Rebecca Evans MS, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
I am providing an update on the work of four Short Term Reviews which were taken forward across the summer to help inform delivery of our Economic Mission. These reviews have been put in place to listen to our partners to focus on continuous improvement, but also crucially exploring areas for new solutions.
All four reviews brought together external expertise from across industry, academia, public services as well as trade unions. They align with our objectives in the Economic Mission and in turn, have enabled input into the UK Industrial Strategy, where we continue to work in collaboration and at pace with the UK Government. Our economy is continuing to evolve and change, it is crucial that we can get upstream and listen to the practical barriers and challenges which are impacting on our business environment now and possibly in the future.
Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Productivity and Green Skills
Firstly, I am delighted to announce the publication of two reports, focusing on key areas of strategic importance within our Economic Mission: SME Productivity and Green Skills. These reports provide crucial insights to areas where we can drive cross-government delivery and where we can focus on continuous improvement but also explore new solutions.
Small and medium-sized enterprises make up large proportion of the Welsh economy, and understanding the challenges and opportunities they face is crucial for driving sustainable growth. The insights from these reviews will help inform our ongoing efforts to boost productivity, support innovation, and ensure that businesses have the green skills needed to thrive in a low-carbon future. We look forward to working with partners across the sector to turn these findings into meaningful action.
Floating Offshore Wind and Artificial Intelligence
Further reports were also delivered regarding Floating Offshore Wind and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The first of these concluded at the end of 2024 and this work was carried on via the Offshore Wind Task and Finish Group who published the port prospectus and the Action plan in June. The report on AI has been completed and is directly feeding into the development of an AI Action Plan, which will be published in the autumn. This includes directly embedding the recommendations within our delivery, we fully accept the findings of the expert group.
Next Steps
These reviews are already influencing our delivery, and we are determined to accelerate our focus on jobs, whilst building a Welsh economy which is taking the lead in areas of future potential. The recommendations of all four groups have been accepted and will shape our delivery. I intend to develop update reports by early Spring, which will demonstrate the actions we have taken.
I would like to thank all members of the expert groups. This collaborative approach has demonstrated social partnership in action. This ensures that policy development reflects a broad range of perspectives and is grounded in the lived experiences of workers, employers, and communities. This will in turn help to align economic growth with fair work, sustainability, and regional equity. We will continue to work closely with our partners in the next steps to focus on delivery.