WALES is marking Apprenticeship Week Wales 2026 with claims of record progress on jobs and training – but legal leaders say one profession is still being left out.

The Welsh Government says more than 100,000 apprenticeships have now been delivered during the current Senedd term, a milestone ministers describe as transforming routes into work for thousands of people across construction, engineering, health, energy and creative industries.

Events are taking place throughout the week to showcase apprentices and employers, with colleges, businesses and job centres highlighting success stories and new opportunities for school leavers and career-changers alike.

However, the Law Society of England and Wales says Wales risks falling behind in one crucial area – access to legal apprenticeships.

Legal gap raised

While many sectors now offer clear apprenticeship pathways up to degree level, the Society says aspiring solicitors in Wales have fewer advanced training options than their counterparts in England.

In particular, it has called for the introduction of Level 7 solicitor apprenticeships in Wales, which would allow trainees to qualify while earning, rather than having to fund lengthy university and postgraduate study or move across the border for opportunities.

The body argues that without those routes, talented young people – especially from lower-income or rural communities – may be priced out of legal careers altogether.

It says the issue is not just about jobs, but about access to justice, with fewer locally trained lawyers potentially affecting high street firms and community legal services.

More than a celebration

Apprenticeship Week Wales, running from February 9 to 15, is intended to promote vocational training as an equal alternative to university.

Supporters say apprenticeships help businesses fill skills gaps while allowing learners to earn a wage and avoid student debt.

Colleges across west Wales are using the week to spotlight programmes in marine engineering, hospitality, construction and health and social care, with employers reporting improved retention and productivity from “grow your own” talent.

But campaigners say the legal sector highlights a wider question: whether all professions are keeping pace with the apprenticeship model.

Local opportunity

For communities like Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire, where young people often leave the area for work or study, expanding higher-level apprenticeships could mean more skilled jobs staying local.

Education leaders say stronger vocational routes could help retain talent and support small and medium-sized businesses struggling to recruit.

As the week’s celebrations continue, the message from legal leaders is clear: apprenticeships are working – but only if every profession is included.

Without broader access, they warn, Wales risks creating opportunity in some careers while quietly closing doors in others.

JOBS and training schemes in Pembrokeshire could be affected by changes to a major UK Government funding programme, with councils across Wales warning that more than a thousand posts may be at risk.

The new Local Growth Fund will replace the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which currently pays for business support, employability and skills projects delivered by councils and voluntary groups.

Like authorities across Wales, Pembrokeshire County Council uses the existing fund to back frontline services including help for small businesses, training courses, and support for people trying to get back into work.

A coalition of councils and third sector organisations, coordinated by the Industrial Communities Alliance, has written to Prime Minister Keir Starmer urging changes to the scheme.

They say the current plans risk avoidable job losses and service cuts, particularly in poorer communities that rely most on council-led support.

Funding for Wales is expected to total around £547 million over three years under the replacement programme. However, local leaders argue that the overall pot is smaller than previous arrangements and that new spending rules could limit how the money is used.

Under proposals, around 70 per cent of the funding would have to go on capital projects such as buildings and infrastructure, leaving just 30 per cent for day-to-day services and staffing.

Councils say most current schemes depend on revenue funding to pay staff who advise small firms, run skills courses and work directly with residents to help them into employment.

The alliance estimates around 1,500 council jobs across Wales are currently supported through the fund, alongside many more in charities and community organisations delivering services on the ground.

Meirion Thomas, who coordinated the campaign, said: “These programmes support businesses, training and employability. Losing them would hit the very communities the fund is meant to help.”

Both the Welsh Government and the UK Government say the new arrangements are intended to drive economic growth and give local areas greater control over spending decisions.

Ministers have said the fund is designed to create jobs, improve productivity and support communities, and that discussions with councils are continuing.

The Herald has asked Pembrokeshire County Council how many local jobs and schemes currently rely on the funding and what impact the new rules may have locally.

With the new system due to start in April, council leaders say clarity is urgently needed to avoid disruption to services that many businesses and jobseekers in Pembrokeshire depend on.

SWIMMERS plunged into the freezing waters at West Angle Bay on New Year’s Day to raise thousands of pounds for local hospice care, as the annual Angle Dip returned with one of its most successful events yet.

The 2026 dip raised £2,694.36 for the Paul Sartori Foundation, helping fund free hospice-at-home services for families across the county.

Crowds gathered along the sands at West Angle Bay to cheer on participants, with a mix of seasoned dippers and first-timers taking to the sea in fancy dress and wetsuits for the traditional New Year challenge. Despite the icy conditions, spirits remained high, with supporters lining the beach to clap, shout encouragement and donate.

Organisers said the event once again highlighted the strong community support behind the charity and its work.

A number of local businesses and groups helped make the day possible, including Wavecrest Café, The Hibernia Inn, KJ Prints, Cwtch Laser Designs, Communic8, Axon, Pembrokeshire Paddlers, and a team of volunteers from the foundation.

Every penny raised will go towards providing practical and emotional support for people living with life-limiting illness. The charity offers hands-on nursing care, equipment hire, complementary therapies, advance care planning and bereavement support, enabling patients to remain at home with loved ones at the end of life.

Joanne Lutwyche, Event and Fundraising Officer for the Paul Sartori Foundation and founder of the Angle New Year’s Day Dip, said: “This year’s dip was absolutely brilliant. The energy on the beach, the support from the community and the bravery of every single dipper made this one of our best years yet.

“I am so grateful to everyone who turns up, volunteers, donates and shouts encouragement from the sidelines. Events like this have a direct impact on our clinical team, allowing them to continue providing essential care to people with life-limiting illness in their own homes. I could not be prouder of what our community achieved together.”

For details of upcoming events or to volunteer, visit the Paul Sartori Foundation website or email [email protected].