Firstly, may I take the opportunity to introduce the organisation I work for the National Training Federation Wales (NTfW)?  NTfW is the membership organisation which represents the views and opinions of all those involved within the education and training sector within Wales.  At present we have over 100 member organisations which include independent training providers, colleges of further education, unitary authorities, awarding organisations and more.  Members of NTfW play an important part in developing the skills of those within the Welsh workforce, and more increasingly, those looking to enter the Welsh workforce.

I am writing to you to outline our intent to provide written evidence to the Finance Committee as they begin their scrutiny of the 2015-16 Draft Budget Proposals.  You may well be aware, that within this year’s Budget, there has been a £7M reduction in the Apprenticeship and Young Recruits Programmes (£5M and £2M respectively)  Furthermore, we are led to believe that further cuts (circa £20M) will follow in 2015-16, and as an organisation, we feel that this will have a significant impact on the future career prospects of thousands of young people in Wales.

We are in the process of obtaining data from our members in order to identify the scale of impact, and will write to you shortly to outline our concerns.  It is our intent to meet the 10th September deadline, but as I am reliant on others submitting information to me before collation, we might miss it.  However, we will be submitting information in due course.

Should you wish to discuss our initial concerns, please feel free to call/email.

Finally, could I ask that you confirm receipt of this email by reply?

Many thanks in advance.

Kind regards/Cofion gorau

Jeff

Jeff Protheroe

Operations Manager / Rheolwr Gweithrediadau

Training Federation for Wales/Ffederasiwn Hyfforddiant Cenedlaethol Cymru

Ocean Park House, East Tyndall Street, Cardiff/Caerdydd, CF24 5ET

Telephone/Ffôn: 02920 495861

Mobile/Ffôn symudol: 07425 621711

Email/E-bost: jeff.protheroe@ntfw.org

Website/Wefan: www.ntfw.org.uk

Registered in Wales/Cofrestrwyd yng Nghymru

Registration Number/Rhif Cofrestru: 04594179