North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has today questioned the Education Secretary over support for Further Education Colleges in Wales and challenged her over the significant drop in Construction Apprentices.
Questioning the Cabinet Secretary for Education in today’s meeting of the Welsh Parliament over how the Welsh Government is supporting people into Further Education, Mr Isherwood quoted concerning figures which show that there has been a considerable drop in the number of Construction Apprentices in Wales in recent years.
He also highlighted concerns raised with him regarding funding levels for Further Education (FE) Colleges.
He said:
“Analysis by ColegauCymru in June 2023 showed that in the first year after the removal of the Level 2 Foundation Apprenticeship, there were 1,075 fewer construction apprentices compared to the previous year.
“Two years later, data published by Wales's Commission for Tertiary Education and Research, Medr, in June 2025 showed a 48 per cent drop in construction apprenticeship starts, attributing the drop to the removal of the Level 2 Foundation Apprenticeship and a 14 per cent cut to the apprenticeship budget.
“Both the staff in ColegauCymru Member Colleges and the construction sector are now highlighting this as a major problem affecting both the people and economy of Wales.”
He added:
“Colleges also tell me that Further Education is experiencing significant growth in core Full-Time numbers, well beyond current funding levels, and that alongside this, they are implementing the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 without increased funding, despite learners with Additional Learning Needs significantly increasing, with the core workload more than doubling in two years. Having ignored the warnings, what, if any, plans does this Welsh Government now have to support the sector by addressing these issues?”
In her response the Cabinet Secretary said she would write to the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership, Jack Sargeant MS, whose remit includes apprenticeships, regarding the construction apprenticeship concerns raised.
With regard to funding for Further Education colleges, she said:
“Obviously, we're about to start the Budget round, so I can't make any commitments about additional funding, but I will say to you that I am a very vocal advocate for the importance not just of more funding for education, but of the importance of FE and the need to support it, and I will continue to do that.
“I do recognise that colleges are under pressure on ALN. I'll be making a statement next week on the legislative review, where I'll have more to say about that.”
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Isherwood said:
“Our Further Education colleges are the backbone of skills development, and the Welsh Government should be enabling them to ensure greater opportunities for our young people and a stronger workforce.”