This year’s prestigious Apprenticeship Awards Cymru will be contested by 31 star employers, learners and learning providers from across Wales.
Judges had a difficult task selecting the finalists from the many entries in 11 award categories. The winners will be announced at a high-profile awards ceremony at the Celtic Manor Resort, Newport on November 9.
The annual awards are designed to showcase and celebrate the outstanding achievements of learners, employers, tutors and assessors who have excelled in contributing to the development of the Welsh Government’s Traineeships and Apprenticeship programmes.
Jointly organised by the Welsh Government and the National Training Federation for Wales (NTfW), the coveted awards are supported by media partner, Media Wales. The Apprenticeship Programme is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.
Minister for Welsh Language and Lifelong Learning, Eluned Morgan said: “Apprenticeship Awards Cymru showcase the success of the Welsh Government’s Apprenticeships and Traineeships Programmes and the achievements of our star apprentices, employers, learning providers and trainees.
“Apprenticeships are a great way for individuals to gain valuable skills and experience while earning a wage and for employers to ensure their workforce have the skills to future proof a business.
“Increasing higher level skills and developing skills pathways that benefit the whole of Wales have never been more important.”
The finalists are: Traineeships Learner of the Year (Engagement): Josie Pether from Glyneath whose training provider is Pathways Training, Lee Anthony Bowen from Newport whose training provider is Rathbone Cymru and James Carter from Newport whose training provider is Itec Skills and Employment. Traineeships Learner of the Year (Level 1): Stella Vasiliou from Barry whose training provider is ACT Training, Neil Jones from Llantwit Major whose training provider is The People Business – Wales and Mariska Hutton from Merthyr Tydfil whose training provider is People Plus.
Foundation Apprentice of the Year: Thomas Martin from Cardiff whose training provider is Cambrian Training Company, Lauren Richards from Maesteg whose training provider is Urdd Gobaith Cymru and Corinna Roberts from Tonypandy whose training provider is ALS Training. Apprentice of the Year: Sally Hughes from Port Talbot whose training provider is Gower College Swansea, Ryan Brown from Porthcawl whose training provider is Bridgend College and Russell Beale from Pontypool whose training provider is CITB. Higher Apprentice of the Year: Lynnette Davies from Neath whose training provider is Pathways Training – NPTC, Daren Chesworth from Wrexham whose training provider is Coleg Cambria and Thomas Watkins from Cardiff whose training provider is Sgil Cymru.
Small Employer of the Year (1-49 employees): Lelo Skip Hire, Corwen whose training provider is Cambrian Training Company, Pisys.net, Swansea whose training provider is Swansea ITeC and FLS (Freight Logistics Solutions), Cwmbran whose training provider is Torfaen Training. Medium Employer of the Year (50-249 employees): Inspiration Lifestyle Services, Carmarthen whose training provider is PRP Training and Mainetti UK, Wrexham and Celtica, Cross Hands who both have Cambrian Training Company as their training provider. Large Employer of the Year (250-4,999 employees): Office for National Statistics, Newport whose training provider is ALS Training, Urdd Gobaith Cymru, Cardiff, Legal and General, Cardiff whose training provider is Vocational Skills Partnership and Magellan Aerospace UK Ltd, Llay, Wrexham whose training provider is Coleg Cambria. Macro Employer of the Year (5,000 or more employees): Rhondda Cynon Taff Council, Tonypandy whose training provider is ALS Training and Lloyds Banking Group, Newport whose training provider is Cardiff and Vale College.
Work-based Learning Tutor and Assessor of the Year: Kirsty Keane and Carly Murray from ACT Training, Cardiff, Michael Ramsden from Cambrian Training Company and Tim Robinson from Coleg Cambria, Connah’s Quay.
