Look again at Work Experience decision, asks Rhun

Following Anglesey Council’s decision not to offer work experience for year 10 and 12 pupils this year, Ynys Môn AM Rhun ap Iorwerth has written to the Welsh Government.

The Council’s decision stems from Welsh Government’s decision to end Careers Wales’ contract to vet the suitability of work experience placements and is a consequence that the Assembly’s Enterprise and Business Committee (of which Rhun was a member) had brought to the attention of the Government at the time.

Rhun ap Iorwerth said:

“When we took evidence for our report on assisting young people into work, teaching representatives had warned us that this could happen, telling us that they felt it was a crisis that could put our children under a great disadvantage.

“I have therefore written to the Government to ask them to look again at the decision so that students in Ynys Môn, and other local authorities, will not lose out on this valuable experience.

“Work experience is a golden opportunity for pupils to learn new skills, to have a taste of the world of work and to build contacts with prospective employers. I know from personal experience of taking on students on work experience in my office that it is a good way of building the students’ self-confidence as well.”