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A Cardiff-based Training Provider has led a successful bid to deliver the Semiconductor Skills Foundry Wales. iungo Solutions, headquartered in Cardiff Bay, has secured funding from the UK Government’s innovation agency, Innovate UK, to deliver a trailblazing series of skills interventions for the Semiconductor Cluster in Wales.
iungo Solutions led the successful bid on behalf of WJEC, The Cardiff Commitment, Coleg y Cymoedd with endorsement from the Semiconductor employer-base including CS Connected, SpaceForge and Philtronics.
The Semiconductor Skills Foundry Wales aims to solve the emerging skills gap in the South Wales Semiconductor Cluster, by developing new talent for higher technical roles in semiconductor manufacturing. The project will connect underrepresented and socioeconomically disadvantaged people from the South Wales Valleys and Docklands areas to highly-skilled and well-paid roles in the Semiconductor Cluster.
In consultation with employers, iungo Solutions, will deliver five Semiconductor Technologies Skills Bootcamps to train 100 new entrants for the sector by December 2024. Bootcamp Participants will learn about semiconductor materials, processes and the global supply chain, develop their electronic design, test and programming skills, and complete a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. Delivery will commence from iungo’s Cardiff City Centre training centre in April 2024.
iungo Solutions’ Chief Executive, Jessica Leigh Jones MBE said:
“We’re ecstatic to be launching the Semiconductor Skills Foundry Wales, an initiative that will help to close the higher technical skills gap for local employers. It is wonderful to work with such a diverse range of partners, each with their own specialism and contribution to the project. This project represents a unique opportunity to work collaboratively to deliver a sustainable skills pipeline for the Semiconductor Cluster in Wales.”
The Cardiff Commitment, Cardiff Council’s in-house Careers Service will pioneer a series of teacher CPD and pupil awareness sessions to spark enthusiasm for careers in the semiconductor industry. Meanwhile, WJEC, Wales’ largest awarding organisation, is developing the UK’s first open-market, cross-border, semiconductor-specific Higher Technical Certificate.
The Programme Manager for Cardiff Commitment, Carly Davies said:
“The Cardiff Commitment supports children and young people to be better prepared for the world of work, to understand where the demand for labour will exist and the skills employers are seeking.
Strengthening and enhancing careers and work related experiences within the Compound Semiconductor Cluster across the curriculum for young people 17-18 years will broaden understanding of this poorly understood but strategically significant sector and support our people to transition into the jobs of the future within this industry.
This project is a testament to how we can all contribute towards making Cardiff a great place to grow up and we would like to express our thanks to our partners for realising our vision to inspire the next generation towards a better future”
Steffan Edwards, Business Development Director at WJEC added:
“Utilising over 75 years in the development and delivery of valid and reliable qualifications and assessments, we are delighted to offer a fully integrated semiconductor learning suite to support learners gain entry to this industry.
“We are grateful to the support of our partners from industry, FE and HE who have guided our development work to ensure that these new qualifications are aligned with their requirements and offer learners direct pathways to employment in this thriving industry.
“These new qualifications are a testament to our commitment to offer qualifications at all stages of learning, providing learners with strong theoretical knowledge and practical skills that can be applied directly to the workplace or for further study.”
Wales has a rich history of manufacturing, from coal to steel, and more recently to chips. Semiconductors represent the Jewel in Welsh Manufacturing’s crown and promise a brighter and more prosperous future for the advanced manufacturing sector.
