Translate the text from Welsh to English.



 
Fel rhan o Gytundeb Cyllideb 2013\-14 (sy’n cynnwys y blynyddoedd ariannol 2013\-14 a 2014\-15\), cytunodd Llywodraeth Cymru i ddarparu arian buddsoddi ychwanegol o £40 miliwn ar gyfer rhaglen brentisiaethau Cymru. Mae cryn gynnydd wedi’i wneud yn ystod y flwyddyn ariannol gyntaf a, hyd yn hyn, cyflawnwyd mwy na’r disgwyl mewn llawer achos.  

Ymrwymwyd i gynyddu nifer y prentisiaethau sydd ar gael ar bob lefel, gyda ffocws penodol ar ehangu nifer y fframweithiau Prentisiaethau Uwch yng Nghymru. Datblygwyd y Rhaglen Recriwtiaid Newydd i annog cyflogwyr i dderbyn prentisiaid ychwanegol, a lansiwyd y Rhaglen Busnesau Bach a Micro\-Fusnesau, gan gynnig taliad untro i Fusnesau Bach a Micro\-Fusnesau i helpu gyda chost recriwtio. Mae prentisiaethau ym meysydd cydraddoldeb, y Gymraeg a STEM hefyd yn cael eu hystyried drwy wahanol weithgareddau prosiectau.

Mae ein rhwydwaith o Ddarparwyr Dysgu Seiliedig ar Waith wedi gwneud cynnydd gwych o ran Prentisiaethau Uwch, ac erbyn hyn mae mwy o fframweithiau Prentisiaethau Uwch ar gael yng Nghymru nag a fu erioed. Yn ogystal â llwyddiannau ar Lefel 4 ac uwch, mae’n glir bod y cyllid ychwanegol yn helpu i’w gwneud yn haws i bobl ifanc ledled Cymru gael lle ar Lefel 2 a Lefel 3\.

Ym mis Ebrill 2013, cynyddwyd lefel y cymhorthdal cyflogau sydd ar gael dan y Rhaglen Recriwtiaid Newydd i uchafswm o £100 am y 26 wythnos gyntaf a £50 am y 26 wythnos wedyn (yn hytrach na chyfradd o £50 am 52 wythnos). Yn ystod Tachwedd 2013, rhagorwyd ar ein targed blynyddol ar gyfer y rhaglen. Mae’n glir, felly, bod y cymhorthdal uwch o £100 yr wythnos am 26 wythnos wedi bod yn boblogaidd iawn ymhlith cyflogwyr.

Fodd bynnag, o ystyried lefel y galw, ac er mwyn parhau i helpu cyflogwyr i recriwtio prentisiaid ychwanegol, rydym wedi ailsefydlu ein lefel cymhorthdal flaenorol (£50 yr wythnos am 52 wythnos) ers 1 Ionawr 2014\. Cedwir y targed blynyddol o 2,000 o leoedd. Credwn y bydd y gyfradd hon nid yn unig yn parhau i ysgogi’r galw am leoedd i brentisiaid, ond hefyd yn tynnu sylw at y cyfrifoldeb yr hoffem i gyflogwyr a Llywodraeth Cymru ei ysgwyddo. Heb os nac onibai, annog a helpu cyflogwyr i’w helpu eu hunain, yn hytrach na dibynnu ar lefelau cymhorthdal uchel, yw’r peth cyfrifol i’w wneud, a bydd yn gofalu bod busnesau Cymru yn creu sylfeini cadarn ar gyfer dyfodol cynaliadwy.

Yn olaf, yn ogystal â llwyddiannau eithriadol, amlwg y buddsoddiad ychwanegol hwn, rwyf wrth fy modd yn gweld sut mae’r farchnad wedi ymateb mewn ffordd mor gadarnhaol i’r ehangu ar y ddarpariaeth i brentisiaid yng Nghymru. Drwy gydweithrediad y Llywodraeth, darparwyr hyfforddiant a’r sector preifat, mae pobl ifanc yng Ngymru yn meithrin y sgiliau priodol i allu cyfrannu at y broses o ailadeiladu economi Cymru.







Translation:


 
As part of the 2013\-14 Budget Agreement (which covers financial years 2013\-14 and 2014\-15\), the Welsh Government agreed to provide an additional investment of £40 million into the Welsh Apprenticeship programme.  Significant progress has been made during the first financial year and, to date, many of the achievements have exceeded expectations.  


We committed to increase the number of Apprenticeships available at all levels, with a particular focus on expanding the number of Higher Apprenticeship frameworks delivered in Wales.  We enhanced the Young Recruits Programme (YRP) to encourage employers to take on additional Apprentices, and the Small and Micro Business Programme was launched, offering a one\-off payment to Small and Micro Businesses to assist with the cost of recruitment.    Equality, Welsh Language and STEM Apprenticeships are also key themes being explored through various project related activities


Our network of Work Based Learning Providers has made excellent progress on Higher Apprenticeships and there are now more Higher Apprenticeship frameworks available in Wales than ever before.  In addition to the successes at Level 4 and above, it is clear that the additional funding is helping improve both accessibility and availability of places for young people across Wales at Level 2 and Level 3\.  


From April 2013, the level of wage subsidy available under YRP was increased to a maximum of £100 for the first 26 weeks and £50 for the second 26 weeks (rather than a flat rate of £50 for 52 weeks).  During November 2013, we exceeded our annual target on YRP. It is therefore clear that the enhanced subsidy of £100 per week for 26 weeks has been very popular with employers.


However, given the level of demand, and in order to continue to support employers to recruit additional apprentices, we have reverted to our previous level of subsidy (£50 per week for 52 weeks) from 1 January 2014\.   The annual target will remain at 2,000 learner places.  We believe that this rate will not only continue to stimulate demand for apprenticeship places but also clearly demonstrate a sustainable shared responsibility that we would like to see between employers and the Welsh Government.   Encouraging and helping employers to support themselves, rather than relying on high levels of subsidy, is undoubtedly the responsible course of action, and will ensure that welsh businesses build strong foundations for a sustainable future.


Finally, in addition to the exceptional and quantifiable successes of this additional investment, I am delighted to see how the marketplace has responded so positively to the expansion of the Apprenticeship offering in Wales.  By Government, training providers and private sector working collaboratively, young people in Wales are gaining the appropriate skills to offer a valuable contribution to a recovering Welsh economy.