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Changes to apprenticeship eligibility in Wales

Earlier this year we shared the Welsh Government’s updates to apprenticeship eligibility that came about after extensive collaboration and feedback from the sector, which was coordinated and driven by ACT.

In case you missed it, these changes address concerns, simplify sector definitions, and establish consistent age and time in role requirements. It really opens up opportunities for employers and learners to take advantage of our fantastic apprenticeship programme with, for example, the previous restrictions on Level 3 Leadership and Management programmes now dropped.

Take a look at the table below to see the updates that came into effect in June:

ACT awarded ISO 14001 certification

ACT has become the first WelshGovernment training provider to achieve a key environmental management standard. This means our environmental management system (EMS) meets an international standard. This is the highest standard you can achieve.

Our EMS contains a set of processes and procedures which have changed how we operate to reduce our impact on the environment. We use it to monitor data for waste, energy, water, transport, and carbon.

We then use this data to look for areas of improvement and implement changes on a trial basis to see how this may affect our environmental impact.

You can learn more about the EMS and further sustainability information on the Facilities SharePoint.

Garden project is in bloom

The warmer weather has provided the perfect backdrop for the first year of planting in our ACT Schools Caerphilly garden.

The site’s garden project aims to promote both wellbeing and engagement in the afternoon sessions across all year groups, encouraging students to live a healthy lifestyle. There is also the aim to use any produce grown in the school canteen.

Gardening has encouraged teamwork, individual responsibilities and dedication to looking after crops. So far learners have planted beans, peas, carrots, strawberries and leeks, and made irrigation drip bottles to keep plants watered in the heat.

Students donate blanket to the homeless

Schools learners had the chance to visit Caerphilly charity, Llamau, last month. The organisation supports homeless young people and women to find a safe place to live. Year 11 pupils met with staff to share more about a project they had been finishing –recycling crisp packets to make a blanket.

Learners also visited GDAS (Gwent, Drugs and Alcohol Service) to see if they knew of anyone who needed the blanket. GDAS were able to suggest a homeless man who would benefit from the project. Learners then met with him and the blanket was gratefully received.

ACT opens centre in Pontypool

ACT has launched a new delivery centre for Gwent in response to rising demand for its services in the region.

The last couple of months have been a busy time for ACT, particularly with the opening of our newest centre in Pontypool.

The new premises, located on Commercial Street, was officially opened by Member of the Senedd for Torfaen, Lynne Neagle, who had the opportunity to meet learners and staff, including Head of Youth Engagement and Training, Leon Patnett.

Leon said: “We’re absolutely delighted about the opening of this brand new site in Pontypool as part of our expansion to help us meet the needs of young people.

“We know how important the combination of valuable skills, qualifications, and experiences is when it comes to career progression in all sectors, and our Torfaen centre will offer access to all routes, including apprenticeships and placements through the JGW+ scheme, to help support this.”

Free hygiene products for learners and staff

We are committed to ensuring that the wellbeing needs of learners (as well as staff) across the ACT Network are met.

With support from the wider CAVC Group, ACT have been able to secure a large supply of hygiene products that we can provide to anyone who needs it.

These products include:

• Wall dispensers (for sanitary pads, and tampons)

• Leggings and underwear

• A range of sanitary products - including reusables

You may have seen these appearing in toilets across ACT centres – including staff toilets.

We’re continuing the work to secure a wider range of products and will keep everyone updated if and when this happens. We’ve also been able to extend the offer to partner providers, and have helped partners such as Aspiration Training, The Urdd, Coleg QS and Toothfairies – with more to collect products in the coming weeks.

Did you know?

There are rooms across most ACT centres with a small supply of food and other key items, should a learner or member of staff need them.

For suggestions of hygiene products, to let us know there are no hygiene products in your centre(s), or to find out more please contact Becky Morris

All about our Estyn reports

Between August 2022 and June 2023, the ACT Network have had five(!) Estyn visits.

Estyn are the education and training inspectorate for Wales, and they work to provide an independent inspection and advice service on quality and standards in education and training provided in Wales. They also work with Welsh Government to advise on policy development, review, or priorities.

Estyn visits, whilst stressful, are a positive thing. They are free consultancy for the ACT Network, and a fresh pair of eyes on what we do, how we do it, and where there’s room for us to improve.

Four of the visits this year were for Estyn to learn more about Jobs Growth Wales+, and on the fifth visit they looked at Essential Skills.

Feedback across all four visits has been incredibly positive, and whilst it was hard for us to trim the feedback down, the highlights are:

• Delivery is of a good standard, and the programme is delivered by skilled and knowledgeable staff.

• Providers use a good range of resources and deliver sessions that have engaging and relatable subject matter.

• Tutors use a good range of resources and activities, which are differentiated to meet learner needs.

• Estyn acknowledge the complex needs of the learner, but feedback received from learners demonstrates that providers are aware of this and adapting appropriately.

• Learners feel they have a good range of wellbeing support available to them.

• Learning programmes are supporting learners in many ways – including making new friends

• There is comprehensive internal and external wrap-around support available for learners through the use of specialist advisors and external partnerships.

• There was a uniqueness to ACT's offer, particularly around work with partners such as The Urdd, and the work that was done in relation to Hwb Sgiliau Hanfodol/Essential Skills Hub.

• The ACT network has a good example of where the practitioner role is used and used well.

• Support is clearly tailored and individualised across the network.

• One learner commented that “the project saved their life”.

Read the South Wales report here

Read the South West and Mid Wales report here

Read the South Central Wales report here