The Welsh Government is committed to a regional approach to skills development, with Regional Skills Partnerships (RSPs) playing a key role in shaping strategic priorities. RSPs provide evidence-based recommendations to Welsh Government on areas of skills growth and decline, ensuring a strong alignment with employer and stakeholder needs.

Across Wales, four RSPs (North, Mid, Southwest, and Southeast) act as vital links between industry and government, delivering labour market intelligence and advising on the allocation of employability and skills funding. Funded equally by Welsh Government, regardless of regional size or economic output, RSPs ensure that skills investment is informed by real-world demand.

The Cardiff Capital Region Skills Partnership (CCRSP), hosted by Newport City Council, serves the 10 Local Authorities of Southeast Wales. Guided by the CCR Employment and Skills Board, CCRSP engages closely with industry through employer-led sector cluster groups. These groups assess regional skills needs and provide recommendations to shape workforce development and economic growth

The Employment and Skills Board is recognised as one of the Regional Partnership Boards supported by the Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) Programme Management Office and acts in an advisory capacity to the CCR cabinet. The Cardiff Capital Region Skills Partnership (CCRSP) and Employment and Skills Board are integrated within regional structures and support the delivery of a shared CCR employment and skills agenda for the City Deal and Welsh Government.

Board membership is drawn from a wide variety of stakeholders who attend as representatives of their industry sectors or networks. The chair has an observer role on both the Regional Economic Growth Partnership and Regional Business Council to ensure that the CCRSP Employment and Skills Plan aligns with the objectives of the CCR Economic Growth Plan.

The Employment and Skills Board comprises representatives of the regional economy including CCR City Deal, Technology Connected, Industry Wales, Wales TUC, CITB, CS Connected, and FSB, along with employers from regionally identified priority sectors including Advanced Materials & Manufacturing, Compound Semiconductors, Construction & Built Environment Creative, Fintech, and Human Foundational Economy

Each member of the Employment and Skills Board adopts an ambassadorial role and champions the work of the CCRSP across their associated networks; an activity that enhances engagement and ensures that ‘reach’ is maximised across the plethora of business networks and wider economic structures within the region.

To support engagement activity and to promote positive working relationships with employers, the CCRSP continues to support six industry cluster groups. The cluster groups directly align with the sectors that have been deemed a priority for the Cardiff Capital Region and each is driven by the relevant sector champion:

• Advanced Materials & Manufacturing
• Compound Semiconductors
• Construction & Built Environment
• Creative
• Fintech
• Human Foundational Economy