Number of people learning Welsh hits record high
New figures show that 18,330 individuals completed Learn Welsh courses in 2023-24, the highest number ever recorded and a 45 per cent increase since the National Centre for Learning Welsh took responsibility for the sector in 2016.
Dona Lewis, chief executive of the National Centre for Learning Welsh, said: "The significant increase in the number of learners reflects the strength of our learning model and our ability to plan strategically to support the Welsh Government's ambition to increase the use of the Welsh language.
"We are extremely proud of all our learners, tutors, support staff and our partners throughout Wales, and are grateful to the Welsh Government for its continued support.
"The Welsh language belongs to everyone and as we prepare to transfer our work to the National Institute for Learning Welsh in 2027, we look forward to the next stage of our development as a sector, with a clear focus on ensuring lifelong learning opportunities to support more people of all ages and backgrounds to learn, use and enjoy the Welsh language."
The centre's annual report for 2024–25, launched at the Eisteddfod, credits this growth to detailed linguistic planning.
In addition to offering around 1,500 Welsh courses for adults in the community and online, the centre leads the national Learn Welsh strategy, which aims to improve access to the language, attract new audiences, and normalise the use of Welsh.
The centre also supports workplace learning through its Work Welsh scheme.
More than 2,000 employers and 30,000 employees have taken part in the scheme.
This includes partnerships with organisations such as North Wales Police, Airbus, the Football Association of Wales, the Welsh Rugby Union, and Wrexham AFC.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
Greece's Market Miracle Makes It 2025's Top Performer
Most investors would never guess the world's hottest stock market in 2025. Here is a clue: it was nearly bankrupt a decade ago. The answer is Greece. The MSCI Greece Index is up more than 70% this year, more than double the return of broader European indices and far ahead of the S&P 500. Just a decade ago, Greece was at the center of the European debt crisis, forced into three bailouts and facing 10-year government bond yields above 36%. Today, it borrows at rates 0.50% below the United States and on par with France, and its stock market is booming. From Crisis To Recovery The 2009 global recession exposed years of overspending and weak tax enforcement in Greece, triggering a full-blown sovereign debt crisis. By 2012, the country had accepted three bailouts from the European Union and the IMF, and there was rampant speculation that it would be tossed out of the Euro system. The economy went into a tailspin. Unemployment peaked at 28%, GDP shrank by approximately 27% from peak to trough, and nearly half of assets on banks balance sheets were non-performing. Painful reforms were unavoidable. Lenders believed austerity measures were the answer and forced Greece into making politically unpopular but economically required structural changes. The fiscal budget was slashed, uncompetitive wages were cut, tax collection was enforced and wide-spread corruption was tackled. At first, the austerity measures deepened the downturn, but they laid the foundation for a dramatic recovery. Over the last decade, the government has pushed through structural reforms that modernized the economy. Rapid digitization of public services and the myDATA e-invoicing system improved tax revenues. Privatization of the Piraeus Port and regional airports attracted foreign investment and upgraded infrastructure. Changes to bankruptcy laws allowed Greek banks to clear out bad loans, slashing the non-performing loan ratio from 49% to around 3% for the largest banks. A surge in tourism after the pandemic also helped generate growth. The added revenue and reforms had a meaningful impact. Greece's debt-to-GDP ratio fell from over 200% to about 153%, unemployment dropped to 7.9%, and the European Commission projects GDP growth of 2.3% in 2025, well above the Eurozone average. The Greek Stock Market Rally The stock market has rewarded the improved outlook. Performance of the Global X Greece ETF, ticker GREK, reflects the improved outlook. It has rallied 70% in 2025 compared to 25% for the broader European market. The outperformance is led by banks, which represent a 50% weight in the portfolio. According to Malcolm Dorson, Head of Emerging Markets at Global X, Greek equities offer a compelling investment opportunity that combines emerging market growth prospects with developed market stability. Dorson thinks there is more room to run, noting that the 'Potential reclassification of Greek equities to developed market status by FTSE Russell and MSCI could attract significant passive inflows.' Valuations remain attractive. GREK trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.7 versus 14.8 for the Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF. That discount, combined with a 4% dividend yield, has drawn in both momentum and value-oriented investors. Who should consider Greek stocks? They may appeal to momentum investors seeking diversification who subscribe to Peter Lynch's growth at a reasonable price philosophy. Greece offers economic expansion, corporate earnings growth, and an equity market trading at a meaningful discount to much of Europe. While the upside may not match the explosive gains of U.S. technology leaders, the valuations are far more modest, providing an opportunity to capture growth without paying a lofty premium.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Gemfields Sells Fabergé to Tech Investor Sergei Mosunov for $50 Million
LONDON — Gemfields, a leading supplier of colored gemstones, has reached an agreement to sell the storied Russian jewelry brand Fabergé to SMG Capital LLC for $50 million. Some $45 million of the sum is payable to Gemfields by SMG Capital on completion of the sale by the end of August, while the remaining $5 million will go to Gemfields by way of quarterly royalty payments at a rate of 8 percent of Fabergé's revenue. More from WWD Antony Lindsay Named CEO of Fabergé Fabergé Launches 'Game of Thrones' High Jewelry Collection Russian Princess Wears Reem Acra Wedding Gown She Bought Herself The colored gemstones supplier bought Fabergé from from Pallinghurst Resources, in 2013 in a deal at the time that valued the maker of lavish bejeweled Easter eggs at $142 million. Gemfields said that by offloading Fabergé and other non-core holdings, it has become a more streamlined and focused company with a strengthened balance sheet. The fresh capital injection from the sale will help Gemfields fund a new processing plant at Montepuez Ruby Mining in Mozambique, and expand emerald mining at Kagem in Zambia, which was suspended during the first quarter of 2025. Sean Gilbertson, group chief executive officer of Gemfields, and son of Brian Gilbertson, co-founder and former chairperson of Pallinghurst, said the sale of Fabergé marks the end of a considerably challenging trading environment, which the company began facing in the fourth quarter of 2024. Gemfields announced last December that it's considering selling Fabergé to cut costs. 'Fabergé has played a key role in raising the profile of the colored gemstones mined by Gemfields, and we will certainly miss its marketing leverage and star power. I extend our admiration and sincere thanks to the Fabergé team for their fortitude and the progress they have delivered over the years,' he added. SMG Capital is a U.S.-based investment company owned by the Russia-born, London-based tech investor Sergei Mosunov, whose interest spans from optics and photonics to AI, biotech and foundational models. Meanwhile, SMG Capital is dedicated to strategic investments in luxury brands and innovative businesses with strong heritage and global growth potential, the firm said. Mosunov is not entirely new to the world of fashion. In June, according to a LinkedIn post, he attended a panel talk hosted by networking platform Create What You Wish Existed between Stella McCartney and fellow Russian national Natalia Vodianova. 'It is a great honor for me to become the custodian of such an outstanding and globally recognized brand. Fabergé's unique heritage, with ties to Russia, England, France and the U.S., opens significant opportunities for further strengthening its position in the global luxury market and expanding its international presence,' said Mosunov. The tech investor said the brand will continue to focus on jewelry, accessories and timepieces, and provide service to Fabergé's existing retail and wholesale customers. 'We thank the Gemfields team for their contribution to the development of Fabergé and look forward to working closely with the brand's talented team. As Carl Fabergé said: 'There is no point in gems if you cannot turn them into a story.' We feel a deep sense of responsibility and incredible inspiration for the work ahead,' Mosunov added. Best of WWD EXCLUSIVE: Sean Combs Regains Control of Sean John Brand Isabel Marant Said in Play Again: Sources Holding Industriale Invests in Shoe Specialist Valmor
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
ProSieben investor General Atlantic opts for Czech PPF offer, shuns MFE, sources say
MUNICH (Reuters) -Financial investor General Atlantic has tendered its 2.4% stake in German media group ProSiebenSat.1 to Czech investment company PPF, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday. By taking PPF's cash offer of 7 euros ($8.17) per share for ProSieben, General Atlantic is going against the endorsement of ProSieben's management for a higher rival offer by MFE-MediaForEurope, which is partly paid in MFE shares, indicating that MFE faces some difficulties in its bid for control over ProSieben. General Atlantic, PPF and ProSieben declined to comment. MFE did not immediately respond to a request for comment. ($1 = 0.8567 euros)
