Latest news with #CareersWales
South Wales Argus
3 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Careers fair in Newport helps one person land apprenticeship
The Careers Wales event at the Newport Careers Centre took place on April 16 and saw 67 people attend. The event aimed to give people the chance to connect with local employers and apprenticeship schemes. Attendees were able to ask questions and receive practical support from Working Wales careers advisers. The event had a strong turnout from young people and featured a range of organisations like Office for National Statistics (ONS), Educ8, and Specsavers. Chelsea Dopson, stakeholder engagement adviser at Careers Wales, said: "We're thrilled with the turnout and impact of this event. "Bringing together employers, training providers, and jobseekers in one space creates a fantastic environment for real conversations, advice, and opportunities." The event reportedly led to positive outcomes for many, including one attendee securing an apprenticeship at Specsavers. Feedback from both visitors and exhibitors was 'overwhelmingly positive.' One customer said: "Wonderful staff present, very accommodating with myself and young children. "Easily signposted, helpful and kind." Another visitor added: "Everyone had excellent info to give and answered all my questions." Working Wales is delivered by Careers Wales and funded by the Welsh Government to provide careers guidance and employability support to those aged 16 and above.
Rhyl Journal
24-05-2025
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
North Wales school wins Tasty Careers Schools Challenge
The competition, which is part of a National Skills Academy for Food & Drink (NSAFD) Wales initiative, encourages pupils to design food products and dishes that are healthy, sustainable, and commercially viable. The challenge is supported by the Welsh Government-funded Sgiliau Bwyd a Diod Cymru / Food & Drink Skills Wales programme and Careers Wales. This year's Schools Challenge was backed by Castell Howell Foods, Leprino Foods, Kepak, Dunbia, and hospitality group Seren. The finals took place on March 5 at Conwy Business Centre, where teams of pupils pitched their final products, including a sheep milkshake, crempog with pureed parsnip, Welsh rarebit bites, and a strawberry oat snack bar. Denbigh High School emerged victorious with their product, 'Muffin' Around' – a selection of red pepper and spinach muffins. The judges were impressed by the concept, taste, and sustainability of the muffins. The competition, which has been running since 2018, has seen previous winners' products professionally produced and sold. This year's challenge required pupils to create a new healthy, sustainable product for a food and drink manufacturer. Tasty Careers 2025 attracted the highest number of entrants since its inception in 2018, with over 1,200 pupils from schools across Wales taking part. The North Wales finalists included Alun School, Denbigh High School, Ysgol Glan Clwyd, Rhyl High School, Ysgol Friars, Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni, Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle, Ysgol Eifionydd, and Ysgol Bro Idris. Teleri Owen, a teacher at Denbigh High School, said: "The competition has given the pupils an insight into the food industry. "They had thoroughly enjoyed working with each other in a different scenario to the classroom." Louise Cairns, CEO for NSAFD/Tasty Careers, said: "Congratulations to Denbigh High School for their outstanding performance in this year's Tasty Careers Schools Challenge. "The judges were highly impressed with all the entrants but their creation really stood out for sustainability, commercial viability – and of course, taste." Kate Rees, Sgiliau Bwyd a Diod Cymru / Food & Drink Skills Wales Programme Manager, added: "It's been inspiring to witness the ingenuity of the students at the Tasty Careers Challenge. "They are undoubtedly our future foodies, and this initiative is a significant asset in cultivating talent for the industry."
North Wales Chronicle
24-05-2025
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
North Wales school wins Tasty Careers Schools Challenge
The competition, which is part of a National Skills Academy for Food & Drink (NSAFD) Wales initiative, encourages pupils to design food products and dishes that are healthy, sustainable, and commercially viable. The challenge is supported by the Welsh Government-funded Sgiliau Bwyd a Diod Cymru / Food & Drink Skills Wales programme and Careers Wales. This year's Schools Challenge was backed by Castell Howell Foods, Leprino Foods, Kepak, Dunbia, and hospitality group Seren. The finals took place on March 5 at Conwy Business Centre, where teams of pupils pitched their final products, including a sheep milkshake, crempog with pureed parsnip, Welsh rarebit bites, and a strawberry oat snack bar. Denbigh High School emerged victorious with their product, 'Muffin' Around' – a selection of red pepper and spinach muffins. The judges were impressed by the concept, taste, and sustainability of the muffins. The competition, which has been running since 2018, has seen previous winners' products professionally produced and sold. This year's challenge required pupils to create a new healthy, sustainable product for a food and drink manufacturer. Tasty Careers 2025 attracted the highest number of entrants since its inception in 2018, with over 1,200 pupils from schools across Wales taking part. The North Wales finalists included Alun School, Denbigh High School, Ysgol Glan Clwyd, Rhyl High School, Ysgol Friars, Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni, Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle, Ysgol Eifionydd, and Ysgol Bro Idris. Teleri Owen, a teacher at Denbigh High School, said: "The competition has given the pupils an insight into the food industry. "They had thoroughly enjoyed working with each other in a different scenario to the classroom." Louise Cairns, CEO for NSAFD/Tasty Careers, said: "Congratulations to Denbigh High School for their outstanding performance in this year's Tasty Careers Schools Challenge. "The judges were highly impressed with all the entrants but their creation really stood out for sustainability, commercial viability – and of course, taste." Kate Rees, Sgiliau Bwyd a Diod Cymru / Food & Drink Skills Wales Programme Manager, added: "It's been inspiring to witness the ingenuity of the students at the Tasty Careers Challenge. "They are undoubtedly our future foodies, and this initiative is a significant asset in cultivating talent for the industry."
Business News Wales
16-05-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Wales 'Must Invest in Career Development' to Meet its Potential in Key Sectors
Wales must strategically invest in career guidance to ensure it meets its potential in sectors including technology, green energy and advanced manufacturing. That's according to the Career Development Institute (CDI), which has launched its Valuing Careers campaign at the Senedd. The Valuing Careers campaign is underpinned by a comprehensive UK-wide YouGov survey of 5,004 working-age adults commissioned by the CDI, and aims to highlight the pivotal role of career development in supporting individuals, strengthening the economy, and addressing key challenges. Although the Valuing Careers research covers the whole UK, the approach to career services differs across nations. People in Wales can benefit from support from Careers Wales, a national, government-funded, all-age guidance service. This provides a more integrated structure, and the CDI's findings emphasise that continued strategic investment and policy focus are essential to ensure career development effectively addresses skills challenges and supports individuals and the Welsh economy. David Morgan, Chief Executive of CDI, said: 'Wales is brimming with potential in sectors like technology, green energy and advanced manufacturing. To fully capitalise on this potential, it must continue to strategically invest in career guidance for young people and adults. Career development support empowers individuals, enabling them to develop the right skills to navigate this rapidly changing landscape.' The CDI's UK-wide research reveals that while 66% of adults feel positive about their careers to date, only 54% feel optimistic about their future prospects. Specific findings for Wales show similar trends, though often related to a slight shift towards lower socio-economic groups. For example, 64% of adults in Wales feel positive about their career to date (vs 66% UK), and 49% feel positive about their career prospects (vs 54% UK). However, despite eight in 10 UK adults having career aspirations or anticipating barriers, only 15% have accessed professional career guidance since leaving education. Encouragingly, 73% of people in Wales feel they know their strengths and weaknesses and state they take courses, attend networking events, and update their CVs at rates similar to the UK average. Crucially, 86% of those across the UK who do receive professional career guidance report a significant benefit, underscoring the transformative power of this support. This highlights the importance in Wales of recognising that those facing the most barriers often have the least propensity to seek help, and the CDI says this is a key challenge to be addressed as the Welsh Government continues to address inequality. Nikki Lawrence, Chief Executive of Careers Wales, said: 'The Valuing Careers research highlights what we see at Careers Wales every day – that high-quality, person-centred careers guidance transforms people's lives. 'We commit to putting the customer at the heart of everything we do, making sure people get the right impartial support, at the right time, in a way that works for them. 'From school pupils making those initial decisions about their next steps, through to adults considering career changes, facing redundancy or needing employability support, our all-age, bilingual service helps individuals to build brighter futures, and contribute to the economy of Wales.' The Valuing Careers campaign advocates for: Increased access to high-quality, professional career development for individuals at all career stages, so they are well equipped to manage their careers throughout life. Stronger collaboration between educators, employers, career development professionals, and policymakers to align skills development with evolving industry needs and labour market trends specific to Wales. Policy recognition and further investment in career development as a key driver of economic growth, workforce resilience, and social mobility in Wales. The CDI's recommendations to address the gaps in career support identified by the research are detailed in the full report and include: Increasing awareness and understanding of career development services, including those provided by Careers Wales and other partners, particularly among those facing systemic barriers. This includes actively promoting the benefits of such services to encourage uptake among harder-to-reach groups. Integrating career management skills during education to prepare individuals for lifelong career development.
South Wales Argus
15-05-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
New challenges aimed at helping students across south Wales
Careers Wales has created a series of new work-related challenges for students to complement their learning, with year 8 and year 9 students already being involved. From STEM to humanities and creative industries, these initiatives are a practical part of the curriculum provided with the support of various businesses. Maths teacher at Bryn Celynnog School in Pontypridd, Karis Ponting, said: "The challenges were engaging and informative about the variety of careers on offer in engineering with easy-to-follow resources for any teacher to lead the lessons. "The pupils particularly enjoyed the lesson where they created boxes and even requested to continue this into another lesson to challenge themselves to make the most productive manufacturing line. "The experience allowed pupils to apply the skills they learn in class into real-world of work scenarios." The new challenges aiming to help students across south Wales include maths and numeracy challenges; compound semiconductors; science and technology initiatives; FinTech; advanced manufacturing and renewables. Food, drink and hospitality, cyber security, health and wellbeing, and tourism also form part of the challenges. One challenge, centred on compound semiconductors, was trialled by pupils at Bryn Celynnog School. This challenge, hosted by microchip manufacturer Vishay, included a range of activities related to quality control in the industry. Joanne Daniels, Talent, Learning and Organisational Development lead at Vishay, said: "This has been a very worthwhile, rewarding experience developing the challenges for secondary schools. "The challenges cover maths, English and manufacturing as well as the soft skills." Mark Owen, Head of Services to Stakeholders at Careers Wales, said: "The Work in Focus challenges have been designed as a valuable resource for schools, helping to embed meaningful careers education within the curriculum."
