Wales sees surge in apprenticeship success and skills competition participation

In Wales, the Inspiring Skills Excellence programme reported a 400% increase in work‑based learning providers registering learners for Skills Competition Wales this year. Providers such as XR Training have embedded the competitions into their core delivery, resulting in multiple regional medals, entries to WorldSkills UK heats and heightened confidence among learners.

The impact of apprenticeships is also highlighted by the story of Giwa Muftau, a Level 2 Health and Social Care apprentice who, through structured support, improved his technical and transferable skills, confidence and work readiness. Employers in Wales continue to cite recruitment difficulties, underscoring the importance of high‑quality apprenticeship delivery to address skills gaps and strengthen the workforce.

Together, the growth in competition participation and apprenticeship outcomes illustrate how Wales is using vocational training to build a more capable, adaptable labour market.