Building on the Success of the Work Welsh Scheme

Since 2018, more than 2,000 employers and 30,000 employees have benefited from Cymraeg Gwaith (Work Welsh), a scheme delivered by the National Centre for Learning Welsh to strengthen bilingual skills in the workplace.

Leading organisations such as the Football Association of Wales (FAW) and the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), as well as Local Authorities and Welsh police forces, are among those who have stepped forward to support and promote the use of Welsh in the workplace, working closely with the National Centre.

The Centre offers a wide range of services based on its expertise in language learning and acquisition. These services include tutor-led Welsh courses, online self-study modules, intensive confidence-building courses, and language awareness workshops. This flexible approach to training has enabled people from all backgrounds to take part in a way that suits them.

A key strength of the scheme is the tailored courses developed for specific sectors, such as Health and Social Care. These sector-specific programmes ensure that learners are supported to use Welsh in relevant professional contexts, contributing to more bilingual and inclusive services.

It’s hugely encouraging to see a significant increase in demand for these services. More and more industries and organisations are approaching the Centre directly, recognising the value of a bilingual workforce. As a result, we’re seeing people gain new confidence to use Welsh in their working lives – something that is transforming workplace culture across a range of sectors.

In response to this growing demand, the Centre is planning to evolve the scheme even further. Exciting developments are underway, including new plans to assess employees’ Welsh language skills. This will help employers gain a clear picture of staff capabilities and better target support and resources where they’re needed most.

The Centre is eager to continue providing this vital service to as many employers as possible and to meet increasing demand.

We look forward to the next steps in Cymraeg Gwaith’s development – and to seeing even more people learning, using and enjoying the Welsh language at work.

More information about Cymraeg Gwaith is available by following the next link: Work Welsh Services | Learn Welsh