A £144 million EU and Welsh Government investment will fund more than 50,000 apprenticeships in Wales. 

Conwy, Anglesey, Gwynedd and Denbighshire will all benefit from the investment which will fund 52,000 apprenticeships over the next four years, with the majority of places targeted at 16-24-year-olds. 

A total of £73m in EU funding along with Welsh Government investment will cover a range of areas including construction, engineering, IT and retail. 

Each apprentice will have the opportunity to study qualifications from foundation level to advanced level. 

First Minister Carwyn Jones, said: “This substantial investment will support over 50,000 young people in their career progression, helping them achieve advanced qualifications while working and earning at the same time. 

“We expect to announce further investment in other aspects of our apprenticeships programme in the coming weeks but this initial funding for is excellent news, and demonstrates our commitment to boosting the economy while ensuring our young people have the skills they need to succeed.” 

Julie James, deputy minister for skills, said: “Today’s announcement is excellent news for both young people and employers. 

“Not only will this £144m investment help our young people to gain the skills, experience and qualifications they need to succeed in the workplace, it will also help to build local skill levels and provide our employers with the workforce they need to thrive in a modern and increasingly skills based economy.”