A North Wales social enterprise, Antur Waunfawr, which employs 100 staff providing work, training and health and wellbeing opportunities for more than 60 people with learning disabilities, has won an award at Cambrian Training Company’s annual Apprenticeship, Employment and Skills Awards.
The awards ceremony turned into a triple celebration for Antur Waunfawr when the company’s multi-skilled bikes officer Jack Williams won the Foundation Apprentice and Welsh Language Ambassador of the Year Awards.
Gwenlli Wynne, Antur Waunfawr’s business development manager, said: “Receiving these awards means so much to us all and we thank everyone that made it happen. Having the opportunities to offer our staff an apprenticeship course in Welsh is so valuable.
“I’d like to thank Amy Edwards from Cambrian Training for the support she gave Jack Williams and Tom Workman throughout their apprenticeships.”
Ellen Thirsk, Antur Waunfawr’s chief executive, said: “We are so proud to win the Medium Employer of the Year award and congratulate Jack Williams on winning two apprenticeship awards. Big congratulations also to everyone else who took part. It’s nice to see people developing themselves.”
Passionate about developing employees, the company has supported 21 on Apprenticeships ranging from Levels 2 to 4 in Sustainable Recycling Activities, Health and Social Care Practice and Professional Practice in Health and Social Care.
Many of the staff, whose first language is Welsh, have completed their apprenticeships in their first language or bilingually.
The company runs four sustainable local businesses involved in reusing furniture, clothes and textiles, recycling plastic, paper shredding, a bike hire, repair and service shop, a café, craft shop, micro-brewery and a seven-acre nature park and allotments.
Founded in 1984, Antur Waunfawr supports the continuous improvement of staff and projects, providing local young people with opportunities to stay within their communities by providing training and employment opportunities to preserve wealth in our region.
Gwenlli Wynne, Antur Waunfawr’s business development manager, said: “Our managers always look ahead and future proof our projects and one of the ways to achieve this is by developing our staff.
“As a close knit company, our managers know all 100 staff by name and not number, make time to know everyone and understand their strengths and weaknesses and work with them. We see potential in people and find the most suitable training for everyone.”
Faith O’Brien, Cambrian Training Company’s managing director, congratulated Antur Waunfawr and the other award winners and finalists. “Employers are the driving force behind the success of apprenticeships and their dedication to providing quality training and mentorship is commendable,” she said. “Through their participation, they open the doors to real-world experiences, enabling apprentices to acquire the practical skills and knowledge necessary for their chosen fields.”
The Apprenticeship Programme in Wales is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.
