The Welsh Liberal Democrats have pledged to create 140,000 additional apprenticeship places in the next five years, should the party get elected into power next month.
This will double the number of apprentice starts every year, the party claims, by using some of the money the current Labour government set aside for its existing job creation scheme, Jobs Growth Wales.
High-quality apprentices are ‘vital’
Eluned Parrott, the Liberal Democrats’ candidate for Cardiff Central, said: “Providing high-quality skills training is vital to boosting our economy and helping people to build careers and get on in life.
“Labour’s own evaluation report said that Jobs Growth Wales locked people into low wages and that 73 per cent would’ve found work without it. We all know this scheme is a failure, but Labour refuses to face the facts.
“The Welsh Liberal Democrats would instead invest in apprenticeships and training, which will actually give young people professional skills and help them get on in life.”
All parties pledge more training
Welsh Labour’s First Minister Carwyn Jones responded by pointing out its own pledge to create at least 100,000 apprenticeships. He said: “We have created thousands of high quality apprenticeships supporting Welsh businesses to expand and grow our economy over our time in government.
“By pledging to create a minimum of 100,000 apprentices for all ages we are ensuring Welsh business has access to the higher level skills they need to expand.
“This builds on our ambition to create genuine parity of esteem between academic and vocational routes through education with as many people considering a high quality apprenticeship as studying at university.”
The Welsh Conservatives have said they will expand the 16 to 24 age range of Jobs Growth Wales to open up jobs for at least one year for people of all ages.
Plaid Cymru will create 50,000 new apprenticeships, the party has promised.
