The Board of Career Choices Dewis Gyrfa (CCDG) meets quarterly. The board is responsible for the governance and compliance with the corporate governance code. Below are the minutes of the CCDG Board meeting held on March 5 2025.
Board Members Present:
- Erica Cassin (Chair)
- Andrew Clark
- Helen White
- Tony Smith
- Joni Ayn-Alexander
- Kate Daubney
- Rhian Roberts (RhR)
- Viv Laing
From Careers Wales:
- Nerys Bourne
- Nikki Lawrence
- Ruth Ryder
In Attendance:
Will Piper – Head of Finance & Estates (item 6, 7 and 8)
Welsh Government (WG):
- Sam Evans
Absent:
- Richard Thomas
- Aled Jones-Griffith
- Neil Surman
- Dave Mathews (DM)
- Natalie Richards
- Azza Ali
- Rokib Uddin
Secretariat:
Donna Millward
1. Apologies/Declarations of interest
Apologies were received from Richard Thomas, Aled Jones-Griffith and Neil Surman, Azza Ali, Rokib Uddin, Natalie Richards and Dave Mathews.
No new declarations of interest were noted.
2. Minutes of the Previous Meeting, December 11, 2024
The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as an accurate record.
3. Matters arising
Action 1. Chair to contact Head of Careers Policy/Deputy Director Skills to discuss possibility of an external board evaluation. This action has been completed and a further update to be carried forward to the next CCDG Board meeting.
Action 2. Director of Customer Strategy and Service Development to explore with NR - Board member how Careers Wales can align with or support schools' Strategic Equality Plans and PDG (Pupil Deprivation Grant) reporting, potentially enhancing Careers Wales' impact on young people. This action had been completed.
Action 3. Identify and present the strategic risks for the organisation for further discussion on risk appetite. This action to be carried forward to a future CCDG Board meeting in line with the strategy
Action 4. Consider including a risk on the company’s risk register to reflect this operational risk. (referrals and drop-ins for high-risk customers). This action had been completed
Action 5. Cyber and information security to be added as agenda item for next board meeting. DM – Board member to provide update. This action to be carried forward to the next CCDG Board meeting
Action 6. Executive Assistant to circulate the cybersecurity report to board members. This action had been completed.
Action 7. Executive Assistant to circulate stakeholder services paper to board members. This action had been completed
Action 8. The Director of Resources and Transformation to review and an update on the operational decision made on Careers Wales' presence on X. This action had been completed
4. Chair’s update – verbal
4.1 New Board members
The Chair welcomed new member Viv Laing to the Board.
4.2 Board changes
JH resigned from the Board before Christmas and a recent resignation received from AJG. The Chair formally thanked both board members for their involvement and contributions.
4.3 Valued Partner Awards
The Chair attended the Valued Partner Awards and commended the event for celebrating the work of schools and employer organisations.
4.4 Senedd Inquiries
The Chair highlighted the three Senedd inquiries the Director of Customer Strategy and Service Development attended and acknowledged the preparation and involvement from other colleagues. Formal thanks given.
4.5 Business Planning Sessions
The Chair mentioned the recent business planning sessions, praising the energy and commitment of the teams.
4.6 Careers Wales Changes
The Chair announced that this would be the last meeting for the Director of Customer Strategy and Service Development before her retirement. The Chair extended the thanks of the board for the many years of contributions to Careers Wales.
5. Chief Executive’s report
Members discussed the previously circulated report.
5.1 Valued Partner Awards
This topic was already addressed in the Chair’s update.
5.2 Key Company Risks
The report highlighted five key risks. Members noted that the risks have been split between operational and strategic categories.
5.3 Pay Award 2024/25
The CE explained that the pay award had been agreed with Unison and paid. An additional pay award has been made in line with the WG statement of a potential pay award of up to five percent.
5.4 National Insurance Employer Contribution
The Board was advised that no further updates had been received from Welsh Government on whether CW will receive funding for this element in its 2025/26 budget.
5.5 Stakeholder Engagement
Strong engagements remain with stakeholders, including plans for more frequent meetings between the Chair, The Chief Executive and the Minister.
The Chief Executive attended nearly all business planning sessions, which provided an opportunity to meet staff, hear their ideas, and give updates on the organisation's work.
5.6 Voluntary Severance Scheme
The Chief Executive provided an update on the VERS process which is nearly complete.
5.7 Operational Plan update 2025/26
The operational plan for the next year will be similar to the current plan, with no significant changes planned.
5.8 New Strategy Update
Further board discussions are planned for the next face-to-face Board meeting.
5.9 KPIs
An update was provided on the company KPIs they are on track except for two. This is due to a reduction in resources and change to delivery model to reflect this reduction.
6. Welsh Government (WG) update
6.1 National Insurance Employer Contributions
An update provided on the status of National Insurance employer contributions. The Welsh Government expects to hear more during the spring statement at the end of March or the spending review in June.
7. Budget 2025/26
Head of Finance and Estates joined the meeting and updated members on the draft budget 2025/2026 had been approved by the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee. The key risk highlighted was in relation to the uncertainty of employer NI contributions.
Board members discussed presenting a deficit budget to Welsh Government to highlight the impact of the unresolved NI funding. CW Executive was asked to present a deficit budget of -£550k. which is the identified costs relating to employers NI contribution.
8. Financial regulations
Board members received the updated financial regulations. Minor updates were noted, which had been discussed and approved by the Finance, Audit, and Risk Committee.
The Chair of the Finance, Audit, and Risk Committee recommended the updated financial regulations to the board and the Board gave its approval.
9. Management accounts
Board members received the draft management accounts which had been reviewed and approved in the last Finance, Audit, and Risk Committee. A small error had been identified by that committee and had been corrected in the version brought to the board.
10. Quarter three report
The Director of Customer Strategy and Service Development provided an update on the Quarter 3 report with board members which had already been discussed in the last P&I Committee.
There has been an increased demand for services among Year 12 and 13 students, particularly those opting not to pursue higher education.
The online booking process for FE was launched in May. However, there is a need to increase marketing efforts for the online service.
The number of elective home-educated young people is increasing.
The report included more case studies to highlight the impact of the work being done and some examples shared with board members.
In terms of learning and development there has been significant work done in merging the Employability Coach Careers Wales Connect and office base teams which aims to enhance service delivery.
The Director of Customer Strategy and Service Development provided an update on the three Senedd Committee inquiries which focused on disability barriers, apprenticeships, and post-16 options. Performance and Impact Committee members expressed an interest in receiving the committee briefings.
Action4. Circulate the final reports from the Senedd committees to Performance and Impact Committee members as soon as they become available.
11. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
The Director of Customer Strategy and Service Development provided an overview of the CW ED&I work.
The ED&I policy and Strategic Equality Plan are published on the Careers Wales website, along with the Public Sector Equality Duty report and the Gender Pay Gap report.
Careers Wales adopted the objectives set by Wales Public Bodies Equality Partnership for the duration of the Brighter Futures strategy.
The ED&I Committee is chaired by the Director of Customer Strategy and Service Development, the committee includes members from across the organisation. The committee's priorities include monitoring compliance with statutory requirements, focusing on Welsh language standards, and addressing the Anti-Racism Action Plan.
The Chair raised the importance of having a dedicated ED&I resource. Board members agreed.
The Director of Customer Strategy and Service Development highlighted the key areas of the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan relevant to Careers Wales, including leadership, education, and employability.
Board members discussed the importance of embedding an anti-racist ethos and suggested anti-racism performance objectives. Several board members volunteered to further discuss.
Action 5: Arrange a meeting to discuss and define the board's objective and role in relation to Anti Racist Wales Action Plan within the organisation.
12. Cyber and information security update
In the absence of the SIRO, the Chair highlighted that the cybersecurity report had been circulated to board members after the last board meeting.
13. Q4: Finance, Audit & Risk Committee – minutes (draft) – January 30, 2025
The minutes of the last meeting were shared with Board members and most of the items had been covered in today’s meeting.
14. Q4: Performance & Impact Committee – verbal update (draft) – March 4, 2025
Verbal update of the last meeting was shared with Board members. KB - Committee member outlined the key points of the meeting for members.
15. Q4: People Matters Committee – minutes (draft) – February 3, 2025
The minutes of the last meeting were shared, and the Chair outlined the key points of the meeting for members.
16. Any other business
No other business was noted.
Action Log
Action 1. Chair to update on options for an external board evaluation. Lead EC. Update to be provided 21.05.25.
Action 2. Identify and present the strategic risks for the organisation for further discussion on risk appetite. Lead NL. Update to be provided 21.05.25.
Action 3. Cyber and information security to be added as agenda item for next board meeting. DM – Board member to provide update. Lead DM. Update to be provided 21.05.25.
Action 4. Circulate the final reports from the Senedd committees to Performance and Impact Committee members as soon as they become available. Lead NB. Update to be provided ASAP
Action 5. Arrange a meeting to discuss and define the board's objective and role in relation to Anti Racist Wales Action Plan within the organisation. Lead DMM. Update to be provided ASAP
No further actions recorded