Working Wales, the free careers advice and guidance service funded by Welsh Government, has reached a major milestone – supporting its 200,000th customer.
One of these 200,000 customers was James from Wrexham. After five years in the television industry, 27-year-old James found himself at a crossroads. With work opportunities dwindling, he was unsure what to do next. “I didn’t really know what to do,” he said. “I didn’t want to just get a job anywhere. I wanted a career that I can work towards – something I can move up in and do something using my skills in a different way.”
A visit to the Careers Wales centre in Wrexham led James to meet Working Wales adviser Laura. “I was just completely honest with Laura when we met,” he said. “And she was really honest with me too. It was refreshing. We talked about different careers and ideas, and when I said there were certain jobs I definitely didn’t want to do, she didn’t question it -she just said, ‘That’s fine. Let’s talk about what you do want to do.’”
While reviewing his CV, Laura noticed James’ involvement in a vintage machinery club, where he organised events and managed volunteers. “Laura looked at that and said, ‘You’ve got all these skills in events. Have you ever thought about working in that?’ And I hadn’t – I hadn’t realised something I did as a hobby, had given me transferable skills to apply to a job.”
With Laura’s support, James began applying for roles in events. “Laura helped me see how to read a job application properly… what I need to include in my CV and how to write a cover letter,” he said. This guidance helped him secure a role as an events assistant at the Llangollen Railway Trust.
“Laura helped me to see my potential and boost my confidence,” James said. “I’d really recommend Careers Wales. Especially if you’re looking for a new opportunity or career change. Come and have a chat – they’re so friendly and they will help you.”
Pauline Smith from Cardiff, was the 200,000th customer, who turned to the service after taking voluntary redundancy from her radio production role earlier this year.
57-year-old Pauline Smith was unsure whether to continue freelancing or pursue her passion for yoga teaching. Encouraged by a friend, she explored the ReAct+ scheme and booked an appointment with careers adviser Gareth Richards at her local Working Wales centre.
Gareth helped Pauline understand the support available through ReAct+, a Welsh Government-funded programme offering tailored guidance and grants for training, travel, and care costs. The session gave her clarity and confidence about her next steps, and she’s now waiting to hear back about funding for further training.
Reflecting on both experiences, Pauline said: “It’s much more about giving people confidence that they are okay. It was just nice to talk through with somebody the fact that I’ve taken redundancy, and to look at where I was at and where I was going to go.”
“Everybody has something to offer when they walk through those doors – it’s just finding out what that is and how confident they are in those.”
Nikki Lawrence, chief executive of Careers Wales, said: “Reaching our 200,000th customer is a major milestone for Working Wales and a clear reflection of the impact we’re having on individuals and the wider Welsh economy.
“James and Pauline’s stories highlight how we help people at every stage of life to build their confidence, develop their skills, and find meaningful work. Whether leaving school or college, navigating redundancy, or changing direction, our advisers are committed to supporting a resilient, skilled workforce that keeps Wales moving forward.”
Working Wales, delivered by Careers Wales, offers personalised support to anyone aged 16 and over – whether they’re just starting out, facing redundancy, or looking to retrain or change direction.
The service is available online, over the phone, and face-to-face across Wales. It helps people explore their options, build confidence, and take practical steps towards their next opportunity.
Whether you’re 16 and unsure what’s next, or if you’re later in life and facing redundancy, or ready for a change – Working Wales is there to help.
