Business
New plan to support people with complex barriers to find work in Wales

A KEY Welsh Government-funded programme to help people most disadvantaged in the labour market into work will be expanded in 2023, following the winding-up of two existing EU-funded programmes, Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething, has announced today.
The Welsh Government is stepping in to fund the expansion of the Communities for Work Plus (CfW+) employability programme following the UK Government’s failure to honour repeated promises Wales would not be a penny worse off following the UK departure from the EU.
Under the EU Structural and Investment Funds, the Welsh Government invested funds in a range of schemes led by the public, HE/FE, third and private sectors, including those to help people into work.
Two of those schemes are Communities for Work (CfW) and Parents, Childcare and Employment (PaCE). Since 2015, £135m has been invested in the schemes which have, to date, provided intensive community-based employment support and training to 41,000 individuals with complex barriers. Over 17,500 of these individuals have been helped into employment.
The UK Government had pledged to replace and “at a minimum match the size” of former EU funding in each nation of the UK. However, the UK Government’s actions for replacement EU funding means the Welsh budget is more than £1 billion worse off.
At the same time, the UK Government is deliberately overriding Welsh devolution by directly allocating replacement EU funding, at a dramatically diminished level, through the UK-wide Shared Prosperity Fund – which means the Welsh Government now has less say over less money.
This means the Welsh Government and other institutions across business, higher and further education and the third sector who have used EU funding to support vital investments in Wales’ economy and labour market, including support for vulnerable people, will need to make difficult decisions about how budgets are spent.
In response, the Minister has today confirmed the Welsh Government is stepping in to fund the expansion of the Wales-wide CfW+ programme from April 2023. The expansion will see a doubling of its original £12m annual budget.
The CfW+ programme has been hugely successful, having already provided intensive employment support and training to over 30,000 individuals with complex barriers to employment, with over 13,000 being helped into employment.
The Minister also announced the Welsh Government has secured an extension of the delivery of the EU-funded CfW and PaCE to 31 March 2023 to ensure a smooth transition to the enhanced CfW+ programme.
Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething said:
“Despite the promise made by the UK Government that Wales would not be worse off from the UK leaving the EU, the reality is we are facing a loss of more than £1 billion in un-replaced funding. The Welsh Government cannot fill the massive hole the UK Government has created in the Welsh budget, which means we and our Welsh partners – who have previously benefited from EU funding – will need to take tough decisions on what to fund in future.
“This Welsh Government is determined to help people into and remain in good quality jobs. That’s why we’re taking action to fund a new Wales-wide programme to support people to do just that. By funding this expansion of Communities for Work + and focussing on people who are under-represented in the labour market and those who face disadvantage and inequity in accessing work, we will create a more equal Wales – a society that enables people to fulfil their potential no matter what their background or circumstances.
“While UK Ministers talk about “levelling up” the UK, it’s this Welsh Government that’s delivering for people across Wales by funding transformative programmes that help to change their lives for the better.”
The Welsh Government’s new Employability and Skills Plan, launched in March 2022, confirmed employability support will focus on those most disadvantaged in the labour market, and on improving labour market outcomes for disabled people, Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic people, women, young people, older workers over 50, carers and those with low skills.
The expanded CfW+ programme will align with ReAct + and Jobs Growth Wales +, to meet the Plan’s commitment of delivering a single operating model of Welsh Government employability support from 2023.
Further details on the programme will be announced in due course.
Business
Calls for urgent sale of Oakwood site amid trespasser fears

CONCERNS have been raised about trespassers entering the closed Oakwood theme park, prompting calls for a swift sale of the site.
The once-popular attraction near Narberth has become a hotspot for urban explorers and thrill-seekers, with social media videos emerging of people wandering around the abandoned rides and infrastructure.
Since Oakwood shut its gates last month, following a decision by Spanish owners Aspro Parks to cease operations due to falling visitor numbers, locals have raised concerns about safety and the risk of vandalism.
Sam Kurtz MS, who represents Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, said a speedy sale was now vital to prevent further deterioration and potential criminal activity.
“The longer it remains empty, the greater the risk of problems – from trespassing to the site falling into disrepair,” said Mr Kurtz. “There’s also a real risk to health and safety if people are entering unsupervised.”
Mr Kurtz called on Aspro to actively work with the Welsh Government, local businesses, and other stakeholders to secure a new future for the site.
“This is a valuable asset,” he said. “There’s been a lot of interest from businesses already, and I urge Aspro to engage with us so we can get the ball rolling.”
Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed they have received multiple reports of trespassing and possible criminal offences at the site since its closure.
The BBC have reported that Economics expert Professor Calvin Jones, of Cardiff University, was less optimistic about Oakwood’s chances of reopening as a theme park.
“If the existing operator – who’s invested tens of millions – can’t make it viable, it’s unlikely a new operator would be able to,” he said.
Instead, Prof Jones suggested the land might lend itself better to other recreational activities, such as adventure tourism, mountain biking, or zipline attractions, depending on what planning authorities allow.
“Ultimately, the future use of the site will come down to planning permission,” he said. “It may become something entirely different.”
Bluestone National Park Resort, which neighbours Oakwood and employs around 700 people, declined to comment on whether it would consider buying the land. Prof Jones noted that Bluestone has historically expanded cautiously and would likely only consider purchasing the site if the price was low.
The Welsh Government said that it “continues to engage” with Aspro Parks and recognised the former theme park’s importance to the local economy.
A spokesperson said: “We are hopeful a buyer will come forward to ensure this site can continue contributing to tourism in the area.”
Pembrokeshire County Council has confirmed it has not yet held any discussions with Aspro.
Business
Pubs to stay open late for VE Day 80th anniversary

Extended hours to help nation mark milestone in Second World War history
PUBS across England and Wales will be allowed to serve until 1:00am to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, the Prime Minister has announced.
The extension applies to the evening of Wednesday, May 8, allowing revellers to continue their celebrations into the early hours of Thursday, May 9.
A series of national events are planned to commemorate the end of the Second World War in Europe, including a military parade through central London, an RAF flypast, and the lighting of more than 2,500 beacons across the UK.
Late opening hours for pubs have previously been granted during major national occasions, including Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee and England’s matches during the Euro 2024 semi-finals and final.
Speaking ahead of the anniversary, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “As we mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, the whole country should come together to remember the incredible sacrifices made by the wartime generation and to celebrate the peace and freedom they secured for us all.
“Keeping our pubs open for longer will give people the opportunity to join in celebrations and raise a glass to all of the men and women who served their country, both overseas and at home.”
The commemorations will begin on Monday, May 5, with Union Flags flying at the Cenotaph in London. A military procession will march from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace, followed by an aerial display by the Royal Air Force. On May 8, the BBC will broadcast a celebratory event live from Horse Guards Parade.
Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, welcomed the decision. He said: “At such a challenging time for the hospitality sector, allowing businesses to extend their trading hours during these celebrations offers a much-needed boost while paying tribute to our shared history.”
Business
Greenlink energy link goes live, connecting Pembrokeshire to Ireland

Interconnector brings power boost and green energy potential to Wales and Ireland
A MAJOR new electricity interconnector linking Pembrokeshire and Ireland has gone live, with power now flowing between the two countries for the first time via the Greenlink project.
The 504-megawatt (MW) Greenlink Interconnector connects National Grid’s 400kV substation at Pembroke with EirGrid’s Great Island substation in County Wexford. The link spans 200km, including 160km of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cable laid beneath the Irish Sea.
The interconnector is expected to improve energy security, increase grid resilience, and support the growth of renewable energy by allowing surplus electricity to be shared between Wales and Ireland.
Greenlink is one of the first privately funded energy infrastructure projects of its kind in Europe. It is owned by Greenlink Interconnector Limited and operated by EirGrid.
At the Welsh end of the link, National Grid carried out a series of upgrades to its Pembroke substation, including the installation of a new gas-insulated switchgear bay inside the existing air-insulated facility. The hybrid solution was designed to be space- and cost-efficient, and it uses a greener insulating gas instead of sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), in line with National Grid’s target to halve SF6 emissions by 2030.
James O’Reilly, CEO of Greenlink Interconnector Limited, described the go-live as a “significant milestone.”
He said: “This is one of the first privately developed and funded energy projects between the UK and Ireland. By enabling the transfer of green energy across borders, Greenlink strengthens energy security, enhances sustainability, and fosters greater connectivity with the wider European market.”
John Twomey, Director of Customer Connections at National Grid, said connecting Greenlink to the network at Pembroke allows both countries to “benefit from that boost in capacity and resilience.”
He said: “As demands on our electricity grids evolve, interconnectors provide immense value by strengthening the security of electricity supplies and improving our collective ability to exploit renewable power produced across borders.”
The converter stations at each end of the interconnector transform electricity between direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) for use on the respective national grids.
Michael Kelly, interim Chief Operations and Asset Management Officer at EirGrid, said the project was “a vital step forward in strengthening our shared commitment to energy resilience and security.”
He added: “EirGrid is leading the transition to a low carbon future by making Ireland’s grid renewable ready. This latest connection was made possible through collaboration with our UK colleagues and the Greenlink team.”
The interconnector is now fully operational, with electricity flowing across the Irish Sea in both directions.
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