Success celebrated at apprenticeship awards
INDIVIDUAL success stories and a dynamic approach to training and skills development by employers and learning providers across Wales were celebrated as the winners of this year’s prestigious Apprenticeship Awards Cymru were announced last night.
Jointly organised by the Welsh Government and the National Training Federation for Wales (NTfW), the prestigious awards ceremony brought together 30 shortlisted finalists at the Celtic Manor Resort, Newport.
The awards, sponsored by Pearson PLC and supported by media partner, Media Wales, are designed to showcase and celebrate 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.
The Apprenticeship Programme is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.
The awards were shared across Wales, with big names including Tata Steel sharing the limelight with small companies such as Happy Horse Retirement Home at Crai, near Brecon.
Tata Steel collected the award for Macro Employer of the Year, holding off the challenge of Deloitte LLP’s Cardiff office.
The Intellectual Property Office at Newport won the Large Employer of the Year Award, beating the Celtic Manor Resort and Flintshire-based construction company Redrow.
Medium Employer of the Year was Cyfle Building Skills, a shared apprenticeship programme for West Wales based in Ammanford. Shortlisted finalists were Electroimpact UK from Hawarden and Celtica Foods, Crosshands.
Happy Horse Retirement Home took the award for Small Employer of the Year, holding off the challenge of Newport’s Archway Court Nursery.
South East Wales practitioners collected the work-based learning awards. Sue Jeffries, managing director of Sgil Cymru in Cardiff, was named Work-based Learning Assessor of the Year and Ros Smith from Pontypridd, who works for ACT Training, collected the Work-based Learning Tutor of the Year.
The awards for apprentices went to individuals from across Wales.
Higher Apprentice of the Year was Mold butcher Peter Rushforth, who was delighted to add another trophy to his collection.
Foundation Apprentice of the Year was Sam Jones 32, from Pontypridd, who works for Wales & West Utilities. He had previously won Ambassador and Rising Star Awards from his employer after creating ‘Sam the Sniffer Dog’, a retro-fit design cover for carbon monoxide home alarms to raise awareness of the silent killer.
Apprentice of the Year was Stephen Pickles, 19, from Llanrumney, who works for global engineering company, Renishaw in Miskin.
Two awards for young learners who have benefited from the Welsh Government’s Traineeship programmes completed the list of winners. Jordan William Jones, 18, from Bangor collected the Traineeship Learner of the Year (Engagement) after setting out on a motor industry career with Tyn Lon Volvo in Llanfair PG. The Traineeship Learner of the Year (Level 1) award went to Emily Wintle, 18, from Llanharry, who has overcome many challenges in her quest to become a hairdresser.
Congratulating all the award winners and shortlisted finalists, Skills and Science Minister, Julie James, said: “This year’s finalists include exceptional individuals who have excelled in their workplace and learning providers and employers that have gone the extra mile to support the apprentices they are working with. Each has helped to set a gold standard in vocational training and this should be applauded.
“Apprenticeships are an essential ingredient of economic success and a vital tool in building a stronger, fairer and more equal Wales. The Welsh Government, with support from the European Social Fund, regards apprenticeships as an excellent way to build a skilled and competitive workforce, address skills shortages and strengthen the Welsh economy.
“Increasing higher level skills and developing skills pathways that benefit the whole of Wales has never been more important and we are committed to continuing the good work already underway with businesses, training providers and individuals to achieve this.”
Sarah John, NTfW chair, said: “These awards are the highlight of the year for everyone connected with the delivery of these successful Apprenticeship and Traineeship programmes. We are proud that Wales has the best Apprenticeship system in the UK.
“As a network we have fought, for many years, to achieve parity of esteem between vocational and academic qualifications. The Welsh Government’s pledge to create a minimum of 100,000 high quality, all-age apprenticeships over five years, with a focus on higher level skills and developing skills pathways, has certainly helped.
“However, the challenge remains to ensure school leavers in Wales are aware of all the career routes available to them – both academic and vocational. Only then will we achieve true parity of opportunity.”