Welsh Firms Boost Youth Hiring, Seek Training Support
New research from Lloyds reveals a strong commitment to hiring young people in Wales, with 90% of businesses that recruited early careers talent in the past year planning to hire more in the next 12 months. This trend is part of a broader strategy to address skills gaps and support growth across the region. Nathan Morgan, Area Director for Wales at Lloyds, highlights the importance of simplifying the investment process, stating, “Employers are looking for simpler training routes, relevant local provision, and clearer information on the support available to them.”
The study shows that 50% of Welsh businesses have hired early careers talent in the past year, with 73% reporting an increase in such recruitment compared to the previous year. Even among those who didn’t hire young talent recently, 58% say they would if they felt more confident. This shows the potential for further growth in youth employment if barriers are addressed.
Employers Seek Simpler Training and Local Support
When asked what would boost their confidence in investing in young talent, Welsh employers highlighted access to training and support. 24% want simpler apprenticeship schemes, while another 24% seek more relevant local training programs. 22% also called for free work-readiness programs for new hires, and the same percentage requested better information on available support. Meanwhile, 18% identified better access to suitable candidates as a key factor. Morgan emphasizes, “With businesses also looking ahead to a changing mix of skills, from customer service and financial management through to AI and automation, continuing to invest in both new and existing talent will be important to supporting growth across Wales.”
Businesses are also focused on securing funding for skills investment. 83% of Welsh companies are confident they can obtain the necessary capital for training, apprenticeships, or new hires over the next one to three years.
Mix of Skills in Demand
The research identifies a demand for a diverse skill set among Welsh businesses. 35% cited customer service and relationship management as the most needed skills, followed by AI and automation at 33% and financial management at 29%. This suggests a future workforce challenge centered on blending people-facing, commercial, and emerging technology skills. To address these gaps, 52% of Welsh businesses prioritize internal training and upskilling of existing staff, while 30% plan to recruit more early careers talent. This approach aligns with Lloyds’ recent £100 million investment in future skills, announced in August.
Regional Comparisons and Broader Trends
Across the UK, 52% of businesses have recruited early careers talent in the past year. The North East leads with 70% of businesses hiring young talent, followed by Scotland at 66% and the North West at 60%. In regions like the South East and London, 97% and 96% of businesses, respectively, plan to hire more young talent in the coming year. Amanda Murphy, CEO of Lloyds Business and Commercial Banking, notes, “The strength of employers’ appetite for early careers talent is encouraging, but ambition needs to be matched by better access to candidates, clearer routes into training and the confidence to keep investing.”
This figure rises to 75% in Scotland and 71% in London.
Focus on Customer-Facing and Tech Skills
UK-wide, 33% of businesses cite customer service and relationship management as the most needed skills, followed by AI and automation at 26% and digital and data skills at 23%. Murphy highlights, “Technology will continue to transform how businesses operate, and the findings are a powerful reminder that customer facing skills still matter.”
