Translate the text from Welsh to English.



 
Yn y Pwyllgor Menter a Dysgu ar 17 Chwefror 2011, gwnes ymrwymiad i gyhoeddi Datganiad Ysgrifenedig i Aelodau'r Cynulliad ynghylch y cynllun ProAct. 

Ym mis Mehefin 2009, comisiynodd Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru gwmni Cambridge Policy Consultants i werthuso'r cynllun ProAct. Cwblhawyd gwerthusiad ffurfiannol cynnar ym mis Ionawr 2010, a daeth y gwerthusiad terfynol drafft i law ym mis Ionawr 2011\. Rydym yn disgwyl i ganfyddiadau'r gwerthusiad gael eu dilysu'n derfynol cyn bo hir. Cyn i adroddiad terfynol y gwerthusiad gael ei gyhoeddi, hoffwn rannu mwy o wybodaeth ag Aelodau'r Cynulliad.

Fel y gwyddom, yn ystod ail hanner 2008 llithrodd economi Cymru'n gyflym i mewn i ddirwasgiad dwfn. Bu rhaid i lawer o gwmnïau cyfarwydd a phrofiadol dorri nôl. Roedd rhai ohonynt yn ei chael yn anodd parhau.

Roedd y gadwyn gyflenwi yng Nghymru yn wynebu sefyllfa anodd a heriol. Ar y naill law roedd angen goroesi o ddydd i ddydd, ac ar y llaw arall roedd angen bod yn barod i gystadlu pan fyddai'r economi'n gwella. Roedd yn rhaid torri costau ac o fewn dim o dro roedd rhai cwmnïau wedi gorfod cyflwyno trefniadau gweithio cyfnod byr. Diswyddodd llawer o gwmnïau rai o'u staff. Mewn nifer o achosion doedd fawr o ddewis ond dirwyn y cwmni i ben.

Aeth Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru ati'n gyflym i ddatblygu ProAct fel ymateb i'r dirwasgiad.

Diben y cynllun oedd annog busnesau i gadw'u staff a defnyddio'u capasiti sbâr yn ystod y dirywiad economaidd i hyfforddi staff mewn meysydd a fyddai'n gwella gallu'r busnes i gystadlu pan ddeuai'r adferiad economaidd.

Roedd cam cyntaf y cynllun ProAct yn canolbwyntio ar y sector modurol. Gwnaed hynny oherwydd y cwymp sydyn ledled y byd mewn gwaith cynhyrchu moduron, a'r niwed parhaol posibl y gallai goblygiadau hynny ei gael ar gyfleusterau gweithgynhyrchu yng Nghymru. 

Ym mis Mawrth 2009, agorwyd ProAct i fusnesau ym mhob sector. Cyflwynodd nifer sylweddol o gwmnïau yn y sector adeiladu a gweithgynhyrchu gais am gymorth o'r cynllun. 

Mae'r cymorth ariannol a ddarparwyd gan ProAct yn cynnwys swm sylweddol o gyllid gan yr Undeb Ewropeaidd. Pan gaeodd ProAct i geisiadau newydd ar 30 Mehefin 2010, roedd dros £27 miliwn wedi'i ymrwymo i gynorthwyo 254 o fusnesau.

Cynorthwyodd ProAct dros 10,000 o unigolion i ddatblygu'r sgiliau a fydd yn gwella perfformiad busnes ac yn eu helpu i gadw'u swyddi.

Erbyn diwedd Rhagfyr 2010, roedd llawer o'r cwmnïau a gymerodd ran yn dweud bod ProAct wedi diogelu swyddi, ac roedd nifer yn nodi y bu cymorth ProAct yn allweddol i greu swyddi newydd. 

Rydw i wrth fy modd ag ymateb y gymuned fusnes i effeithiau cadarnhaol ProAct. Mae'n bwysig ein bod yn defnyddio'r gwersi a ddysgwyd i lywio'r modd rydym yn darparu a thargedu rhaglenni yn y dyfodol.

Mae cwmnïau a gymerodd ran yn y cynllun ProAct wedi pwysleisio manteision buddsoddi mewn sgiliau, ac wedi canmol llwyddiant ymateb Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru i'r dirwasgiad yn hynny o beth.

Roedd rhai agweddau ar y Rhaglen Datblygu'r Gweithlu, fel y Llinell Ffôn Sgiliau Busnes a'r rhwydwaith o Gynghorwyr Datblygu Adnoddau Dynol, yn allweddol i lansio a gweithredu'r cynllun yn sydyn. 

Bu'r bartneriaeth gref rhwng staff ProAct, Rheolwyr Perthynas Adran yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth, Cynghorwyr Datblygu Adnoddau Dynol a chyrff cynrychioli cyflogwyr yn fodd cyflym o gyrraedd y busnesau hynny a ddioddefodd waethaf yn sgil y dirwasgiad.

Er mwyn ategu llwyddiant ProAct, lansiwyd Sgiliau Twf Cymru ym mis Ebrill 2010 i gynorthwyo busnesau i fanteisio ar y cyfleoedd i dyfu yn sgil yr adferiad economaidd byd\-eang.  Hyd yma, mae 81 o fusnesau wedi cyflwyno cais llwyddiannus am gymorth. Bydd hyn yn helpu 10,000 yn rhagor o weithwyr. 

I gloi, roedd ProAct yn gynllun a ddatblygwyd ac a ddarparwyd yn ystod y dirwasgiad dyfnaf mewn 80 o flynyddoedd. Mae'r canlyniadau rwyf wedi ei nodi uchod yn drawiadol, ac maent yn destament i'r hyn y gellir ei wneud drwy roi arweiniad cadarn a bod yn benderfynol o lwyddo.

Mae'r canlyniadau'n dweud y cyfan.  Mae ProAct wedi diogelu swyddi, ond mae hefyd wedi creu rhai newydd ac wedi helpu busnesau i fod yn fwy cystadleuol a chynhyrchiol. Ar ben hynny, mae wedi atal rhai cwmnïau rhag cau. Ar y sail hwnnw, mae wedi gwneud cyfraniad sylweddol i economi Cymru. 

Rwy'n falch o ddweud bod Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru wedi ymateb yn gyflym ac yn effeithiol i baratoi a gweithredu ProAct. Mae'n dangos yn glir bod Llywodraeth y Cynulliad yn gallu bodloni anghenion cyflogwyr ar fyr rybudd, ac ar yr un pryd sicrhau manteision am ei buddsoddiad.







Translation:


 
At the Enterprise and Learning Committee on 17th February 2011, I made a commitment to issue a Written Statement to Assembly Members regarding the ProAct scheme.


In June 2009, Cambridge Policy Consultants were commissioned by the Welsh Assembly Government to undertake an evaluation of the ProAct scheme. An early formative evaluation was completed in January 2010 and the draft final impact evaluation was received in January 2011\. We expect final validation of the evaluation findings shortly. In advance of the formal evaluation report being published, I would like to share other available information with Assembly Members.


As we know, during the latter part of 2008 the Welsh economy slipped rapidly into a deep recession. Many well established and iconic companies were forced to scale back, some in a fight for survival.


The supply chain in Wales was faced with a stark and challenging scenario. On the one hand the need for short\-term survival and on the other, the need to compete when the economic upturn materialised. Costs had to be cut and companies moved quickly to implement short time working arrangements. Many made redundancies and in a number of instances companies had little option but to close.


ProAct was a rapidly developed, Welsh Assembly Government response to the economic recession.


The rationale of the programme was to encourage businesses to retain personnel and use the spare capacity during the economic slowdown as an opportunity to train staff in areas that would improve the capability of the business in readiness for the economic upturn.


The initial phase of the ProAct scheme focussed on the automotive sector due to the rapid reduction in automotive production globally and the potential irreparable damage market consolidation could have on Welsh based manufacturing facilities.


In March 2009, ProAct was made more widely available to businesses across all sectors and companies in the construction and manufacturing sector applied for ProAct support in significant numbers.


The financial support provided by ProAct includes a significant element of European Union funding and when ProAct was closed to new applications on June 30th 2010, over £27 million had been committed to support 254 businesses.


ProAct supported over 10,000 individuals to develop the skills that will improve business performance and assist individuals retain their jobs.


By the end of December 2010, many participating companies indicated that ProAct had safeguarded jobs with a number of companies highlighting that the support of ProAct had been instrumental in creating new jobs.


I am delighted with the response from the business community regarding the positive effects that ProAct achieved and it is important that we use the lessons learned to inform how our programmes are delivered and targeted in the future.


The benefits of investing in skills and the success of the Welsh Assembly Government’s skills response to the recession have been highlighted by direct feedback from companies that participated on the ProAct scheme.


The availability of key aspects of the Workforce Development Programme, such as the Business Skills Hotline and the network of HRD Advisors was instrumental in achieving the swift launch and implementation of the programme.


The development of strong partnership working between ProAct staff, Department for Economy and Transport Relationship Managers, HRD Advisors and employer representative bodies ensured rapid engagement with those businesses worst  affected by the recession.


To build on the success of ProAct, Skills Growth Wales was launched in April 2010 with the aim of assisting businesses take advantage of growth opportunities provided by the global economic upturn. To date, 81 businesses have successfully applied for support covering a further 10,000 employees.


In conclusion, ProAct was a programme designed and delivered during the deepest recession in 80 years. For the programme to realise the results I have outlined is remarkable and testament to what can be achieved given strong leadership and a commitment to succeed.


The results speak for themselves. Not only has ProAct safeguarded jobs, it has generated new jobs and supported businesses to improve their competitiveness and productivity. It has also prevented firms from closing altogether and on that basis has made a significant contribution to the Welsh economy.


I am pleased to say the Welsh Assembly Government reacted swiftly and effectively to design and implement ProAct. It clearly illustrates the Assembly Government is able to meet employers needs within demanding timescales while ensuring return on investment.