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The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 17 October 2022.

Welsh food and drink continues to thrive as latest figures show the sector’s supply chain turnover increased to £23 billion in 2021, Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths has said. This represents a growth of 2.9% from the £22.4bn in 2020.

The food and drink manufacturing sector in Wales, producing diverse products, experienced very strong growth in 2021 with turnover increasing by 10.2% from £4.9bn to £5.4bn.

Today’s announcement follows the news earlier this year that Welsh food and drink exports hit a record high in 2021 reaching £640m.

The Welsh Government continues to help businesses in the sector through multiple support schemes providing market insight and intelligence, investment, technical support, export support and strong emphasis on business networking.

Rural Affairs Minister, Lesley Griffiths said:

These figures demonstrate the commitment and desire of Welsh food and drink businesses to succeed, despite the tough economic situation they face.

I am very proud of the resilience and enterprise shown by businesses emerging from the pandemic and overcoming multiple supply chain challenges.

Wales’ innovative spirit continues to shine brightly in the sector and the proof is in the pudding with Welsh businesses continuing to pick up awards.

Welsh Government support is also playing an important role and will continue to do so as we help companies reach their full potential.

The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 17 October 2022.

Seven Welsh businesses with expertise ranging from engineering and patient care to grassroots sport are heading to the USA this week as part of a Welsh Government-led trade mission.

The delegation is heading to North Carolina and South Carolina, where they will meet with businesses and potential new customers and partners. It is part of the Welsh Government’s commitment to supporting Welsh businesses to grow in Wales and sell to the world, as part of its Export Action Plan.

This is the first time that a Welsh Government-led delegation will have visited the Carolinas which have a combined population of 15 million.

The USA is Wales’ top export market for goods, accounting for 15.7% (£2.9bn) of total goods exports. Over the past year, the value of Welsh goods exports to the USA increased by 69.6% (£1.2 billion). The South is a rapidly growing region in the USA with diverse economic opportunities. Due to the strength in industries, cost competitiveness of doing business, and a pro-business environment, the region offers an entry point for Welsh businesses interested in exporting to the USA.

The mission is part of a series of activities being delivered by the Welsh Government in the run up to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, in which Wales’ first match is against the USA.

To maximise this opportunity, the delegation of businesses is being supported by the Welsh Government Office in Atlanta, Georgia alongside local partners.

The delegation will include the Football Association of Wales (FAW) Trust which will be looking to meet partners in coaching education for their online learning packages. They will jointly host a breakfast briefing with the Welsh Government featuring a virtual address by Wales Manager Rob Page. Business events to connect with local networks will take place in Greenville, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina.

Wales’ Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething said:

The USA is an important market for Wales and I’m pleased the Welsh Government can support this delegation of Welsh business talent on our first ever trade visit to the Carolinas.

This is an excellent opportunity for our businesses to explore the market and build connections with international partners. As part of this, I am keen that we capitalise on opportunities in the run up to the FIFA World Cup, which has the potential to raise the profile of Wales in key markets, like the USA.

The mission, which is part of a wider trade mission programme delivered by the Welsh Government shows our determination to back Welsh business to grow in Wales, and to sell to the world. It underpins our clear ambition to grow Welsh export as we deliver on our Export Action Plan.

Head of Business Development at FAW, Nick Davidson said:

The FAW are delighted to be part of the Welsh Government USA Trade Mission to North Carolina and South Carolina. Putting Wales on the world stage during a World Cup year is a shared objective and a great opportunity for business and sport to create powerful partnerships.

We have a world-class coaching reputation and have developed a world-class coach education system starting with the Introduction to Football Coaching Certificate through to UEFA Pro Licence. Our global alumni include Mikel Arteta, Yaya Touré, Thierry Henry and Tim Cahill and we’re hoping this mission allows us to grow grassroots football (soccer) across the world.

The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 17 October 2022.

Personal Learning Accounts (PLA) support individuals on lower-incomes and those whose jobs are at risk, to learn new skills, achieve new qualifications and help to rewrite their careers.

£1m will be used to train people in areas including cyber, programming, data analysis, network and cloud infrastructure, database management, and digital analysis skills.

£2m will be invested to support individuals to either upskill or re-skill in net zero skills, which will help develop a highly skilled workforce to support Wales achieve a  transition to net zero. The sectors supported will be construction, energy, engineering and manufacturing.

To date over £51m has been invested and almost 30,000 adults in Wales have benefited since Personal Learning Accounts launched in 2019, with over 16,000 individuals enrolling within the last academic year alone.

The free and flexible courses are available across Wales through 13 Welsh colleges and deliver vocational training in sectors where there is a skills shortage to ensure the future needs of the economy are met.

Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles, said:

We are delighted to make this announcement during Adult Learners’ Week Personal Learning Accounts provide excellent opportunities for people to re-train to find the right career for them.  Digital training and net zero skills are areas we know that employers are increasingly looking for as a skills base, while also being aligned with our commitments to be a greener, stronger, fairer Wales.

The PLA programme has had an excellent response since its launch, and I would encourage individuals wanting to develop their careers to find out more.

Minister for Economy, Vaughan Gething, said:

It’s fantastic to see that so many people across Wales are taking advantage of the courses available through Personal Learning Accounts.

The cost-of-living crisis is having a significant impact on household disposable income, so it’s imperative that we continue to fund and tailor vocational training to individuals who are looking for a brighter future. Personal Learning Account courses not only help to upskill individuals, but they are essential in filling vital talent gaps within our economy.