Labour AM Jeff Cuthbert has expressed his delight at being appointed Deputy Minister for Skills within First Minister Carwyn Jones’ new Welsh Government.
Jeff will assist Education and Skills Minister Leighton Andrews, and will be responsible for all areas of skills policy within further and higher education, as well as work-based learning and the crucial relationship between learners, learning providers and employers.
European-funded projects relating to skills development and training – such as ProAct and its successor scheme Skills Growth Wales – will also fall under Jeff’s remit.
Jeff Cuthbert AM said: “I am absolutely delighted to have been appointed Deputy Minister with responsibility for skills within Carwyn Jones’ new Welsh Government.
“I have a long background in education and training following my time at the WJEC and as Principal of the part-time Adult Education Centre in Aberbargoed. I have also, of course, served as a governor of the Lewis School, Pengam and until recently the College, Ystrad Mynach.
“I look forward to working with my fellow Ministers and with representatives of learners, learning providers and employers to ensure that skills are at the very top of the policy agenda in Wales.
“Given the economic and educational challenges that we face here in Wales, I will be working very hard over the next five years to ensure that we do our best to become the ‘small, clever country’ that we aspire to be – ready to play our full part in a skilled, innovative global economy.”
