Teams, are being delivered in partnership with Welsh Government, Careers Wales and Working Wales, Engage to Change, Wates Construction and Companies House.

Each event will include information on apprenticeship vacancies, employer case studies, support available to learners, studying through the medium of Welsh or bilingually and a question and answer session.

‘Supporting Disabled People into Apprenticeships’ will be held on Tuesday, February 8, ‘Supporting Females into Construction Roles’ is on Wednesday, February 9 and ‘Supporting Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic People into Apprenticeships’ is on Thursday, February 10.

Humie Webbe, NTfW’s strategic equality and diversity lead said:

“Apprenticeships remain a great way to earn and learn skills that employers want.  We’re excited to share apprenticeship opportunities and demonstrate how employers and training providers are supporting underrepresented groups into apprenticeships.

“Our Apprenticeships for All events are for anyone curious about apprenticeships and want to take that next step to kick start their careers.”

The Welsh Government, which funds the apprenticeship programme in Wales with support from the European Social Fund, is urging businesses to make a genius decision by recruiting an apprentice or upskilling an existing employee.

Employers wishing to discover how their business can benefit from taking on an apprentice or upskilling their current workforce should visit:

https://businesswales.gov.wales/skillsgateway/skills-and-training-programmes/apprenticeships or call 03301 228338.

The NTfW’s Apprenticeship Team handles all apprenticeship enquiries from employers that come through the Welsh Government’s Business Wales Skills Gateway.

Whether an individual is finding their way in the world of work or taking steps towards a career change, an apprenticeship could be the answer, says the Welsh Government.