Enhancing Apprenticeships – Meeting the needs of community and employers
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Information about the provider
Cardiff and Vale College (CAVC) leads a partnership of 19 sub-contractors to deliver Welsh Government apprenticeship programmes. They deliver apprenticeships to approximately 2,500 learners at levels 2, 3 and 4 with most provision in the priority sector areas. Eight per cent of learners are from ethnic minority groups, 10% have a declared disability and 35% are from areas of high deprivation. The college serves a diverse community in the Capital Region of Wales working with employers, local authorities, and the Welsh Government to provide solutions to promote apprenticeships. It works with over 1,000 employers, from multinational and national employers to SMEs, with 76% of employers from SMEs. The college has a clear aim to change lives through learning with a particular focus on maximising opportunities for young people to engage with apprenticeships and to address barriers for under-represented groups.
Context and background to the effective or innovative practice
Cardiff and Vale College Apprentices works in a region with the most diverse landscape in Wales in terms of economic prosperity and the diversity of the communities within it. The college recognises the key challenge to tackle poverty across the region and support prosperous communities. It positions its approach around strategic core themes, which include providing a responsive and impactful apprenticeship delivery, maximising opportunities for young people to engage with apprenticeships, increasing engagement beyond level 2 and a commitment to priority sector areas. In order to meet these aims it ensured that provision was planned at a strategic level, in collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders.
Description of nature of strategy or activity
Cardiff and Vale College Apprenticeships has effective strategic planning that is aligned to local and national need and skills priority sectors. It has worked well with stakeholders, including the Welsh Government, to develop innovative new programmes including working with the creative and cultural skills sector to run a dedicated shared apprenticeship programme in cultural heritage for 33 learners that were not in education, employment or training (NEET).
The college has worked well with local authorities to raise the profile and understanding of the routes through apprenticeships and the opportunities they provide. It promotes apprenticeships in local schools and has taken part in school challenges to encourage young people into technical apprenticeships.
The college has worked hard to appeal to under-represented groups such as those from ethnic minority communities and those from less affluent areas, developing links with local employers and community groups, running awareness and recruitment events within these communities. The college developed the Deloitte and BBC journalism apprenticeships to increase diversity. It has also designed and delivered complementary programmes such as supported Internships at Dow for those with learning difficulties and disabilities.
The college works with a wide range of employers, supporting inward investment and matching the skills of apprentices effectively, for example through the development of financial services apprenticeships in the financial and professional services sector in Cardiff. This work has showcased apprenticeships with key employers including Aston Martin and Future PLC.
What impact has this work had on provision and learners’ standards?
The college has increased the number of 16-year-olds joining apprenticeships and, in 2023, 71% of provision was under 24 years old. There has been an increase in the number of ethnic minority groups enrolling onto apprenticeship provision. Learners from ethnic minority groups and those from less affluent areas achieve their apprenticeships at similar rates to other learners.
The shared apprenticeship programme has been expanded into four additional sectors, in partnership with new employers and training providers, including the Wales Millennium Centre, Sgil Cymru, Y Prentis and Aspire.
How have you shared your good practice?
Cardiff and Vale College apprenticeships attend National Training Federation For Wales (NTfW) meetings and share their practice with other apprenticeship providers. They have disseminated the shared apprenticeship opportunity to key stakeholders, including regional skills forums.