The recent closure of a company providing retraining courses to steelworkers affected by redundancies in Port Talbot has raised concerns about the future of support for upskilling in the area. Tata Steel announced significant job cuts last year, prompting initiatives like the Multiply program, which aimed to develop numeracy skills among adult learners in south Wales. However, with the impending end of Multiply in March, Whitehead-Ross has been forced to shut its office in Port Talbot and make staff redundant.
Ian Ross, chief executive of Whitehead-Ross, expressed dismay at the lack of investment in reskilling services, highlighting the need to support economically inactive individuals in Wales. Despite having successfully reskilled dozens of individuals facing redundancy at Tata, the company has faced challenges due to funding cuts. Plaid Cymru’s Sioned Williams echoed concerns about the closure of Whitehead-Ross, emphasizing the importance of various strategies to reintegrate individuals into the workforce and provide them with necessary skills.
As Multiply is phased out, questions loom over the future of funding for adult numeracy programs. The Shared Prosperity Fund, established to replace EU funding post-Brexit, has been extended for another year, offering some hope for continued support. While Welsh local authorities will have flexibility in allocating SPF funds, organizations like Colleges Wales and the Welsh Local Government Association have urged for clarity on long-term funding plans beyond 2026. Despite ongoing discussions between UK and Welsh ministers regarding SPF replacement, the uncertainty surrounding funding sources remains a pressing issue for those involved in workforce development in Wales
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