Employability support engagement events: feedback summary

This report summarises the feedback received from the 4 regional employability engagement events held across Wales:

• Cardiff (southeast Wales) on 29 April 2025
• Abergele (north Wales) on 8 May 2025
• Llandrindod wells (mid Wales) on 22 May 2025
• Llanelli (southwest Wales) on 4 June 2025

Engagement events were held across all regions of Wales and attended by over 500 people. The aim was to gather stakeholder insights to inform the development of a new Employability Support Programme for Wales.

Overall, the feedback gives the Employability Support Programme a clear mandate to build on existing good practice while addressing limitations identified in previous approaches.

Participants overwhelmingly identified community engagement and social media as the most effective channels for programme awareness and access. It was mentioned repeatedly throughout responses, highlighting its importance in reaching diverse audiences. Other key points raised included:

• using established networks and services such as job centres, schools and health services
• ensuring there are multiple access points within the system

Feedback identified ‘individual barriers’ as the most important factor in determining appropriate support levels. Other factors include additional support needs, participant age, health-related barriers and duration of unemployment. Points raised included:

• the importance of considering the whole person holistically, not just their employability issues
• being able to build a trusted relationship with the assessor in a safe environment
• good communication skills from the assessor, who should be able to make points in plain English
• being able to revisit the assessment if necessary so it can be adapted as circumstances change

Previous programmes have delivered a person-centred approach by addressing individual barriers to employment through:

• flexible support, tailored to the needs of the individual
• building effective relationships with potential employers
• local, flexible delivery of provision
• a strong emphasis on developing soft skills and the availability of vocational training

The ineffectiveness of current digital systems was highlighted, as was the need for a unified Welsh digital system or for existing systems to be compatible with each other and with Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Privacy of personal data was also raised as an ongoing concern regarding the tracking of participants, particularly as people move between different programmes. Other points raised included:

• short term funding leads to uncertainty for both providers and programme participants
• participants needing to repeat their ‘story’ multiple times to multiple people
• poorly designed key performance indicators can lead to adverse consequences, such as a failure to recognise and record ‘distance travelled’ or soft skills outcomes such as confidence
• lack of collaboration between service providers and other services including issues such as General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

The importance of technology and the digital offer was raised along with the need for it to enhance but not replace personal relationships. There was consensus that Welsh Government should develop streamlined systems and reduce the administrative burden on providers and contractors. Other points raised included:

• implementing long term funding cycles of 5 years or more to ensure network stability, support effective planning, staff retention and facilitate ongoing improvement
• streamlining provision between all parties (central and local government as well as providers and employers) to reduce duplication
• making local funding available to meet local needs and ensuring there is flexibility in programme design and how it is delivered
• codesigning services by involving service users to incorporate their lived experiences into the programme
• a new emphasis on collaborating with employers to create employment and work experience opportunities, especially in the public sector, to help participants gain access and valuable experience
• a focus on meeting the needs of the future labour market