One way we stay in the loop with how learners are progressing, how they are finding life at 小黄鸭app and what we can do to improve is through our Learner Representative, Lily Pandeles.

Lily鈥檚 role is to advocate for learners across all of 小黄鸭app鈥檚 programmes, as well as in schools and with employers.

The learner representative role was created to provide all learners across the 小黄鸭app with a voice. As they are at the heart of what 小黄鸭app does, it was important to make sure that there was a direct link between key decision makers in the organisation and learners, so that learners were able to say what is working, and on the flipside what could be done better.

The role also has strong links with National Union of Students (NUS), and the National Society of Apprentices (NSOA), enabling 小黄鸭app learners to lend their voices on a local and national scale, contributing towards the improvements in the experiences of learners.

These links also enable 小黄鸭app learners to contribute to local and national research. For example, at the moment, work is ongoing in relation to apprenticeship wages, and the wellbeing and mental health needs of apprentices.

Lily works across two teams 鈥� Marketing & Communications and Quality.

Within the marketing team, Lily promotes 小黄鸭app鈥檚 Jobs Growth Wales+ and Apprenticeship programmes to schools. Within the quality team, she is the link between delivery teams, learners and other stakeholders. Her role is key to helping 小黄鸭app improve the experiences, support and provisions it offers.

Talking about how she has found splitting her work between two teams, Lily said: 鈥淚t can be a challenge as no two weeks are the same but I find this motivating and exciting.

鈥淓ach day is different. I could be at a careers fair one day, completing some learners鈥� forums in one of our centres the next, or in head office having a meeting.

鈥淚 enjoy the diversity of the role and being able to work directly with learners.”

Talking about the biggest challenge of the role, Lily highlighted the importance of why her role within 小黄鸭app was established in the first place. She said:

鈥淟earner voices are important and I am here to help facilitate positive change 鈥� it’s getting our JGW+ learners to understand how important they are to this that鈥檚 the challenge.鈥�

Becky Morris, Head of Continuous Improvement at 小黄鸭app, said: 鈥淎s our Learner Representative, Lily works across all areas of 小黄鸭app, and with our partner providers, helping us to shape how and what we do. Lily works to help us understand how effectively our processes work, helping us to decide on what we need to change.鈥�

Looking ahead to what she hopes she will achieve in the role, Lily shared her wish for the role to be a more prominent focus in all 小黄鸭app centres and act as a bridge to strengthen the relationships between learners and staff.

You can keep up to date with Lily and what 小黄鸭app learners are up to by following Lily on Instagram or on X .

Upskilling is a hot topic for any business leader at the moment. Anyone in a hiring position will know the current struggle of finding the right talent in an increasingly competitive market.

And if you鈥檙e feeling that the talent pool is shrinking, you鈥檙e not alone. An alarming report recently published by the CIPD shows skills shortages have more than doubled in Wales from 9,000 in 2017 to 20,600 in 2022. At the same time, more than a third of job vacancies were deemed 鈥榟ard to fill鈥� owing to the quality of applicants and a lack of necessary skills.

It comes as no surprise then that businesses are looking to their existing workforce instead, upskilling their teams to help bridge this widening skills gap.

Development and upskilling consistently places in the most sought-after workplace 鈥榖enefits鈥� for potential employees, with LinkedIn鈥檚 Global Talent Trends data finding that companies that help their employees build skills have a higher internal mobility rate than those who did not prioritise development. With that in mind, it鈥檚 no wonder that two thirds of employers are investing in training to upskill their current workforce.

Upskilling is beneficial for both business and individual, as well as the wider workforce. It provides the opportunity to learn new, highly desirable and transferable skills that then mean that companies obtain and retain staff with up-to-date knowledge relating to their role.

Upskilling also offers the chance to fully customise a role to your business needs, showing that you believe an employee is worth investing in and are supporting them in their future aspirations and career progression. Upskilling may seem like a daunting investment, but it shouldn’t be. At 小黄鸭app, as Wales鈥� leading training provider, we have worked with more than 14,000 businesses across the country supporting them and their staff with their work-based learning needs, including apprenticeships.

Courses range from digital marketing and customer service to accountancy and facilities management, and many more. They are suitable for employees beginning their journey in a specific role as well as senior staff looking to boost their skillset.

Qualifications are fully funded by the Welsh Government and offer flexible learning in at the workplace, in workshops and online.

While it is a common misconception that apprenticeships are for specific 鈥� often manual 鈥� jobs, and for those just starting out in their career, this couldn鈥檛 be further from the truth. Apprenticeships are undertaken at any age, in any sector and by employees with all different levels of experience.

Apprenticeships can be delivered flexibly to the needs of the sector, business and learner – whether upskilling someone already in a role or offering an apprenticeship as an entry point into your organisation.

Coursework can be completed around a project that the learner is looking to implement within their company, showcasing what must be done and the action plan needed to do it.

Upskilling is rapidly become not just a 鈥榥ice to offer鈥� perk of the job but an essential factor not just for job seekers but for businesses who are investing in their own growth as well as their employees鈥�. You can find out more about how work-based learning can work for you by dropping us a line here.

Jane’s appointment represents a strategic move for 小黄鸭app, underscoring its commitment to fostering innovation, economic prosperity and social mobility through education and vocational training. With a proven track record in marketing and communications, Jane is well-positioned to lead the charge in amplifying 小黄鸭app reach and impact.听

Throughout her career, Jane has demonstrated a deep passion for lifelong learning and social mobility. She understands the transformative power of education in shaping individuals’ lives and is excited to be part of an organisation that aims to improve lives through learning.听

With extensive experience in crafting and executing strategic marketing and communications initiatives, Jane will bring a fresh perspective to 小黄鸭app. Her commitment to innovation and collaboration will be instrumental in driving the organisation’s mission forward.听

“We are excited to welcome Jane to the 小黄鸭app team,” said Richard Spear, Managing Director at 小黄鸭app. “Her expertise and vision align seamlessly with our objectives, and we are confident that under her leadership, our marketing and communications efforts will thrive.”听

Jane Wynn added: “I am truly honoured to be a part of 小黄鸭app, an organisation dedicated to empowering individuals through education and training. I look forward to collaborating with the talented team here to advance our mission and make a positive impact for learners across Wales.鈥�听

Connect with Jane Wynn on LinkedIn, where she welcomes engaging with fellow professionals who share her passion for education, marketing, and communications.听

As Project Coordinator for Cwmpas, an economic development agency Thomas was keen to expand his social media knowledge further and signed up for a听Level 3 Social Media for Business qualification.听听

鈥淚 was looking to undertake something new and social media was an area of my role where I felt I could learn more. For me, the qualification offered a free learning opportunity which I鈥檇 be accredited for at the end of it.鈥�听

The Level 3 Social Media for Business Apprenticeship supports learners in developing various digital media skills that can be transferable across many sectors. Equipping learners with the skills knowledge and competency to support business systems, processes and services, the qualification enables learners to use social media in a more efficient and productive way.听

Speaking about the qualification, Thomas commented, 鈥淚鈥檝e really enjoyed the qualification and liked that I got to pick and choose the units that best suited my work needs. There are mandatory units to cover your core knowledge but then there鈥檚 a huge choice around the units you can tailor fit around you. It enables you to both grow your knowledge and your confidence at the same time.听听

鈥淔or me learning about Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and increasing brand visibility was essential learning for engagement. The outcome is that I鈥檝e adapted my approach and engagement with my network has really improved without necessarily advertising.鈥�听

Thomas is a firm advocator of upskilling on the job and believes apprenticeships are a smart and savvy choice for anyone looking to boost their career progression 鈥� especially in the current economic climate.听听

I鈥檝e always had a big drive and ambition to improve my education. I knew I was worthy of a meaningful career and greater opportunities and recognised I needed to demonstrate that to make it happen. I took the advantage of free training in Wales!听

鈥淚鈥檝e seen a shift from wanting specific A 鈥楲evels and degrees when hiring, to businesses like Cwmpas that want people to have a good standard of education which is representative of the role you鈥檙e going for. This is where apprenticeships come in massively! I鈥檝e not got a degree in Management but I do have a range of qualifications in Leadership & Management, Business Administration and now social media. It makes up a nice package of skills!听听

Social Media particularly, is vital in today鈥檚 market place as it allows businesses to both attract and engage customers, while increasing market reach. Through his Social Media for Business qualification, Thomas can devise and implement marketing campaigns ideas to drive business and raise the visibility of his current work project.听

鈥淭he biggest thing the qualification has given me is the confidence that I鈥檓 doing something right. You鈥檙e more likely to perform your job better if you feel confident. This qualification gives you tools so you have the knowledge, confidence, experience and know how to figure out how best to adapt your approach.鈥�听

Navigating an apprenticeship alongside work commitments may seem overwhelming but Thomas stresses that with commitment and support, an apprenticeship is a viable option for anyone in the workplace.听听

I would absolutely recommend apprenticeships to anyone. They鈥檙e not something you do when you鈥檙e young and you think you鈥檙e not academic. This perception is wrong! Apprenticeships are a viable way of upskilling yourself, showing your responsible and committed to learning while gaining confidence and being an asset to your workplace.听 Also, they鈥檙e free!听听

鈥淭he support from 小黄鸭app has been fantastic too. The assessors have always been on hand and provided a great deal of reassurance, guidance and been really encouraging and flexible. My value in the workplace has increased since undertaking my apprenticeships and I鈥檓 now in a position to share my knowledge with others in the business.鈥�听

Despite only recently completing his Social Media for Business qualification, Thomas has already set his sights on further qualifications which will enable him to reach his goal of becoming a Business Advisor.听听

鈥淚鈥檝e applied to do Community Shares Practitioner Training which will demonstrate my skills as a Business Advisor. For me, it鈥檚 about future proofing myself and gaining all the skills I can.鈥�听

If you鈥檇 like to learn more about Social Media for Business and how it can future proof your career听click here.

The aim of the Marketing Apprenticeship is to provide learners with the skills and knowledge needed to progress into roles within the marketing sector. This Marketing qualification is designed to meet the skills and needs of employers of all sizes across all sectors in Wales.

Whether joining an existing marketing department, or supporting the marketing of your organisation as part of a role in a small, medium business then this Apprenticeship for you.

Digital marketing refers to the use of digital channels and technologies to promote products, services, or brands. These channels can include social media platforms, video-sharing sites, display ads on websites, email marketing, and more.

This Apprenticeship is designed to support learners with all the skills necessary to work in the marketing industry. You will look at the latest techniques and technological developments within the workplace to drive creativity, productivity and efficiency.

As Project Coordinator for Cwmpas, an economic development agency Thomas was keen to expand his social media knowledge further and signed up for a Level 3 Social Media for Business qualification.听听

鈥淚 was looking to undertake something new and social media was an area of my role where I felt I could learn more. For me, the qualification offered a free learning opportunity which I’d be accredited for at the end of it.鈥�听

The Level 3 Social Media for Business Apprenticeship supports learners in developing various digital media skills that can be transferable across many sectors. Equipping learners with the skills knowledge and competency to support business systems, processes and services, the qualification enables learners to use social media in a more efficient and productive way.听

Speaking about the qualification, Thomas commented, 鈥淚鈥檝e really enjoyed the qualification and liked that I got to pick and choose the units that best suited my work needs. There are mandatory units to cover your core knowledge but then there鈥檚 a huge choice around the units you can tailor fit around you. It enables you to both grow your knowledge and your confidence at the same time.听听

鈥淔or me learning about Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and increasing brand visibility was essential learning for engagement. The outcome is that I鈥檝e adapted my approach and engagement with my network has really improved without necessarily advertising.鈥�听

Thomas is a firm advocator of upskilling on the job and believes apprenticeships are a smart and savvy choice for anyone looking to boost their career progression 鈥� especially in the current economic climate.听听

I鈥檝e always had a big drive and ambition to improve my education. I knew I was worthy of a meaningful career and greater opportunities and recognised I needed to demonstrate that to make it happen. I took the advantage of free training in Wales!听

鈥淚鈥檝e seen a shift from wanting specific A 鈥楲evels and degrees when hiring, to businesses like Cwmpas that want people to have a good standard of education which is representative of the role you鈥檙e going for. This is where apprenticeships come in massively! I鈥檝e not got a degree in Management but I do have a range of qualifications in Leadership & Management, Business Administration and now social media. It makes up a nice package of skills!听听

Social Media particularly, is vital in today鈥檚 market place as it allows businesses to both attract and engage customers, while increasing market reach. Through his Social Media for Business qualification, Thomas can devise and implement marketing campaigns ideas to drive business and raise the visibility of his current work project.听

鈥淭he biggest thing the qualification has given me is the confidence that I鈥檓 doing something right. You鈥檙e more likely to perform your job better if you feel confident. This qualification gives you tools so you have the knowledge, confidence, experience and know how to figure out how best to adapt your approach.鈥�听

Navigating an apprenticeship alongside work commitments may seem overwhelming but Thomas stresses that with commitment and support, an apprenticeship is a viable option for anyone in the workplace.听听

I would absolutely recommend apprenticeships to anyone. They鈥檙e not something you do when you鈥檙e young and you think you鈥檙e not academic. This perception is wrong! Apprenticeships are a viable way of upskilling yourself, showing your responsible and committed to learning while gaining confidence and being an asset to your workplace.听 Also, they鈥檙e free! 听

鈥淭he support from 小黄鸭app has been fantastic too. The assessors have always been on hand and provided a great deal of reassurance, guidance and been really encouraging and flexible. My value in the workplace has increased since undertaking my apprenticeships and I’m now in a position to share my knowledge with others in the business.鈥�听

Despite only recently completing his Social Media for Business qualification, Thomas has already set his sights on further qualifications which will enable him to reach his goal of becoming a Business Advisor.听听

鈥淚鈥檝e applied to do Community Shares Practitioner Training which will demonstrate my skills as a Business Advisor. For me, it鈥檚 about future proofing myself and gaining all the skills I can.鈥�听

If you鈥檇 like to learn more about Social Media for Business and how it can future proof your career click here.

Businesses have been getting social during National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) 2023 at an event held to highlight the benefits of investing in Digital Marketing, as the number of learners applying for digital marketing apprenticeships in Wales continues to rise.

An experienced Digital and Social Media professional with over 20 years’ experience, the respected digital marketeer was also the editorial figurehead for the BBC Content Social (TV & iPlayer) division, leading the development and execution of BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Four, BBC Comedy, BBC iPlayer and BBC Masterbrand鈥檚 social media strategies.

At the event, he highlighted the business benefits of investing in Digital Marketing, and helped businesses and learners gathered to think about their digital work and needs, and how they can grow in this area.

Mr Williams, now Managing Director at social media marketing specialist Siml, told those gathered: 鈥淭he 鈥楬oly Trinity鈥� of creating social media content that engages and inspires people is best defined as giving your followers information, helping to give them a better sense of identity and evoking an emotional reaction in them when they see what you are posting.鈥�

We are talking about globally borderless platforms where the potential reach for your personal or professional brand is absolutely massive, and where being accessible and engaging in the communities relevant to what you do, and in the conversations those groups of people are having, really can result in significant successes in business terms.

As Wales鈥� leading provider of apprenticeships, 小黄鸭app has seen a consistent uplift in the number of fully-funded digital courses it is now working to deliver across Wales in recent years.

The number of tutors recruited to its Digital Services Team has also expanded four-fold within that time, and now offers qualifications in Digital Marketing, Digital Learning Practitioners, Social Media for Business and Digital Application Support.

Richard Spear, Managing Director at 小黄鸭app, 鈥淲e are absolutely over the moon to have secured such a high-profile, well respected digital marketeer to come and talk to our guests, and can鈥檛 thank Owen enough for his time.鈥�

Richard said 鈥淥wen highlighted the importance of social media in reaching new customers. Unfortunately, many businesses do not have the skills to use this key tool effectively and are therefore missing out on growth.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we are using National Apprenticeship Week to highlight the amazing opportunities available through the Welsh Government鈥檚 apprenticeship programme. Our digital marketing apprenticeship, for example, has helped learners embark on an exciting new career and supported businesses to achieve their potential鈥�

鈥淎s well as our fantastic Digital Services programmes we have a huge range of apprenticeship opportunities and would encourage employers to get in touch to find out how to take advantage of these highly-effective fully-funded training programmes鈥� Richard added.

For more information on our apprenticeship programme or digital qualifications, visit

So many people were confused when I said I was doing an Apprenticeship. They had no clue a lot of qualifications available are of degree level.

Shares Lucy Day, Business Manager for Public Health Wales. Public Health Wales is a trust working to protect and improve health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities for the people of Wales.听听

There are a lot of misconceptions surrounding apprenticeships. The term often brings to mind young people learning a trade or an alternative route for people who struggled at school. This myth is far from the truth! Apprenticeships are a viable and smart option for anyone of any age in a range of job roles looking to upskill in the workplace. From qualifications in Business Management, Social Media & Digital Marketing to Customer Service and Accountancy – the opportunities are endless!听

Having undertaken two apprenticeships already to support her career development, Lucy, 47, from Whitchurch, Cardiff,听 knows this first hand. With over 15 years鈥� experience in Business and Project Management, Lucy has undertaken apprenticeships as an opportunity to expand and build on her own knowledge.听听听

鈥淚 embarked on a Project Management apprenticeship in 2020 and found it incredibly beneficial both for building my skillset and my personal development. During the pandemic I was keen to upskill further and started looking at what other options were available. I saw the Business Administration Level 4 qualification and really liked the sound of it as it fitted well with my current role.鈥�听

A Level 4 Diploma in Business Administration is an ideal Apprenticeship for those working in a management position who have experience within the public or private sector and want to develop this further.听听

In addition to gaining more knowledge in her chosen field, Lucy鈥檚 apprenticeship has enabled her to gain qualifications which will aid her in future career progression.听听听

鈥淎s well as supporting the role I鈥檓 currently in, I鈥檓 also adding skills that will serve me in any future roles I choose to pursue. The greatest benefit for me is that I鈥檓 earning while I learn. The qualification is fully funded and in terms of the benefits to Public Health Wales, I鈥檝e been able to use some great ideas and suggestions from my qualification and implement these into our working practice.鈥�听

Lucy adds that although an apprenticeship requires commitment and an ability to manage your time well, 小黄鸭app, were incredibly supportive of learners throughout the qualification.听听听

鈥淢y assessor at 小黄鸭app was absolutely superb – I can鈥檛 fault them. I have had an enormous amount of support and 小黄鸭app were incredibly understanding and flexible regarding my workload. They really worked with me to tailor my learning journey to suit my needs and that of my work schedule.鈥�听

Lucy is keen to advocate for apprenticeships as she feels it is a cost-effective way of building your skills and knowledge, while gaining valuable qualifications which can progress your career. As well as adding value to your workplace and employer as you expand your skillset, the qualification is a great opportunity to build confidence in your own abilities.听听

鈥淚 would definitely recommend an apprenticeship to everyone. It鈥檚 a great way to learn on the job and it鈥檚 fully funded so you don鈥檛 pay a penny. I would encourage it to anyone who is interested in their personal development and career progression. Honestly, an apprenticeship is a no brainer!鈥�听

If you want to find out more about our Business Administration Level 4 qualification and how it can benefit your business鈥�head here.听

Charlotte decided to embark on a Digital Marketing apprenticeship, realising she could strengthen both her mental and business abilities at the same time! 听

鈥淚t was peak pandemic and I needed something for my brain. Turning 40 was the impetus to just do it. For me, the qualification ticked a lot of boxes. It benefits my business and it鈥檚 fully-funded too, so it was a no-brainer!鈥�听

Charlotte created her business , back in 2010 teaching creative craft workshops in and around Cardiff and London, after noticing a gap in the market.听 Since then, the business has evolved and grown to encompass Make it Yourself Kits, an online shop as well as an array of exciting collaborations. With the majority of her sales generated online, Charlotte was keen to capitalise on her existing knowledge and increase her brands presence further.听听听

A lot of my business is generated on social media so the Digital Marketing qualification has helped me a lot! I now do shoppable posts, I joined TikTok and I keep all my socials like Facebook and Instagram up to date. It鈥檚 bonkers when people approach me and say 鈥淚 know you from the internet!”

The Digital Marketing apprenticeship teaches learners the fundamental topics needed for marketing. From Project Management, marketing strategies and business concepts through to developing digital technology skills to improve online presence to attract a target audience. Charlotte has been able to implement this knowledge to build on the success of .听听

鈥淚 feel the qualification has made me improve on all areas of my business as it covers everything I need to know and directly links to my business needs. Sometimes it鈥檚 easy to just keep on doing what we鈥檙e doing and not take time to reflect and think what is going well in the business or what isn鈥檛 working well. The Digital Marketing apprenticeship is really great at evaluating all aspects of your business.鈥澨�听

Having not studied for many years, Charlotte comments that the support she has received, both professionally and personally from 小黄鸭app, has hugely helped on her learner journey.听听

鈥淚 really appreciate the check ins I get from 小黄鸭app. During the pandemic it was a real life line. Having someone to calm me down and offer help and solutions to some of the problems I was bumping up against in my business was great. If I was working on something and wasn鈥檛 sure if I was on the right track, I could reach out and get feedback. The qualification is really adaptable too so you can fit it around your assessment needs.鈥�听

Since beginning the apprenticeship, Twin Made鈥檚 social media presence has gone from strength to strength, creating new opportunities for her business. Charlotte was recently approached to crochet a jumper and title belt for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) which led to an appearance on Channel 5 and BBC. Speaking about how the apprenticeship has benefitted her business, Charlotte adds:听

鈥淭he apprenticeship has really worked well for me because it all links in to my business in a more official, efficient capacity. The benefits are huge! I鈥檇 totally recommend the qualification to other people.鈥澨�听

The apprenticeship has also led Charlotte to consider what other qualifications are available which could benefit her business in the future. For now, though, she鈥檚 happy to continue implementing the knowledge she鈥檚 learnt so far and to share that wisdom with other small business owners.听听

鈥淭he Digital Marketing apprenticeship has been really good for me. I鈥檓 so glad I鈥檝e done it. It鈥檚 given me the confidence to step in and help other people and businesses with their content too. It鈥檚 really nice to be able to share my learnings with others.鈥�听

If you want to find out more about our Digital Marketing Level 4 qualification and how it can benefit your business head here.