Top apprentice aims to be an inspiration
A TEENAGER from Port Talbot has been named Wales’s Apprentice of the Year.
Nineteen-year-old Sally Hughes, who is building a career at Tata Steel, is a learner with Gower College Swansea, and said she hopes to inspire other young women to follow a science career pathway by embracing all opportunities available to her.
Her success was revealed as the best learners, employers and learning providers in Wales were announced at the Apprenticeship Awards Cymru ceremony at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport.
The awards showcase the outstanding achievements of learners, employers and work-based learning practitioners who have excelled in contributing to the development of the Welsh Government’s Traineeships and Apprenticeship programmes.
Among other awards, the Medium Employer of the Year award went to catering butchery and meat processing company Celtica Foods of Cross Hands, which has established a training academy in partnership with Cambrian Training Company to grow its own skilled workers. The company’s workforce of 75 includes 17 apprentices.
The Small Employer of the Year was growing IT company Pisys.net of Swansea, which is using apprenticeships as an integral part of its recruitment programme.
Providing affordable IT support and services to businesses across the UK, the company has recruited 18 apprentices over the past decade and works with Swansea ITEC.
Minister for Welsh Language and Lifelong Learning Eluned Morgan congratulated the finalists and winners for setting the gold standard for Apprenticeships and Traineeships.
“The finalists include exceptional individuals who have excelled in their workplace and training providers and employers that have gone the extra mile to support the apprentices they are working with,” she said.
“Each of them should be applauded for their commitment to the Apprenticeships and Traineeships Programmes in Wales.
“The Welsh Government regards Apprenticeships as a priority area and, with support from the European Social Fund, has committed to creating a minimum of 100,000 high quality all-age Apprenticeships over this Assembly term.
“We have a clear vision for addressing the needs of Welsh businesses, developing skills pathways and increasing higher level skills that benefit the whole of Wales.
“If the Welsh economy is to continue to grow, then we must work together to equip Wales with a world-class workforce.”
Sarah John, NTFW chair, said the awards were the highlight of the year for everyone connected with the delivery of the successful Apprenticeships and Traineeships Programmes.
“We are justly proud that Wales has a highly successful Apprenticeships Programme, one which we think is the best in the UK,” she added.
“Apprenticeships remain the gold standard in vocational training because they create a more responsive and motivated workforce and deliver the key skills and experience businesses need now and in the future.”
Jointly organised by the Welsh Government and the National Training Federation for Wales (NTFW), the awards are supported by media partner, Media Wales.
The Apprenticeship Programme is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.