Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology, Julie James, has appealed to the 'vocational community' in Wales to take on an evangelical role to make the vocational route to a successful career as high profile as the academic pathway through university.

She said: “If university is not for you, then a credible alternative is there, but often it is too hard to find the advice, too hard to find how to apply and too hard to find what opportunities are available.

“Together we must find a better way to advertise to young people and adults the vocational and practical learning opportunities available to them.

“Vocational qualifications are the foundation of a successful career and many of the country’s high profile senior manager and entrepreneurs, such as Sir Terry Matthews, have progressed through the vocational route.”

She said skills were more important than ever and shrinking budgets meant that the Welsh Government and co-investing employers would have to share responsibility for funding training at current levels. Some employers were already reaping the rewards of investing in vocational qualifications.

She quoted studies that showed that the average apprentice increases productivity by £214 a week, yet only 13 per cent of businesses in Wales offer formal apprenticeships, compared to 15 per cent in the UK.

A total of 29 per cent of Wales’ employers planned to offer formal apprenticeships in the future and 90 per cent of those that had funded training in the past year said vocational qualifications helped staff do their job better. 86 per cent said the qualifications led directly to better business performance.

“Employer engagement is critical in creating the right conditions for businesses in Wales to grow and flourish,” she said.

“Our single access point provided by the Skills Gateway streamlines how employers and individual access the employment, skills and advice support available to them.

“In January, I announced £2.4m for the Flexible Skills Programme, which will target support to businesses in Wales by developing flexible, industry-led skill solutions where provision does not already exist.

“A new Skills Priority Programme will also support employers in developing skills provision which is responsive to their needs. The Welsh Government will continue to support young people to improve their skills and life choices.

“Joining training and employability programmes will help create seamless progression paths. I am convinced that if we continue to highlight the opportunities available and the tangible benefits of vocational qualifications, individuals in Wales will continue to impress us by their sheer talent, motivation and commitment.”

Both Peter Rees, National Training Federation for Wales chairman and Judith Evans, CollegesWales chairman, welcomed the Deputy Minister’s focus on promoting vocational qualifications so that all learners were aware of the options available to them.