Extra £22.5m EU funds to boost skills on Europe Day

This extra help, which is being announced on Europe Day, will ensure almost 8,000 people receive support and training.

The projects to benefit from EU funding include Inspire2Work, Trac 11-24, Achieve through Work Experience and Agile Nation II.

Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford said:

“I am delighted to see EU funds being invested in projects to support people to gain the skills they need to achieve their potential.

“Wales has benefited hugely from EU funding programmes for 20 years and these projects highlight the importance of Wales receiving replacement funding from the UK government once the UK leaves the EU.”

David Blaney, chief executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, said:

“We are pleased the GO Wales: Achieve through Work Experience scheme has been recognised with further investment through the European Social Fund.

“By focusing on students whose backgrounds mean they have traditionally been more disadvantaged in the jobs market, the scheme – through work experience opportunities and up-skilling – has already shown positive outcomes for participants.

“We look forward to seeing more students referred to the scheme and taking advantage of a range of work experience opportunities with local employers, which will further improve employment prospects and reduce the risk of disenfranchisement.”

The new funding announced today is in addition to more than £650m of EU funds, which have been invested in training and work in Wales – more than £200m of which has supported young people.