How is the Welsh Government capitalising on the success of Team Wales in the WorldSkills UK National FInals to encourage greater engagement with skills development in schools?
The Inspiring Skills Excellence programme provides a platform for schools to benchmark their skills against others across Wales. The portfolio for Skills Competition Wales in 2023-24 encompasses 3 competitions for learners aged 14-16, across Construction, Engineering and Hairdressing. In 2022-23, over 80 young people aged 14-16 registered for the Construction and Hairdressing competitions. The Engineering competition at the time was in its pilot stage. Wales is currently leading the way across the UK with being the only UK region to facilitate skills competitions pre-16. It is hoped that, as success is achieved in these competitions and the appetite builds across schools, a greater portfolio of skills competitions can be developed.
Through the Have a Go initiative, Inspiring Skills also provides the infrastructure and resources to facilitate hands-on learning experiences to young people in schools in order to promote various career pathways, in particular apprenticeships. Between June and November 2023, Have a Go has supported 10 Careers Wales events and engaged with over 6,000 young people.