Welsh skills highly rated against UK competitors

Over 80 Welsh competitors have returned from the UK Skills Show, an event designed to showcase the best talent right across the UK in fields such as construction, catering and beauty therapy. This was the largest squad Wales has sent to the annual competition in Birmingham's NEC and it's best ever performance after securing 10 gold medals, 7 silver 12 bronze and 15 highly commended.

20 Welsh competitors are now in with a chance of representing the UK at World Skills Abu Dhabi in 2017.

In England the UK Government plan to introduce a £2 billion levy on employers to pay for training and apprenticeships. They claim it will be better than the present taxpayer-funded system because it will link training to employers' requirements and ensure the right number of apprenticeships are on offer every year.

But Colegau Cymru, the body that represents colleges in Wales, claims the new scheme could hit training here. That's because the Welsh Government's share of the training cash would no longer come from the Treasury.

It's feared that small businesses in particular could find it difficult to fund places in future. Deputy Skills Minister Julie James say she's "not happy" with the levy scheme and says discussions are continuing with the UK Government about what should happen in future.