A group of panelists at the conference

In this blog, our Promoting Compliance Officer, Carys Edwards, looks back over a busy few months for the Commissioner’s work on using Welsh in the workplace, and shares her experiences and thoughts on the next steps as work in this field continues to develop.  

The workplace is a key strategic area for the Commissioner over the next period, and we are keen to support employers to create varied, consistent and meaningful opportunities to use the Welsh language at work. 

As well as the aim of creating one million Welsh speakers by 2050, the Welsh Government has set an ambitious target to double the daily use of Welsh. Without consistent use, there is a risk that people's ability to speak Welsh will weaken over time. Workplaces therefore have a significant role – not only as places of work, but as places where Cymraeg can thrive socially and professionally.  

This use can be formal – in meetings, presentations and emails – or informal – when chatting with colleagues. We know that English is often the main language in many workplaces, so targeted planning is essential to changing culture.  

A policy to drive change 

The Welsh language standards require organisations to create a policy to promote the use of the Welsh language internally. This places emphasis on creating opportunities to use Cymraeg with colleagues, and when carrying out work tasks.  

To support this, we have developed a series of internal use policy models for the Welsh language. These models offer a structured approach for organisations to develop ambitious and effective policies, helping them move along a continuum of language use – from foundation to innovative. They encourage organisations to set clear objectives, measurable and ambitious targets, and to consider how to incorporate the Welsh language naturally into their work culture.  

You can view the internal use policy models pack on our website: Internal Use of the Welsh Language Policy Models. 

Learning from each other 

Following the national conference in Cardiff in July, where leaders and professionals from all sectors came together to discuss leadership in a bilingual Wales, we committed to maintaining the momentum witnessed at the event.  

Watch this video for highlights from the conference. 

 

 

To continue the conversation and offer a platform to share experiences, ideas and good practice, we have established a virtual forum - a forum that is part of the strategic leadership of the Welsh Language Commissioner to promote compliance and support organisations to use the Welsh language effectively. 

At the first forum, representatives from various organisations to discuss challenges and practical solutions.  

It was great to hear from Denbighshire County Council about their experience of using the Commissioner's policy models to develop a new internal use policy for the Council. We also heard from the Wales Council for Voluntary Action about the steps they have taken to promote the Welsh language internally. In addition, the National Centre for Learning Welsh shared information about training opportunities through Academi Cymraeg Gwaith, which supports the development of language skills in the workforce. 

The forum will meet four times a year, discussing a range of topics relating to the use of Welsh in the workplace. More information about all our events can be found here: Promoting Compliance.