IN the wake of announcement of potential redundancies across the biggest aerospace operation in the region, Wales’ Economy minister has has assured young Airbus workers that the Government 'will invest in your future’.

Ken Skates took the stand at the Welsh Government’s daily coronavirus press conference on Wednesday, July 1 – less than 24 hours after Airbus made the announcement that hundreds of jobs would be made redundant in its UK operation.

Airbus has placed 1,700 jobs at risk across its two UK sites – including Broughton in Flintshire.

Speaking with the media, Mr Skates reiterated that the aerospace sector “is in crisis” and the that the UK Government needs to take “swift and decisive action now” to save the industry and its supply chain.

Responding to a question by the Leader about young people at the site starting or working through an apprenticeship in this highly-skilled and specialised field, he said that the Government will continue to invest in those people that looked to Airbus as their future.

Mr Skates said: “Based on all of the assessments we have made, young people are most likely to be the most adversely effected by this pandemic in terms of their employment prospects.

“Around 12 per cent of people under the age of 25 are employed in businesses across Wales. But 25 per cent of the businesses that have closed are the ones that employ those young people, it’s a huge proportion of the workforce.

"We will be prioritising our support for individuals who are unemployed or facing unemployment on young people.

"Those who looked to Airbus as an alternative to university - we will invest in your future, we will invest in the plant and deliver bright prospects for the plant and for you."

Mr Skates said that the Welsh Government have a ‘proven track record’ in helping young people gain employment through Jobs Growth Wales and spared thousands upon thousands of young people from long term unemployment.

He says that this programme, along with other options, will be utilised to ensure the same support and opportunities are available for Airbus’ younger workforce wanting a career in the aerospace in the coming weeks, months and years.