Welsh Government annual report on compliance with Welsh Language Standards 2024 to 2025

This is the 9th annual report published by the Welsh Government on the implementation of and compliance with the Welsh Language Standards, in line with the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011. The standards set out how we must consider the Welsh language and provide information and services in Welsh to the people of Wales in different situations.

Welsh Ministers' compliance with the standards is one part of a wider language planning strategy that will support the government to achieve its 2050 goals; the first aim is to increase the number of Welsh speakers in Wales to 1 million and significantly increase the day-to-day use of the language, while the second relates to the Government's internal working practices as we aim to become a truly bilingual organisation.

A compliance notice has been placed by the Welsh Language Commissioner on Welsh Ministers and lists the standards that apply to their activities. The notice can be viewed here: Welsh Language Commissioner's compliance notice.

Mae’r ddogfen yma hefyd ar gael yn Gymraeg.

1.1 General

The Service Delivery Standards set out how we provide services and information to the people of Wales in Welsh. Our aim is always to ensure that people can engage with their government in their chosen language. We want to provide high quality bilingual services on all occasions.

To do this we continue to operate a network of bilingual service coordinators, made up of representatives from across the organisation.

The coordinators ensure that their colleagues are aware of issues arising in 2 main areas:

• Welsh Language Standards compliance issues, led by the Welsh Language Standards Team, and
• Policy issues relating to the Cymraeg 2050 strategy and language mainstreaming, led by the Cymraeg 2050 Division.

1.2 Complaints

In the 9th year of implementing the standards, 18 complaints were received about Welsh Government Welsh language services, which is lower than the 26 received last year (2023-2024). 10 of these complaints are directly related to the Welsh Ministers becoming the Last Resort Operators of the Wales and Borders rail franchise in 2021, a service operated by Transport for Wales on a day-to-day basis.

Of the 16 complaints received by the Welsh Language Commissioner's office, 12 investigations have been terminated, with 4 ongoing.

2 complaints were received directly from members of the public and resolved immediately under Stage 1 of the Welsh Government's Complaints Policy.

Transport for Wales (Rail)

Transport for Wales has worked to improve the bilingual services provided to customers using rail services in Wales since becoming responsible for the services. Recent activities include:

Transport for Wales has worked to improve the bilingual services provided to customers using rail services in Wales since becoming responsible for those services. This year, the highlight was undoubtedly the Rhondda Cynon Taf National Eisteddfod in Ynys Angharad Park. This was the culmination of months of work for the team at Transport for Wales in conjunction with the Eisteddfod and Rhondda Cynon Taf Council. There was considerable support for the Eisteddfod locally, and Transport for Wales responded positively to the golden opportunity offered by the fact that the Eisteddfod was hosted a stone's throw from their headquarters in Pontypridd. Train services passing through Pontypridd station were increased that week, and 100,000 people were seen using the station. Transport for Wales offered media accommodation at their headquarters in Llys Cadwyn opposite Ynys Angharad Park during the week, and the team were a lively presence on the Eisteddfod field, running campaigns to encourage people to use public transport. There was a great response from visitors to the Eisteddfod during the week, particularly on social media, with praise for the train service in general, but also for the additional staff deployed at the station to assist passengers and to provide a warm welcome in Welsh. Not a single complaint was received about the service during the week.

Activities over the past year include:

• Improving systems to provide bilingual customer information, both audio and visual, on all new train fleets – Transport for Wales continues to use the new Class 197 and Class 231 across the rail network, which provide bilingual announcements and information. 70% of Transport for Wales' operating fleet of trains is new, and brand new Class 756 tri-mode trains will also be introduced on the Coryton and Penarth lines later this summer, further increasing the number of new trains providing services on the Wales and Borders network.
• Bilingual announcements at railway stations have been upgraded, with most of this work completed.
• Signage across the entire network has been refurbished in line with Welsh Language Standards, including temporary signs and signage in new buildings and infrastructure such as Cardiff Bus Interchange.
• A major project has been developed at Transport for Wales to merge digital platforms, to ensure consistency and improved service for users, including consistent and accurate language use.
• Transport for Wales' first Welsh language podcast was launched this year.
• Further cross-border marketing campaigns have been developed bilingually this year – this includes joint campaigns with Chester Zoo and Y Doctor Cymraeg, along with other bilingual influencers for First Class services.
• Cultural events were supported across Wales, including Tafwyl and the Urdd Eisteddfod.
• The charity Tenovus was supported for the St David's Day celebrations at Swansea and Cardiff Central stations, with staff distributing daffodils to passengers.
• More induction and language awareness training sessions were introduced to staff with a clear underpinning message – use your Welsh at every opportunity.

2024-2025 Complaints relating to the Welsh Language Standards

2.1 General

'Cymraeg 2050: A million Welsh speakers' is the Welsh Government's strategy for promoting and facilitating the use of Welsh. In line with the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, the commitment in the Cymraeg 2050 strategy demonstrates that the Welsh language is a strategic priority for the Welsh Government. The Welsh Government's vision is to see the Welsh language flourish, with a significant increase in the number of people speaking and using the language in their daily lives.

The policy-making standards require the Welsh Government to:

• consider the effects of our policy decisions on the Welsh language (positive and negative)
• consider how to increase positive effects, mitigate or reduce adverse effects and take every opportunity to promote the use of Welsh
• seek views on the effects on Welsh when engaging or consulting and seek the views of Welsh speakers and users of the language.

The Welsh Government has an integrated impact assessment framework in place. The purpose of the framework is to advise staff on considering a range of topics, including the Welsh language, when making policy decisions. The framework guides staff through the process of considering the effects of policy decisions on opportunities to use Welsh and the principle that Welsh should not be treated less favourably than English. The Welsh language impact assessment is one of the statutory, mandatory assessments that officers must complete when developing, reviewing or amending policies and legislation.

2.2 Complaints

One complaint in relation to the Policy Making Standards was received by the Commissioner's office in 2024-2025. The complaint in question is part of another complaint received under the Service Delivery Standards. No complaints were received directly from members of the public.

3.1 Developing a policy on internal use of Welsh

The Welsh Government's strategy for seeing the mainstreaming of Welsh within the organisation and seeing more opportunities for our staff to use it is 'Cymraeg. It belongs to us all'. Launched in April 2020, the themes behind the strategy's implementation in its first five years are: leadership; recruitment; training and technology.

Progress has been made on the objectives of the 4 main themes underpinning the strategy:

Learning

We have made considerable progress over the last few years in developing the opportunities we offer staff to learn Welsh, ensuring they are diverse, flexible and effective. Our Welsh language training prospectus includes 12 different learning options open to staff, including weekly tutored lessons, online self-study learning options and intensive residential learning courses. We emphasise in our learning materials that Welsh is considered an asset to the organisation and that we want to invest in the skills of our workforce. The new offering has ignited the imagination of the workforce, with more staff than ever now developing their Welsh language skills. In fact, since May 2020 there has been a 758% increase in the number of colleagues following one of the 12 formal learning options to develop their Welsh language skills. More information about our learning data can be found below.

Leadership

In our focus on our senior leaders, we positively influence the culture of the organisation by helping them become role models in leading a bilingual organisation. Over the past year we have shared guidance with our senior leaders on using the Welsh language to chair meetings, and in interacting with others on a daily basis. Academi Wales' course, "Leading in a Bilingual Country" has been brought to the attention of elements of the Senior Civil Service, and a new induction course on the Welsh language has been developed for new recruits to the Senior Civil Service. In the Senior Civil Service, 25% of staff are now following a formal training option to learn Welsh, indicating that our work to ensure that the organisation's leaders understand their role in modelling behaviour that is a pattern for others, in relation to the Welsh language, is bearing fruit.

Recruitment

In our recruitment materials we emphasise that the Welsh language is an asset, regardless of role within Welsh Government. Two cohorts of apprentices that have joined the organisation have followed an intensive block course to develop their Welsh language skills, with 10 days of full-time training delivered over 2 weeks at 4 levels (Entry 1, Entry 2, Foundation 1, Foundation 2, Intermediate). A cohort from the Senior Civil Service has also followed the intensive block course. We no longer use the category of "Welsh language skills not necessary" in our recruitment material, and this year there has been a greater focus in recruitment on the understanding that Welsh will be learned on appointment, with a learning plan agreed with successful candidates once they have started.

Technology

We are focussing on how technology can help us make greater use of Welsh in the workplace, and to this end we are seeking ways to ensure that our Welsh speaking staff can use the Welsh interfaces of our technology without having to ask to do so. We have significantly increased our use of the simultaneous translation feature within Teams launched by Microsoft, offering the Welsh language in more stakeholder meetings, and we are promoting the secure use of Microsoft Translator to help work bilingually. When upgrading staff computers this year to Windows 11 in our Desktop 2.0 project, we developed an app, ‘Cymraeg Mewn Clic’, to facilitate Welsh language settings. The app allows staff to get the Microsoft Welsh-language interface on their laptops in one easy click. We will evaluate the project during the year.

3.2 Complaints

Two complaints in relation to the Operational Standards were received by the Commissioner's Office during the reporting period. The complaints in question were a part of other complaints received under the Service Delivery and Policy Making Standards.

31 March 2025

31 March 2024

People Survey

The People Survey is a survey carried out across the Civil Service and is completed annually by Welsh Government staff through an anonymous electronic survey. The survey is adapted for Welsh Government purposes with specific questions relating to working for the organisation, including questions about Welsh language skills and language use in the workplace.

Our Knowledge and Analytical Service has provided results for Welsh language skills based on the results of the 2024 People Survey in tabular form.

Welsh Language Skills – People Survey 2024

Skills data in the People Survey is based on the following question:

Which of the following best describes your ability in spoken Welsh?

• I am fluent in Welsh
• I can speak quite a bit of Welsh
• I can only speak a little Welsh
• I can say a few words in Welsh
• I can't speak Welsh

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View in table format

Welsh Language skills: staff percentages

Note that these percentages do not add up to 100% exactly because they are rounded to the nearest whole number.

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View in table format

General engagement with Welsh language activities

• Weekly classes: 173
• Learning 1:1: 44
• Online self-study: 97
• Gloywi: 11
• Intensive block course: 34
• Courtesy level Welsh course: 7
• Work Welsh e-learning: 39
• Language Skills Certificate: 7
• Kick Off Cymraeg: 19
• Residential course: 3
• Welsh pronunciation: 25
• Teaching Welsh speakers to talk to learners: 23
• Clwb Cymraeg: 45
• Bilingual Chairing and Hosting Bilingual Events and Meetings: 14
• The Welsh Language in Welsh Government – induction training: 112
• Total: 653

This is an increase of 26 from last year.

A breakdown of the above table can be found below.

Weekly lesson data

Our weekly classes are based on the Learning Welsh curriculum with courses available across Wales. Applications open in April with courses starting in September and running until the following May, providing a total of around 4 hours per week over 30 weeks. Classes are available from beginner to proficient levels.

Tutoring 1:1

1:1 tutored sessions are available for those who need additional support to learn Welsh, and customised sessions are provided based on learning needs and requirements. 1:1 training is also available to all members of the Senior Civil Service.

• Senior Civil Service: 34
• Additional Learning Needs: 10
• Total: 44

Online self-study

This course follows the same curriculum as the weekly classes but allows learners to complete the learning in their own time at their own pace. The course is available to all staff within the organisation and applications open every other month. This online self-study Welsh course is suitable for those at entry and/or foundation level.

Number of learners:

• April 2024: 26
• November 2024: 45
• January 2025: 26
• Total: 97

Block course

Our intensive block course classes are held based on 4 levels from beginner to advanced. The course will follow the same curriculum as our weekly class offer above but will be condensed to 20 full days of training over 4 weeks. The course is structured between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm, Monday to Friday over 4 weeks, and will be equivalent to completing a full level. Learners also have the option of attending 2 weeks of the course, but this will only allow them to complete half a level. This year we ran block courses for Entry, Foundation and Intermediate.

Number of staff:

• Entry: 15
• Foundation: 10
• Intermediate: 9
• Total: 34

Gloywi 

As part of our corporate training offer to develop Welsh language skills, we have a programme of refresher sessions, aimed at skilled Welsh-speaking colleagues who are keen to improve their language skills. This programme is driven entirely by demand. The course is delivered by a specialist tutor, who develops the programme based on the subjects chosen by interested participants. 

Number of staff who completed the course: 11

Courtesy level Welsh course

The course is delivered as an online module which takes 10 hours to complete, and we allow learners to complete the learning in their own time (but as part of their working day) and at their own pace. 

At the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• say hello at different times of the day and introduce themselves
• use initial greetings like "I'm John, I'm learning Welsh", etc.
• answer the phone with a bilingual greeting and take a message
• arrange and facilitate a meeting.

Part one: 4
Part two: 3

Other Welsh e-learning

• Improving your Welsh: Part 1 - 4
• Improving your Welsh: Part 2 - 2
• Welcome Back: Part 1 - 10
• Welcome Back: Part 2 - 1
• Welcome: Part 1 - 19
• Welcome: Part - 3
• Total: 39

Kick Off Cymraeg

Kick Off Cymraeg is a three-hour virtual session that allows participants to discuss the Welsh language and the Welsh Government's strategy in relation to its internal use – 'Cymraeg. It belongs to us all'. The session explores the essence of the Welsh language and its significance in Wales. Topics include 

• Your language journey
• What is language and how did we get here and
• The role you play within the Welsh Government.

Number of staff who completed the course: 19

Welsh pronunciation

The Welsh Pronunciation course aims to support employees by developing their confidence and giving them the opportunity to practise the pronunciation of Welsh words and phrases. The aim of the course is to ensure that participants are enabled to set an example in terms of trying and learning collaboratively.  Staff at the end of the course will be directed to the next steps in their journey to learn and use Welsh. 

Number of staff who completed the course: 25

Residential courses

Welsh Government staff can book intensive courses at Nant Gwrtheyrn through the National Centre for Learning Welsh. There are a variety of residential Welsh courses available at different learning levels, from Entry to Gloywi. These are intensive courses of approximately 5 hours of training per day over a period of up to 5 days, and also include opportunities to socialise and relax through the medium of Welsh. 

Total number of staff who attended a residential course: 3

Welsh Language Skills Certificate

This year we ran the Welsh Language Skills Certificate course again for proficiency level speakers. The course included a week-long residency of tutoring and revision at Nant Gwrtheyrn followed by exams a few weeks later in early May 2025. The Certificate demonstrates the ability to communicate accurately, confidently and professionally through the medium of Welsh, both orally and in writing. The assessments are specially designed to test the language skills that will be required when using Welsh at work. A scheme is in place to track the language use of the Certificate cohort after they have completed the course in order to assess their use of Welsh back at work.

Number of staff who completed the course: 7 (awaiting exam results at present)

Teaching Welsh speakers to talk to learners

This year we organised one-hour sessions, which were a mix of face-to-face and virtual sessions, with Helen Prosser, Director of Teaching and Learning at the National Centre for Learning Welsh. Helen explored and discussed the key things Welsh speakers need to know in order to be an asset to someone learning Welsh.

Number of staff who completed the course: 23

Bilingual chairing and hosting bilingual events and meetings

This year a new course was piloted for our staff. This course is delivered by Iaith cyf. and is a bilingual session aimed at those who want to learn how to chair, conduct or attend a bilingual meeting. We have run 2 pilots and have scheduled 2 more to be held in May.

Number of staff who completed the course: 14

Clwb Cymraeg

Informal chat sessions known as "Clwb Cymraeg" – these informal sessions are facilitated by a tutor on a weekly basis, and each session is for a specific level. These sessions are open to all members of staff, not just learners following a formal learning programme, to provide them with an opportunity to use their Welsh.

These sessions are designed to give staff the opportunity to practise their Welsh in a safe and constructive environment with a tutor on hand to instruct and support.

Average number of staff per session: 45

Induction sessions 

All new members of the Welsh Government workforce are required to undertake induction training. The corporate induction course instructor uses incidental Welsh throughout the four-part course, and Welsh is a key theme throughout.

As part of the induction, the Welsh Language Standards Team and Translation Service provide a language awareness session. This is an hour-long session that explains the Welsh Government's vision for the language, both internally as a bilingual organisation and externally in terms of our objective to see the language flourish in our communities. Opportunities to learn Welsh and develop their skills in the workplace are also highlighted to new staff during the session. The requirements of the Welsh Language Standards are introduced as part of the course, and how the Standards affect the day-to-day work of officers is discussed. The Translation Service introduces their remit and explains how to commission translation work and arrange simultaneous translation for meetings.

Number of attendees:

• 12 April 2024: 12
• 07 May 2024: 5
• 19 June 2024: 4
• 10 July 2024: 1
• 16 September 2024: 14
• 07 October 2024: 9
• 10 December 2024: 6
• 16 January 2025: 10
• 30 January 2025: 4
• 19 February 2025: 14
• 13 March 2025: 8
• 28 March 2025: 25
• Total: 112

There is also a dedicated induction course for new members of the Cabinet, the Senior Civil Service and non-executive directors of the Welsh Government Board. The course focuses on our statutory duties and policy objectives in our strategies for the Welsh language, 'Cymraeg 2050: A million Welsh speakers' and 'Cymraeg. It belongs to us all', bilingual work considerations, leadership mindsets, bilingual working tools, services such as the Translation Service, and Welsh language learning opportunities. These are 1:1 sessions and the new member of staff usually contacts the Welsh Language Standards Team to arrange a session.  4 Welsh language induction meetings were held this year, 3 for Senior Civil Service staff, and 1 for a Cabinet Secretary and their staff.

Other activities: St David's Day week

Once again this year, events relating to the Welsh language were held for staff to celebrate St David's Day.

Number of event attendees

• Mindfulness session in Welsh: 15
• Visit Wales Session – ‘Mewn hwyl mae ‘na hud’: 21
• Your experiences: Learners discussing their journey to Learning Welsh: 31
• Welsh language taster session: 2
• Drop-in Session – The Welsh learning offer: 43
• Session with Y Doctor Cymraeg: 92
• ‘Talwrn y Beirdd’ - Staff Poetry Competition: 62
• Total: 266

The Welsh Language Network 

A total of 488 Welsh Government staff are members of our internal Welsh language network on our Learning Lab. And 321 members of our Welsh language network on Microsoft Teams.

The aim of this network is to provide a space for staff to learn/speak Welsh, practise and improve their confidence by having conversations and sharing the latest news and information about training, opportunities, media, etc. with others.

All new learners and staff are encouraged to join the networks.

The number of new and advertised vacancies categorised as requiring:

1. Essential Welsh language skills
2. Welsh language skills to be learnt on appointment
3. Desirable Welsh language skills

Here is the 2024-2025 data:

Public Appointments: Welsh Language skills assessments

All roles to which an individual is appointed through the Welsh Ministers' public appointments process are subject to a Welsh language skills assessment. Of the 49 assessments carried out this year, 6 roles were categorised as Welsh-essential roles, and 43 with Welsh desirable. All assessments are subject to scrutiny and clearance by the Welsh Language Standards Team.

Tables

Welsh Language skills of WG staff (People Survey data - full breakdown)

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Welsh Language skills of WG staff (People Survey data - full breakdown)

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