22/6/23

A special careers fair will be held this week for Year 9 pupils from Ysgol Bro Edern and Ysgol Plasmawr to highlight the value of Welsh language skills and promote opportunities to study and work in Welsh.

Gyrfa Gymraeg will be a unique and exciting event focused on exploring the benefits of the Welsh language for future careers. It will show how the Welsh language can assist in accessing future opportunities in education, training and careers.

The 2021 Census showed a further increase in the number of Welsh speakers in Cardiff, and the percentage of the population they represent. It is vital that opportunities are provided to the city's young people to use their Welsh language skills in education, training, and work to ensure this positive trend continues, and is deepened, in the future.

The event  at the Cardiff and Vale College campus on Dumballs Road on Friday, 23 June, will be opened by Council Leader, Cllr Huw Thomas, who will emphasize the wealth of opportunities that exist for Welsh speakers and the importance of encouraging Welsh speakers to stay in Wales to progress their careers.

Cllr Thomas said: "Employers across Cardiff are crying out for Welsh speaking staff so this  Gyrfa Gymraeg event will assist young people to understand the wide range of career opportunities available to them through the medium of Welsh.

"Year 9 pupils have recently started making choices that will shape their future careers by selecting their GSCE subjects and it is crucial they consider how the Welsh language can give them a significant advantage. Being able to speak, read, and write Welsh can open doors to a vast array of fulfilling and rewarding career paths and allow our young people to celebrate their cultural heritage and enhance their employability."

As well as Cardiff Council itself, a range of employers will be at the event from a variety of sectors including BBC Wales, Ansh Burgers, Cardiff Metropolitan University, ARUP, Screen Alliance, Transport for Wales, RWE, Sherman Theatre, Arts Council for Wales, Welsh Language Commissioner, Coleg Cymraeg Genedlaethol Cardiff Third Sector Council, Careers Wales, Rent Smart Wales, Sgil Cymru, Business in Focus and the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.

The Gyrfa Gymraeg event will showcase how fluency in Welsh can boost chances of success.

Pupils will attend one of three panels:

• Sgiliaith Panel - careers where Welsh Language skills are essential such as education, broadcasting, childcare, apprenticeships, and health care.

• Creative Panel - careers in the creative industries including the arts, design, hairdressing and beauty, and film and television.

• Growth Panel- careers in the growth sectors such as Engineering, science, hospitality, Transport and infrastructure.

These panels will feature professionals from a wide range of industries who will share their personal experiences and stories, shedding light on how the Welsh language has empowered them in their chosen fields, from business and education to arts and media.

Supporting these panels will be a number of hands-on workshops to try on the day presented by partners such as Cardiff Youth Service, Cardiff University, Menter Caerdydd, Cardiff and Vale College, yr Urdd, Mudiad Meithrin, and Creative Cardiff.

Pupils will also be able to chat with employers in the stalls hall and discover how valuable their Welsh language skills are and how they can help them find their perfect career.

Gyrfa Gymraeg embraces the power of the Welsh language for employability in Wales and will  empower young people to take charge of their future and make their linguistic abilities their  greatest asset in the world of work.