- Purpose of the Governance Framework
The purpose of this framework is to:
- Provide clarity on governance roles, responsibilities, and decision-making authority across Cambrian Training.
- Ensure compliance with Medr Work-Based Learning (WBL) regularity framework and contract requirements, awarding body regulations, and legal obligations.
- Establish a clear line of accountability from strategic leadership to operational delivery.
- Support high-quality learner experiences, strong employer partnerships, and robust performance outcomes.
- Ensure risks are identified, monitored, and mitigated effectively.
- Promote transparency, ethical practice, and organisational sustainability.
- Governance Structure Overview
Cambrian Training operates a three-tier governance model, supported by specialist governance subgroups:
- Employer–Owner / Trust Board (Strategic Governance)
- CTC Operational Leadership Board (OLB)(Executive Governance)
- Senior Management Team (SMT) (Operational Leadership)
- Governance Subgroups providing specialist assurance:
- Welsh Board
- ISMS Board
- Teaching & Learning Working Group
- Digital Working Group
- Governance Bodies
3.1 Employer–Owner / Trust Board (Strategic Governance)
Purpose
Provides the highest level of strategic oversight, ensuring the organisation fulfils its mission, values, and long-term objectives.
Responsibilities
- Set organisational vision, mission, and long-term strategy.
- Approve annual budgets, financial plans, and major investments.
- Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and contractual obligations.
- Monitor organisational risk, financial sustainability, and ethical standards.
- Hold the Operational Board accountable for performance and governance.
Membership
Chair, Trustee, Employee representative
Meeting Frequency
Quarterly
Key Outputs
- Approval of Strategic Plan
- Approval of Annual Budget
- Sign-off of Annual Accounts
- Sets the organisational risk appetite
3.2 Operational Leaderships Board OLB (Executive Governance)
Purpose
Provides executive oversight, translating strategic direction into operational delivery and ensuring organisational performance.
Responsibilities
- Deliver the strategic plan set by the Trust Board.
- Monitor performance across finance, quality, compliance, Welsh Language, and learner outcomes.
- Sub-contractors’ performance and risk management
- Oversee risk management and internal controls.
- Approval of annual accounts
- Approve operational policies and frameworks.
- Direct and hold the Senior Management Team accountable.
- Receive reports from governance subgroups.
- Approve the annual statement of compliance. (Dec 2027)
Membership
Managing Director (Chair) and Accountable Officer, Director of Quality, Director of Finance and Administration, Director of Governance, Director of Trailhead
Meeting Frequency
Quarterly
Key Outputs
- Operational Performance Reports
- Annual Business Plan
- Risk Register Updates
- Policy Approvals
- Approval of Annual Statement of Compliance
3.3 Senior Management Team (SMT)
Purpose
Leads day-to-day operations, ensuring effective delivery of training, quality assurance, compliance, and business development
Responsibilities
- Implement operational plans, KPIs, and delivery schedules.
- Manage staff, resources, and learner experience.
- Ensure high-quality teaching, learning, and assessment.
- Maintain compliance with awarding bodies, regulators, and funding rules.
- Oversee safeguarding, digital systems, and employer engagement.
- Report performance, risks, and improvement actions to the Operational Board.
Membership
Operational Managers, Head of Business Units – Data and Compliance, Contracts, Business Analyst, HR, Sales, and Marketing.
Meeting Frequency
Quarterly
Key Outputs
- KPI Dashboards
- Quality Improvement Actions
- Compliance Monitoring Reports
- Staff Development Plans
- Governance Subgroups
These groups provide specialist oversight and assurance, feeding into the Operational Board’s decision-making.
4.1 Welsh Board
Purpose
Provides oversight and assurance for Welsh provision, ensuring alignment with Welsh Government requirements and regional priorities.
Responsibilities
- Monitor performance of all Welsh based programmes.
- Ensure compliance with Welsh funding rules and quality frameworks.
- Engage with Welsh employers, stakeholders, and community partners.
- Identify risks and improvement needs specific to Welsh delivery.
- Report directly to the Operational Board.
Membership
Welsh Language Champion (chair) Managing Director, Director of Quality, Director of Finance and Administration, Director of Governance, HBU Contracts and Business support
Meeting Frequency
Quarterly
4.2 ISMS Board
Purpose
Ensures robust information security, data protection, and cyber‑risk management
Responsibilities
- Maintain and review the ISMS framework (e.g., ISO 27001 alignment).
- Oversee GDPR compliance and data protection controls.
- Review incidents, breaches, and mitigation actions.
- Report risk levels and compliance status to the Operational Board.
Membership
Director of Finance and administration, Data Protection Officer, IT Manager, HBUs -contracts, data and compliance HR, external consultant
Meeting Frequency Quarterly
4.3 Teaching & Learning Working Group
Purpose
Drives continuous improvement in pedagogy, curriculum design, and learner outcomes
Responsibilities
- Review teaching, learning, and assessment quality.
- Analyse learner progress, achievement, and feedback.
- Share best practice and support staff development.
- Review and discuss relevant Medr updates with particular focus on LV and Learner Engagement
- Update on recent Jisc AI developments and explore the most effective way of communicating these across all delivery areas
- Consideration of Awarding body feedback & agree how outcomes will be fed into standardisation processes
- Recommend quality improvements to SMT and Operational Board.
Membership
Director of Quality (chair) Curriculum Leads Health and Safety advisor
Meeting Frequency
Bi monthly meetings
4.4 Digital Working Group (new)
Purpose
Ensures effective use of digital tools, platforms, and innovation across the organisation.
Responsibilities
- Oversee digital strategy and infrastructure.
- Support staff digital capability and training.
- Evaluate and implement modern technologies.
- Ensure digital accessibility and learner experience standards.
- Report progress and risks to the Operational Board.
Membership
Digital Lead Curriculum leads training officers.
Meeting Frequency: Quarterly
4.5 Security working group
Purpose
to share information with internal HBU’s & Subcontractors on the current risks in the world of cyber security.
Responsibilities
Review issues, risks, or incidents
offer advice where possible.
Members –
Director of Finance and administration, Data Protection Officer, IT Manager, HBUs -contracts, data and compliance HR Marketing, external consultant Operation Managers and one per subcontractor
Meeting Frequency –
Quarterly
- Governance Reporting Flow
Employer–Owner / Trust Board → Operational Board →
Senior Management Team (SMT) → Governance Subgroups
This ensures:
- Clear accountability
- Escalation routes for risk and performance
- Transparent decision-making
- Strong oversight of quality and compliance
- Crosscutting Governance Themes
The following crosscutting governance themes apply to all Boards, Subgroups, and operational teams within Cambrian Training. They ensure that governance is consistent, compliant, and aligned with organisational values and statutory requirements.
6.1 Risk Management
Cambrian Training maintains a proactive and structured approach to risk management to safeguard learners, staff, partners, and organisational sustainability. Risk management is embedded across all governance levels and forms a standing agenda item for the Operational Board.
Key Principles
- Risks are identified, assessed, and monitored through a central Risk Register.
- Each risk is assigned an owner responsible for mitigation and reporting.
- Risks are categorised by operational, financial, compliance, people, and reputational impact.
- Escalation thresholds ensure that high-level risks are reviewed by the Trust Board.
- Mitigation actions are tracked and evaluated for effectiveness.
Governance Responsibilities
- Trust Board: Sets risk appetite and receives assurance on major risks.
- Operational Board: Oversees the Risk Register and ensures appropriate controls are in place.
- SMT: Identifies emerging risks and implements mitigation actions.
- Subgroups: Monitor risks relevant to their specialist areas (e.g., ISMS, Welsh provision, digital).
6.2 Safeguarding and Prevent
Cambrian Training is committed to providing a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment for all learners and staff. Safeguarding and Prevent responsibilities are embedded across the organisation and overseen by the SMT and Operational Board.
Key Principles
- Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.
- The organisation maintains clear policies and procedures aligned with Welsh Government guidance.
- All staff receive mandatory safeguarding and Prevent training appropriate to their role.
- Concerns are reported promptly through established internal reporting routes.
- Learner welfare, well‑being, and protection from harm are central to decision-making.
Governance Responsibilities
- Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Provides operational leadership and reports to SMT.
- Operational Board: Receives safeguarding reports and ensures compliance with statutory duties.
- Trust Board: Provides strategic oversight and ensures safeguarding risks are effectively managed.
6.3 Welsh Language
Cambrian Training is committed to meeting its obligations of Welsh Language within the Regulatory Framework and promoting the use of Welsh across the company, partners, and provision.
Key Principles
- Learners have the right to receive services in Welsh.
- Welsh language provision is planned, monitored, and reviewed regularly.
- Staff are supported to develop Welsh language skills appropriate to their role.
- Bilingual resources, communications, and learner materials are made available where required.
Governance Responsibilities
- Welsh Board: Provides oversight of Welsh language compliance and performance.
- Operational Board: Ensures Welsh language considerations are embedded in operational planning.
- SMT: Implements Welsh language actions and monitors learner experience.
6.4 Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI)
Cambrian Training promotes an inclusive culture where all learners and staff are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. EDI principles are embedded across governance, operations, and quality assurance.
Key Principles
- Equality of opportunity is central to all decision-making.
- The organisation complies with the Equality Act 2010 and Public Sector Equality Duty.
- Barriers to participation are identified and removed wherever possible.
- Data on participation, achievement, and progression is monitored to identify disparities.
- Staff receive training to support inclusive practice and cultural awareness.
Governance Responsibilities
- Trust Board: Ensures strategic alignment with EDI commitments.
- Operational Board: Monitors EDI performance and approves improvement actions.
- SMT: Implements EDI initiatives and ensures inclusive delivery practices.
6.5 Quality Assurance Framework
Cambrian Training operates a comprehensive Quality Assurance Strategy to ensure high-quality teaching, learning, assessment, and learner outcomes.
Key Principles
- Quality assurance is continuous, evidence-based, and learner‑centred.
- The organisation produces an annual Self-Assessment Report (SAR) and Quality Improvement Plan (QIP).
- Internal quality audits, observations, and learner feedback inform improvement actions.
- Implementation of Medr’s learner engagement strategy
- Awarding body requirements and regulatory standards are fully met.
- Best practice is shared across teams to drive consistency and excellence.
Governance Responsibilities
- Operational Board: Receives quality reports and monitors progress against the QIP.
- Teaching & Learning Working Group: Leads pedagogical improvement and curriculum development.
- SMT: Implements quality actions and monitors performance indicators.
6.6 Subcontracting and Partnership Governance
Cambrian Training ensures that all subcontracted and partnership arrangements are managed with transparency, accountability, and robust oversight, led by Director of Governance.
Key Principles
- All subcontractors undergo rigorous due diligence before approval.
- Contracts clearly define expectations, performance measures, and compliance requirements.
- Regular monitoring ensures delivery quality, learner experience, and financial integrity.
- Underperformance is addressed promptly through structured improvement plans.
- Partnership arrangements support strategic objectives and enhance learner opportunities.
Governance Responsibilities
- Trust Board: Approves subcontracting strategy and receives assurance on performance.
- Operational Board: Oversees subcontractor compliance and risk.
- SMT: Conducts operational monitoring, audits, and performance reviews.
- Summary of Accountability
| Job Role | Key Accountabilities |
| Employee Trust Board | |
| Chair | The Chair leads the trustee board, ensuring employee interests are represented, governance standards are upheld, and the business remains true to its employee-owned values while supporting sustainable growth and long-term success. |
| Founding Board Member | As a director of the EOT this helps establish the trust’s structure and purpose, ensuring employee ownership principles are embedded from the start. They guide governance, represent employee interests, and support the organisation’s transition to sustainable, values-driven ownership. |
| Employee Board Member | Represents the workforce on the trustee board, ensuring employee views are heard in decision-making. They promote transparency, uphold the trust’s values, and help align business goals with employee interests for long-term success. |
| Senior Leadership team | |
| Managing Director | Accountable Officer
Responsible for overseeing and strategically managing the implementation and effectiveness of work-based learning programmes within Cambrian Training. Engagement with strategic partners to ensure high quality delivery that meets local and regional skills needs and priorities.
|
| Director of Quality and Skills | Responsible for Quality of Learning Teaching and Assessment throughout Cambrian Training Company. To lead and develop the organisation’s quality strategy, creating and maintaining a culture of continuous improvement, focused on high expectations and achievements. With direct line management responsibility and accountability for, Health and Safety, Wellbeing and Safeguarding and all cross-cutting themes. The position works closely with the Director of Governance and Director for Finance and Support Services to support the organisational quality compliance, promotion of continuous improvement and responsibilities of the Board of Directors.
|
| Director of Governance | Responsible for shaping and overseeing the governance systems to meet regulatory body requirements, structures, and processes. To influence and embed good governance arrangements and associated operational activities. A pivotal role in helping the Managing Director set the strategic directions, as well as ensuring business delivery in line with regulatory bodies. Ensure there is an effective flow of information between responsible Directors and staff providing advice and support guidance and direction to the board on matters of regulatory governance.
|
| Director of Finance and support services | responsible for the financial and support services of Cambrian Training Company Group. Responsible for accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, tax compliance, in-house controlling, investments, insurance, and audit-related activities of the organisation. Responsible for establishing effective financial and accounting systems, standards and controls, support services for the delivery of contracts and information technology systems of the organisation. The position works closely with the Director of Governance and Director for Quality to Board of Directors of CTC groups to support the fiduciary and organisational compliance and responsibilities of the Board of Directors.
|
| Head of Business – Operations | Responsibility for leadership and operational management of the sector specific apprenticeship programmes. With direct responsibility for the Occupancy, Capacity, Attainment and Progression of the business unit via the training officers. Performance management, ensuring contractual targets and objectives are met including timely success rates. Displaying a blend of values (ensuring there is a learner-focused approach), skills (collaborative approaches and critical thinking) and knowledge (focus on vocation and teaching with a clear knowledge of subject) supporting professionalism and directly improving outcomes for individuals.
|
| Curriculum Lead (Sector) | To lead and support a team of sector training officers to deliver high quality teaching learning and assessment of sector specific qualifications to learners undertaking work-based learning apprenticeships Ensuring that robust Internal Quality Assurance and best practice processes are in place and are followed consistently in line with Cambrian Trainings internal quality assurance strategy. Leading the IQA activity, ensuring timely completion of learners. |
| Marketing Manager | To manage the successful implementation of your marketing plans and manage the team, in line with the Cambrian Training Company (CTC) Group activities and deliver solutions to secure both growth and existing development plans. The group consists of 3 businesses; Cambrian Training Company, Trailhead Fine Foods & Trewythen Hotel. To undertake this role effectively, regular meetings will need to be held with all HBU’s to effectively plan marketing in line with business needs and data supplied to support the promotion of apprenticeship growth and opportunities. |
| Operational Team | |
| Training Officer | To have responsibility for developing the career of individuals through the delivery of Work Based Learning Programmes. Displaying a blend of values (ensuring there is a learner-focused approach), skills (collaborative approaches and critical thinking) and knowledge (focus on vocation and teaching with a clear knowledge or subject) supporting professionalism and directly improving outcomes for individuals.
Initiating, preparing, delivering, and assessing a programme of learning and accreditation to a cohort of individuals through: Inspiring, supporting and stretching learners, Set and communicate challenging goals and targets with clear understanding of progress and evaluation. Act as a role model to individuals in the sector, Promoting diversity and advocate inclusion embed Welsh Culture and language wherever possible , effectively utilise evidence and research to improve practice Innovative use of assessment and learning to support learners progress, Building and maintaining relationships with learners, colleagues, employers and all relevant parities for the benefit of the individual and sector.
|
| Additional Learning Support co-ordinator | Working with specialist partners to lead and coordinate the support and delivery of the shared apprenticeship programme to meet both quality standards and contract profile. To provide training, advice, and guidance to training officers/tutors to support learners with additional learning needs (ALN). Through promoting the effective use of best practice strategies, promoting the use of adaptations and learning strategies to ensure that all learners achieve their full potential. Coordinate and support the delivery of the shared apprenticeship programme to meet both quality standards and contract profile. |
| Essential Skills Tutor | To have responsibility for developing the Essential Skills of individuals through the delivery of Work Based Learning Programmes. Displaying a blend of values (ensuring there is a learner-focused approach), skills (collaborative approaches and critical thinking) and knowledge (focus on vocation and teaching with a clear knowledge or subject) supporting professionalism and directly improving outcomes for individuals. |
| Support Function Team | |
| Head of Business – Data and Compliance | Responsible for the quality and assurance of specific LLWR information). To be the first and main point of contact for auditing and processing all start and leaver documentation. Produce audit checklists and follow a set return procedure if required. To have overall responsibility for the accuracy and validity of the start documentation and an in-depth knowledge of effectively
managing leaver paperwork maximising contract performance. To support development of data administrators. |
| Team Leader – Data and Compliance | The primary objective is to effectively manage the data and compliance team, ensuring the successful achievement of targets related to processing all learners’ documents. Responsible for managing data and compliance team to ensure planning, monitoring, and communication work. This includes ensuring that the governance and control systems for effective administration aspects of each contract are effectively implemented
|
| Head of Business Unit – Contract Management | To provide robust contract management ensuring successful delivery of the work-based learning subcontracts and operational units. The Contract Manager will be a key interface for Cambrian Training and be responsible for managing and developing relationships with internal and external stakeholders at a Senior Manager level to represent and ensure the Work Based Learning and Cambrian Training strategic vision is delivered. Coordinating the ISMS requirements in conjunction with colleagues.
|
| Data and Quality Officers | Responsible for ensuring that all Learner Documentation, Registration,
Certification, Health, and Safety documentation is processed in a timely manner ensuring that Welsh Government requirements are met. |
| Head of Business Unit – Information Technology and MI Analyst | To oversee all technology operations and evaluating them according to established goals. Devising IT policies and systems to support contractual delivery driving forward continuous improvement and quality. To improve consistency, quality, processes, performance, cost, and efficiency across the organisation, managing risk and the information technology hardware, software, and management information. |
| Health and Safety Advisor – Quality | To promote a positive health and safety culture within CTC ensuring policies and practices are adopted and adhered to. Working with a range of organisations, to implement, monitor and review protective and preventative safety measures. To act as the organisations, lead competent person for Health & Safety across CTC. Support the Quality and Skills Director to promote quality practices as required. |
