Education

Young welsh people not getting relevant career advice

Published

12 years ago

August 18, 2014

YOUNG people in the Wales are driven to succeed at an early age, with more than four in five young people aged 14-19 (83%) having given thought to their career options and the right steps to achieve the job they want. However, new research from the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) has found that the careers advice they are receiving is not keeping pace with their demands, resulting in some misleading assumptions such as that you need a degree to enter careers like accounting.

The survey commissioned by the AAT ahead of this year’s A Level and GCSE exam results found that 14-19 year olds in Wales are broadly optimistic about their prospects, with 86% believing they are ‘quite likely’ or ‘very likely’ to enter their chosen career. However, almost half (43%) said that formal careers advice has not been very influential in them reaching this decision, or that they’ve received no careers guidance at all. As a result, 27% of young people are taking their next career or education step purely because their parents told them to, and 13% of them are just doing the same as their friends – risking talented youngsters ‘drifting’ into a career they are not suited to. Encouragingly, young people in Wales are considering a wide range of options, with a third (33%) having considered Apprenticeships/ Traineeships and 23% having looked at professional training.

However, the most popular path remains AS and A Levels, with more than half of young people having considered these as future options (57%). A huge 83% of those surveyed said that they would like, or would have liked, more advice from their school or college on their future options. While 68% of young people said they would like, or would have liked, guidance from teachers, more than half (58%) said that direct advice from those already in the industry they aspire to would be helpful, and 36% named trade bodies and employers as potential sources of help.

The study indicates that the lack of careers advice could be having a detrimental effect on young people’s choices, with 78% believing that you need a degree to enter the professional services industry – for example a job in accounting. Mark Farrar, chief executive of the Association of Accounting Technicians, commented: “This research shows that the young people who have grown up through the recession are remarkably driven in thinking about their future career plans and acting on them. However, careers advice in schools and colleges isn’t keeping pace with this demand, meaning that some young people are relying on what their friends or parents tell them.

An absence of advice is also resulting in myths, such as that you need a degree to enter a career like accounting. This absolutely isn’t true, and young people should be aware of alternatives such as Apprenticeships and professional training which can create a route into fantastic careers.” The research also looked at the biggest concerns of young people, who have grown up in a time of economic austerity and uncertainty about jobs. The two biggest concerns for young people in Wales are being financially stable and unemployment, with 42% each of respondents naming them as a worry. However, these figures are lower than a similar study amongst young people carried out by AAT in 2010, in which 56% were concerned about being financially stable and 50% worried about being unemployed, indicating that young people may perceive that wider economic conditions are improving. AAT is a professional membership body which awards skills-based accountancy and finance qualifications. The AAT Accounting Qualification offers a fast-track, non-graduate route into chartered accountancy. School leavers who go through this route can qualify much quicker than someone who goes to university.

Cymraeg

Welsh language report says students face mixed experiences across colleges and universities

Published

3 days ago

May 21, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A NEW report has found that Welsh-speaking students face inconsistent access to Welsh language services across Wales’ colleges and universities.

The research, published by the Welsh Language Commissioner on Monday (May 25), gathered responses from more than 1,500 further and higher education students.

It examined four key areas: whether students can submit written work in Welsh, choose accommodation with Welsh-speaking students, access a Welsh-speaking personal tutor, and receive wellbeing support through the medium of Welsh.

The report also looked at the wider language culture on campuses, including how institutions promote Welsh language services and support students to use Welsh naturally in academic and social settings.

Osian Llywelyn, Deputy Welsh Language Commissioner, said colleges and universities had a vital role in helping students use Welsh as part of everyday life.

He said: “Given the importance of sustaining and developing the continued use of the Welsh language, it is essential to recognise the key role that further education colleges and higher education institutions play in ensuring that students have the opportunity to use Welsh naturally as part of their academic and social lives.

“While it is encouraging to see strong examples of good practice, that experience is not consistent across the sector. As a result, we have identified clear improvement actions, and we will be asking the relevant institutions to address them.”

Five improvement actions have been identified. These include standardising Welsh-medium assessment arrangements, proactively offering Welsh language services rather than simply making them available on request, addressing gaps in workforce Welsh-language skills, strengthening students’ sense of belonging through Welsh, and improving self-assessment and monitoring.

James Owen, Chief Executive of Medr, the body responsible for funding and regulating tertiary education in Wales, said the findings showed the need for more support across the sector.

He said Medr’s new Welsh Language Condition would place a clearer focus on providers promoting and supporting the use of Cymraeg, and on creating formal and informal opportunities for staff and learners to develop their Welsh-language skills.

Ioan Matthews, Chief Executive of Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, said students’ experiences of Welsh at college or university could influence their willingness and ability to use the language later in the workplace.

He said the report showed the need for the Welsh-language experience to extend “well beyond the classroom”.

The report will be officially launched at the Welsh Language Commissioner’s stand at the Urdd Eisteddfod in Anglesey at 11:00am on Monday (May 25).

Education

£1,500 cash bursary announced for aspiring local youngsters

Published

4 days ago

May 20, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

FOLLOWING its previous success, Ceredigion Youth Service is fortunate to accept another opportunity provided by West Wales Holiday Cottages to support young people with a cash bursary this year.

The purpose of the bursary is to provide young people aged between 11 and 25 with the chance to receive £1,500 to help with their future aspirations. The successful applicant(s) will be chosen by Ceredigion Youth Forum, which is a panel made up of young people from Ceredigion.

Gwion Bowen, Senior Support Officer Participation, said: “We are very grateful to West Wales Holiday Cottages for providing us with this opportunity for young people in Ceredigion for the ninth year in succession. Like ourselves, West Wales Holiday Cottages recognise that many young people living in Ceredigion may experience difficulties in accessing training, support and social activities due to socio-economic issues. The bursary was extremely successful last year, with a young person gaining financial support to help them with their mobile beauty start up business.”

Councillor Wyn Thomas, Cabinet for Schools and Lifelong Learning, said: “I would like to encourage anyone aged between 11 and 25 who needs financial support to reach their goals to consider this fantastic opportunity. As with previous years, I hope that the bursary is a success again this year, and that it will benefit young people in Ceredigion.”

Lisa Stopher, Managing Director at West Wales Holiday Cottages said, “West Wales Holiday Cottages are delighted to be supporting the bursary once again in partnership with Ceredigion Youth Service. We recognise that many young people can face barriers when accessing opportunities, training and resources, and we hope this bursary will continue to make a positive difference by giving young people the support they need to pursue their goals and aspirations.”

Do you need financial support to reach your goals? Would you benefit from having financial support to help you with training or equipment that is required for your chosen vocation? Are you looking for support to start your own enterprise? Are you a member of a community group and looking for financial support to purchase resources or equipment?

The closing date for applications is midnight on 19 July 2026. If you’re interested, contact Gwion Bowen on 07790 812939 or e-mail [email protected] for an application form.

Education

Ashmole & Co fund future accountants with financial donation to primary school

Published

4 days ago

May 20, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

CARMARTHENSHIRE’S would-be mathematicians are being given a major boost in their careers thanks to an Ashmole & Co donation to Ysgol Llandybie Primary School.

The donation, funded by the company’s Ammanford office, will help with the annual purchase of the online MyMaths resource which uses the online resource to help pupils and parents with the teaching of maths at home as well as allowing teachers to set tasks and provide them with tutorials to show them the mathematical concepts being taught.
The programme can assist in all areas of mathematics from shape to space, and from data to financial literacy.

Laura Craddock, Partner in Ashmole & Co’s Ammanford office, said, “We are always keen
to offer our support locally. We are more than happy to help fund the online resource
MyMaths to help train the local accountants of the future from a young age.”

Llandybie Primary School Head Teacher, Rhian Pritchard, said, “We are keen to continue
using online resources to enhance our pupils’ learning experience but they come at an extra
cost. We are grateful to Ashmole and Co for the donation which will enable us to continue
the provision of online maths learning.”