Apprenticeship Week Wales 2026: Showcasing the Value of Apprenticeships at UWTSD

2 February 2026

Between 9 and 15 February 2026, the annual Apprenticeship Week Wales will be held. This is an opportunity to put the spotlight on apprenticeships and celebrate their value to employers and learners as well as to the economy. It will bringing together apprentices, training providers, parents and employers, with the aim of highlighting the work and impact of the apprenticeship community.

Here, Matthew Wicker, Head of Apprenticeships at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD), reflects on the last year and the University’s approach to apprenticeship provision.

Matthew Wicker, Head of Apprenticeships at UWTSD

Since the introduction of Degree Apprenticeships in Wales in 2018, growth has been measured and aligned to Welsh Government priorities. In Wales, Degree Apprenticeships operate within a nationally approved framework model, ensuring that funded provision directly supports skills requirements in key sectors identified as critical to Wales’s economic future: ICT, engineering and advanced manufacturing.

Within this framework, funding is allocated to areas where high‑level skills development is expected to generate the greatest impact. Providers across the sector, including UWTSD, have invested in infrastructure, programme design and employer engagement to ensure provision is robust, compliant and closely aligned with industry needs. Eight years on, the benefits of this level of provision are demonstrable. We are hearing not just from our apprentices who remain in employment after their training and who are making progress in their careers, but also from our partner employers who are invested in our apprenticeships and who see the value of high level training, research and critical thinking.

Despite this progress, it has never been so important to ensure that the message is shared and the value is clear to a wider audience, particularly those who stand to gain the greatest benefit. Learners deserve accessible pathways into sustainable careers; employers need responsive programmes to meet both current and future workforce requirements, and we must continue to promote the principle that learning doesn’t stop at 18 years of age. In fact, it is often after this age that the most impactful learning journey will begin for many people and apprenticeships can play an integral role in that journey.

Apprenticeships also represent a powerful mechanism for widening participation. They create alternative routes into higher education, professional qualifications and advanced technical skills, while enabling employers to upskill and reskill their workforce to remain competitive in rapidly changing industries. In areas such as Industry 4.0, apprenticeships are already supporting employers to adapt, innovate and plan for long‑term sustainability and, given the success of Degree Apprenticeships to date, we hope that Welsh Government might consider adding additional sectors to the framework.

Looking ahead, UWTSD will continue to work in close partnership with Further Education colleges and Independent Training Providers to create coherent progression routes that address gaps in provision and ensure apprenticeships remain accessible and deliver genuine regional and national impact. In doing so, we will support the aspirations of Medr, the regulator for tertiary education in Wales, and will align our work to emerging strategic drivers.

As ever our partner employers are key to our provision. Whist employer engagement is regular and valued we need to optimise the use of their time, benefit from their expertise, insight and contributions. We understand that employers’ time is valuable. As a training provider we are often a close partner and can support the voice of employers across forums and groups. We will continue to share insights across our network, provide opportunities to contribute and promote the views of our partners and apprentices.

National Apprenticeship Week provides a valuable moment to reflect on our shared achievements and to celebrate the contribution of apprentices, employers and providers across Wales. Throughout the week, we will host events at our SA1 Swansea Waterfront campus, offering opportunities to meet our teams and apprentices, recognise exceptional achievement and highlight the collaborative journey we continue to take.

However, you don’t have to wait for National Apprenticeship Week to learn more; we welcome interest from employers and potential apprentices at any time. Please get in touch at apprenticeships@uwtsd.ac.uk