Cross Party Group Details

Cross Party Group Title:

Further Education and Skills

Group membership and office holders

Name of Group Chair:

John Griffiths MS

Names of other Members of the Senedd:

Mike Hedges MS

Luke Fletcher MS

Samuel Kurtz MS

Laura Anne Jones MS

 

Name of Secretary and Organisation:

Amy Williams (Evans) ColegauCymru

Names of other external members and organisations represented:

ColegauCymru

 

 

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Other meetings of the Group since the last AGM

Date of Meeting:

Wednesday 5 March

Attendees:

Name	Job title	Organisation
Paul Kift	Vice Principal: Skills and Partnerships	Gower College Swansea
Kelly Fountain	Principal	Gower College Swansea
Lisa O’Connor	Academic Manager - Further Education and Apprenticeships	Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol
Nicola Thornton Scott	Assistant Principal, Work-based Learning	NPTC Group of Colleges
Faith O’Brien	Managing Director	Cambrian Training
Sharon James	Principal	Cardiff and Vale College
Yana Williams	Chief Executive	Coleg Cambria
Mark Dacey	Chief Executive	NCPT Group of Colleges
Lisa Thomas	Principal and Chief Executive	The College Merthyr Tydfil
Aled Jones-Griffith	Chief Executive	Grŵp Llandrillo Menai
Jonathan Morgan	Principal	Coleg y Cymoedd
Karen Workman	Vice Principal and COO	Coleg y Cymoedd

 

Summary of the issues discussed:

This meeting focussed on the role of FE Colleges in advancing the Green Skills agenda in Wales, including collaboration with housing associations and supply chain partners. This aligns with the Welsh Government’s Green Skills Review and ongoing work on Net Zero Sector skills. The session coincided with Colleges Week 2025, encouraging attendees to promote further education success stories on social media.

Date of Meeting:

Tuesday 7 October

Attendees:

Name	Organisation
Aled Jones Griffiths	Grwp Llandrillo Menai
Amy Willams	ColegauCymru
Barry Walters	Pembrokeshire College
Cath Hicks	Adult Learning Wales
Catherine Lewis	NPTC Group of Colleges
David Hagendyk	ColegauCymru
Deio Owen	NUS Wales
Dr Thomas Morris	Senedd
Geraint Williams	St David's College
Guto Davies	Greengen Cymru
James Scorey	CAVC
John Griffiths MS
Jonathan Morgan	Coleg y Cymoedd
Josh Bell	Unis Wales
Kathryn Robson	Adult Learning Wales
Lisa Thomas	The College Merthyr Tydfil
Lowri Pugh Rees	Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol
Lucy Hopkins	ColegauCymru
Lynne Hackett	Unison
Rachel Cable	ColegauCymru
Rhian Edwards	Medr
Rhys Davies	Medr
Vanesssa Cashmore	Coleg Sir Gar
Viv Buckley	Bridgend College
Sioned Williams MS
Sam Rowlands MS
Jayne Bryant MS
Luke Fletcher MS
Mike Hedges MS
Joyce Watson MS

 

Summary of the issues discussed:

ColegauCymru launched their 2026 Manifesto – Growth, Opportunity and Fairness. David Hagendyk, Chief Executive of ColegauCymru, gave an overview of the Manifesto and the three missions: Grow the economy, improve participation, progression and outcomes, and tackle intergenerational inequality and poverty. John Griffiths MS asked the group for their comments on the Manifesto. There was strong support for the Manifesto and the missions from all those who contributed to the discussion. Sam Rowlands MS spoke of the importance of using skills as a way to drive growth in the economy. There was discussion around lack of pathways for 14-19 year olds, and how can we reintegrate those young people who drop out of education between 14-16. A further discussion was had around the challenges of increasing demand for mental health support, and how colleges are tackling issues such as racism and misogyny.

Date of Meeting:

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Attendees:

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Summary of the issues discussed:

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Professional lobbyists, voluntary organisations and charities the Group have met during the previous year.

[names of lobbyists/organisations/charities should be included as follows, e.g.]

Name of Organisation:

N/A

Name of Group:

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Name of Organisation:

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Annual Financial Statement

Cross Party Group Title:

Further Education and Skills

Date:

11/11/25

Name of Chair:

John Griffiths MS

Name of Secretary and Organisation:

Amy Williams ColegauCymru

Title	Description	Amount
Group’s Expenses	N/A	N/A
Costs of all goods	N/A	N/A
Benefits received by the group or individuals members from external bodies	N/A	N/A
Any financial support or other support.	N/A	N/A
Total		Click or tap here to enter text.

Services provided to the Group, such as hospitality.

All hospitality paid for by ColegauCymru

Date	Name and description of provider	Costs
March 5 2025	ESS Catering	£375
October 7 2025	ESS Catering	£387.60
Total		£762.60