Wales Pioneers User-Centered Design Apprenticeship, Graduates First Cohort

Wales' Centre for Digital Public Services (CDPS), in collaboration with Gower College Swansea, has successfully graduated its first cohort from the User Centred Design apprenticeship program. This 18-month UK-first initiative focuses on integrating user needs into the design of digital public services. The apprenticeship provided on-the-job training in service design, user research, and content development, alongside a formal qualification. Ruth Garner, Sarah Floyd, and Alexandra Wagstaff, the inaugural graduates, have been appointed as Junior User Centred Design Officers at CDPS. They will contribute to public sector services in Wales through content design and user research. The program aims to address the digital skills gap in Wales, creating pathways into digital careers within public services. Eight other Welsh organizations are currently participating, with 15 apprentices acquiring digital skills. The graduates bring diverse backgrounds, including education and clinical research, emphasizing the importance of user-centric design for inclusive and accessible public services. The Welsh Government highlights the program's role in developing homegrown talent and transforming public service delivery.