Responding to the needs of employers and learners by introducing new Apprenticeship Frameworks to Wales has maintained Cambrian Training Company’s status as one of the country’s leading learning providers.
Now the Welshpool-based company is in contention to win Apprenticeship Provider of the Year award for the second time in three years at the Apprenticeship Awards Cymru 2014.
Cambrian Training Company has been shortlisted in Provider Award for Social Responsiveness and Apprenticeship Provider of the Year category with Cardiff based ACT Training and Babcock Training Ltd and will be attending a high profile awards ceremony at the Celtic Manor Resort, Newport on Friday, October 31.
The awards are organised jointly by the Welsh Government and the National Training Federation for Wales (NTfW).
Showcasing excellence in skills development in Wales by learners, employers and learning providers, the awards are sponsored by Pearson PLC with support from media partner, Media Wales.
The awards recognise employers who commit to developing their workforce through apprenticeships and other work-based learning programmes, which support employees during their training. They are also a great way to evaluate training and development, as well as a fantastic motivational factor for any workforce or learner.
The Apprenticeship Programme in Wales is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.
Cambrian Training Company has developed a reputation for innovation, engagement with 450 employers and quality delivery of learning programmes. Together with partner sub-contractors, the company employs around 100 people and has achieved a 91 per cent success rate for completed Apprenticeship Frameworks in a wide range of industry sectors.
Working with the British Institute of Innkeeping and Lantra, the company introduced Apprenticeship Frameworks in Licensed Hospitality and Fencing respectively to support both industries.
The company also played a pivotal role in the development of a Foundation Apprenticeship and Apprenticeship in Craft Cuisine in Wales and has been involved with People 1st in creating a Higher Apprenticeship in Craft Cuisine, piloted in Wales this year.
“Our strength is our close working relationship with industry and the wider community as this is critical for a sustainable future where training needs are demand led and not supply driven,” said managing director Arwyn Watkins, himself a former apprentice.
Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology, Julie James said: “Apprenticeships are one of the most practical and cost effective ways for a business to build a skilled workforce. An apprentice can learn the skills an employer needs to keep pace with developments in their industry and deliver the service customers demand.
“Providers like Cambrian Training Company play a key role in helping the Welsh Government to deliver work based learning programmes to train and develop the nation’s workforce.”
More than 400 key stakeholders from the vocational education and training sector across Wales are expected to attend the high profile awards ceremony, where guests will dine out with chefs from the Culinary Team Wales.
