As National Apprenticeship Week 2026 celebrates the value of apprenticeships, host Gemma Casey is joined by Malcolm Holland, Managing Director of Flotek, Nicola Fourie, Apprenticeship Academy Co-ordinator at Hywel Dda Health Board and Jen Freeland, UK Talent Development and DEI Manager for ENGIE UK, to consider how taking on apprentices can strengthen recruitment, address skills shortages and future-proof businesses for the years ahead.

‘Green skills’ are often talked about as a key part of Wales’ transition towards sustainability and net-zero goals. Host Carwyn Jones is joined by Russell Greenslade of CBI Wales, Jane Lewis of South West Wales Regional Learning and Skills Partnership and Jacqui Murray of HVM Catapult to discuss what ‘green skills’ are and how businesses can keep pace.

Host Gemma Casey is joined by Sharon James-Evans of Cardiff & Vale College; Lisa Mytton of the National Training Federation for Wales; Brandon Jones of CSconnected; Jack Sargeant, Welsh Government ‘s Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership; and Louise Howells of Blake Morgan to discuss the role apprenticeships play in shaping Wales' workforce and economy.

What skills does the food and drink manufacturing sector in Wales need to nurture to continue to thrive? Host Carwyn Jones is joined by Kate Rees of Food & Drink Skills Wales, Chris Butler of Radnor Hills, and Sarah Drummond of Drop Bear to consider the main skills challenges facing the sector and opportunities to upskill the current and future workforce, whilst highlighting the emerging trends and innovative approaches by businesses in developing and advancing their employees. 

What role should employers play in developing the skills agenda for the future? Host Carwyn Jones is joined by Richard Spear, Managing Director of ACT Training and Chair of ALS, and Phil Jardine, Partner at Blake Morgan, to discuss whether business needs to work more closely with government and academia when it comes to skills. 

Host Gemma Casey and guests Sharon Davidson, Associate Lecturer, The Open University (OU); Darren Jones, Senior Manager for Partnerships, OU in Wales; and Cerith Rhys Jones, Senior Manager for External Affairs, OU in Wales discuss the OU’s Business Barometer 2024 and what it says about skills in Wales. With skills shortages having an impact on businesses and employees, and only 6% of firms in Wales having a written skills plan, the guests consider the benefits of lifelong learning and opportunities around green skills and technologies such as AI. 

A teaser reel of the upcoming inaugural episode of Skills Wales. Featuring host Gemma Casey, with guests Sharon Davidson, Darren Jones, and Cerith Rhys Jones from the Open University