Higher Level Learners Matter More than Ever

As Wales looks to strengthen productivity, attract investment and build a resilient economy, the conversation around skills must move decisively beyond simple participation numbers. The real challenge – and opportunity – lies in how well the system supports learners to progress into advanced technical, professional and higher level roles that employers increasingly need.

At Cardiff and Vale College (CAVC), we see first hand how further education has evolved into a critical driver of higher level skills development. While colleges are often associated with entry level training, the reality is very different. Today, the majority of our full time learners are studying at Level 3 – qualifications equivalent to A levels – and progressing into higher education, higher apprenticeships or skilled employment across priority sectors of the Welsh economy.

This shift matters. Level 3 and above is where the skills gap becomes most visible to employers. Across engineering, construction, digital technologies, creative industries and professional services, demand for high quality technical and work ready talent consistently outstrips supply. Colleges are now central to meeting that demand, offering pathways that combine academic rigour with applied, industry relevant learning.

Apprenticeships are a crucial part of this higher level skills pipeline. In Wales, they are delivered through established strategic providers with strong employer links and a proven track record of quality and progression. This stability matters. Apprenticeship success rates in Wales are consistently higher than those in England, reflecting the effectiveness of current delivery models and the close alignment between providers, employers and learners. Protecting and building on this strong foundation should be a priority as ambition for higher level skills continues to grow.

Quality at this level is critical, and it is something the further education sector increasingly demonstrates on a national and international stage. CAVC learners regularly compete – and win – in WorldSkills UK competitions, placing us joint top of the national medal table alongside Pembrokeshire College. These achievements reflect not only technical skill, but the professional standards, discipline and ambition expected at the highest levels of vocational education.

Importantly, higher level vocational learning is no longer confined to traditional technical roles. Colleges across Wales are now delivering advanced apprenticeships and professional pathways in sectors historically dominated by graduate recruitment. At CAVC, this includes partnerships with major employers such as Deloitte, supporting learners into professional services roles that demand strong analytical capability, digital competence and commercial awareness.

This reflects a broader shift in employer behaviour. Increasingly, businesses are prioritising skills, capability and adaptability over conventional academic routes. Higher apprenticeships and advanced vocational qualifications offer employers carefully structured talent pipelines while enabling learners to earn, progress and develop professionally without accruing significant debt.

For learners themselves, flexibility is key. Not all higher level learners are 18-year-olds progressing directly from school. Wales has a strong tradition of adult and part time study, with many learners choosing to upskill or retrain later in life as industries change. For these learners, college based higher level provision offers local access, flexible delivery and clear progression without requiring relocation or full time study.

This flexibility will become even more important as Wales faces an ageing population and a declining number of young people. Future economic growth will depend not just on initial education, but on the ability of the existing workforce to adapt. Demand for advanced technical skills, digital capability and increasingly AI literacy is already accelerating across sectors.

Yet the system is not without its challenges. Short-term funding models, regulatory complexity and barriers to part time provision can make it difficult for providers to plan and expand higher level offers. Any future ambition to increase participation at Levels 4 and above must be delivered in a way that strengthens – rather than destabilises – the vocational and technical routes that already work well.

Initiatives such as Personal Learning Accounts and micro credentials have shown how targeted investment can unlock higher level learning for adults and employers alike. Building on these successes within a genuinely coherent lifelong learning system should be a priority for policymakers.

Colleges are uniquely positioned to lead this agenda. With deep links to employers, experience across the full skills spectrum and a proven track record of delivery at scale, further education institutions are already shaping Wales’ advanced skills pipeline. With sustained investment and intelligent system design, they can play an even greater role in developing the higher level workforce Wales needs to compete, innovate and grow.