Shirley Davis-Fox

A newly elected member of the Hairdressing Council is planning a campaign tour of Wales, starting in January, to encourage qualified hairdressers to become state registered.

Hairdressers across the UK do not currently need to be qualified to set up a salon. Now Shirley Davis-Fox, WorldSkills Ambassador for hairdressing in Wales, plans to press the Welsh Government to lead the way by making state registration of qualified hairdressers compulsory.

She describes state registration as a crucial step on the road to gaining universal recognition and respect for the profession.

Her campaign will take her to Pembrokeshire, Carmarthen, Swansea, Bridgend, Cardiff, Newport, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Blaenau Gwent, Ebbw Vale. Mid Wales and North Wales and Mrs Davis-Fox will be visiting salons as well as Further Education Institutions to gain support.

A Pan Wales Hair and Beauty Steering Committee, which she chairs, is supporting state registrations, as are Further Education Institutions in Wales.

Out of 18 members, she is proud to be the only Welsh representative of the Hairdressing Council and aims to use her position to raise the profile and status of the industry.

She is managing director of Bridgend-based ISA Training, the largest hairdressing training company in Wales, which pays for the first year’s state registration of all learners who complete their level three apprenticeships.

Now she hopes further education colleges will follow the example and help achieve the target of getting 75 per cent of level three apprentices in Wales state registered by 2013.

“We encourage all our learners to understand and accept the importance of state registration as a way of showing that they are proud to belong to a respected profession,” said Mrs Davis-Fox.

“State registration is the only way we are going to get recognition and respect for the profession from the public and politicians. I have a mission to do whatever I can to change the perception of this vibrant and professional industry.”

A motion in Parliament by her Hairdressing Council colleague, David Morris, MP, to introduce mandatory state registration was recently defeated by just three votes.

Mrs Davis-Fox said comments made by some MPs during the debate revealed that they did not perceive hairdressing as a serious profession.

However, she emphasised that hairdressing contributes £5 billion a year to the UK economy, employs 245,000 people and there are 34,000 salons and 38.8 million consumers.

“Hairdressers are expected to use potentially dangerous chemicals to achieve a desired look, yet the industry remains completely unregulated,” she added. ”Most consumers believe hairdressers must be qualified before they can practise on the public and are shocked when they find this is not the case.

“Hairdressers should be brought into line with other professions, which have a register of qualified practitioners. Consumers would then be assured that the person doing their hair has been trained to a required standard and it would bring hairdressing in line with other countries worldwide, which already have regulations.”

Sarah Clark (centre), Pullman Rail's HR director, with Fix Training's directors Helen Jones (left) and Jacqui Niven.

A tailor-made leadership and management training programme, developed and delivered by Fix Training, has helped a Cardiff engineering company to win a prestigious award.

Pullman Rail Limited has won the EEF South West Region Skills and Training Award and now goes through to the national final in January where the company will be up against four other regional winners.

The annual awards are hosted by EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, and recognise excellence in enterprise, innovation, environmental performance and skills development among UK manufacturers.

The award caps a hugely successful year for Pullman Rail, which will see turnover grow by 50 per cent from £10 million to £15m and its workforce increase by 13 to 134 during 2011.

The company, which specialises in the overhaul of rolling stock and associated components to the UK Rail Industry, attributes its success to investment in leadership and management skills, updating its management style and expanding production capacity by 50 per cent at its eight-acre site in Cardiff.

New customers have been secured and existing customers have committed more work with Pullman Rail due to a confidence-building reorganisation of the business, which was established in 1993 by managing director Colin Robinson.

Mr Robinson’s daughter, Sarah Clark, the HR director, has led the modernisation of how the company is run by empowering the management team and workforce, which has paid rich dividends.

EEF judges said of Pullman Rail: “This is an excellent example of changing senior management behaviours and working practices to improve business performance. A bold step, by recognising the necessity to upskill staff, this company is now seeing a reduction in the lead times, a more unified workforce and empowered leaders.”

The company is now awaiting assessment for the Investors in People standard, which will mark another milestone on its development journey.

A key to the transformation has been leadership and management training developed and delivered by Cardiff-based Fix Training. Six members of the senior management team achieved the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) Level 7 Award in Executive Management and two progressed to the ILM Level Certificate in Executive Management.

The 10-month programme was funded through EEF by the Welsh Government’s Skills Growth Wales scheme.

Mrs Clark said the management team was now working together effectively as a team and information, achievements and performance-related objectives were shared with all employees.

As a result of the leadership and management training, there is a hunger within the company to continue the momentum and Fix Training is working on a follow up coaching programme for Pullman Rail.

“We still have a long way to go, but we have come so far in challenging the culture of the organisation and our management style,” added Mrs Clark. ”I am really chuffed with what has been achieved to date.

“We are no longer following the lead of our competitors; we are now setting our own path.”

Paying tribute to Fix Training, she said: “The magic of the training was that they tailored the ILM programme to fit our objectives. The training was innovative and flexible, relevant to our business and industry and they understood the problems that we had and what we wanted to achieve.”

Helen Jones, a director of Fix Training, said: “We are very proud of Pullman Rail for winning the award and delighted with the positive outcomes of the leadership and management training.

“Every organisation is unique and we ensure that the programmes that we deliver benefit both the individual and the organisation. A one size fits all approach just does not work.”

Main speakers at the NTfW conference (from left) president Lord Ted Rowlands, Teresa Holdsworth from the Welsh Government, NTfW chairman Arwyn Watkins, Janet Barlow, chief executive of Agored Cymru, Andrew Clark from the Welsh Government and Professor Teresa Rees form the Cardiff University’s School of Sciences.

Employers across Wales are helping to shape the Welsh Government’s future investment priorities to ensure that young people get the most relevant qualifications to prepare them for work, a conference was told.

Deputy Minister for Skills Jeff Cuthbert revealed that 6,000 employers are contributing towards a skills survey that will strengthen the Welsh Government’s labour market intelligence (LMI).

He told delegates at the National Training Federation for Wales’ annual in Cardiff that a Skills Audit for Wales, published earlier this year, had highlighted where skills shortages and gaps existed across different sectors and occupations.

Headline results from an Employer Skills Survey would be available soon drawing on the views of 6,000 employers across Wales.

“Labour market intelligence is important in helping us plan effectively for the future, but also to communicate messages from this intelligence in a targeted way,” he said. “As part of the LMI project this year, we are working on plans to help individuals understand more easily the connections between qualification choices, career pathways, relevant real-time opportunities in the labour market and longer term trends.”

An analysis of the intelligence would be shared with employers, work-based learning providers and those giving careers advice, he added.

Mr Cuthbert praised the high quality delivery, dedication and professionalism of delegates from the work-based learning sector to improve the skills levels and job opportunities for the people of Wales in challenging times.

Having attended the Apprenticeships Awards Cymru ceremony the previous night, he said it reminded him what learners can achieve given the right support, training and guidance.

Deputy Minister for Skills Jeff Cuthbert addressing the NTfW conference.

“Your hard work makes a difference to apprentices and to all those undertaking work based learning,” he told delegates, whom he congratulated for taking forward the Welsh Government’s transformation agenda.

“The programmes that you deliver are vital to provide a bridge for people to enter or re-enter the labour market and improve their skills,” said Mr Cuthbert.

He detailed the Welsh Government’s range of support for people seeking work, including the £25 million Jobs Growth Wales initiative for unemployed people aged between 16 and 24 years. A pilot scheme running in South West Wales would be rolled out across the country next year.

The conference theme, ‘Standing up for Skills’, focused on the benefits and value of vocational skills and training in working with businesses to deliver for Wales. The NTfW is a network of 109 quality assured learning providers, which has links to 35,000 employers across Wales.

Lord Ted Rowlands, NTfW president, reflected on the organisation’s successful transformation over the past decade to a situation where it now influenced policy and strategy in Wales.

He emphasised the direct link between skills and employment, expressing concern about the high levels of unemployment in the UK and challenged the perception that the Government was powerless to do anything about it.

He urged delegates to rise up and not allow another lost generation of young people to be “switched off” with no appetite to learn skills. “If we don’t reach out to young and older generations, then we are creating problems for the future,” he warned.

“We see every day the value of work based learning, which delivers for communities, the economy and, above all, the individual. Let’s talk about people and opportunities, their worth and their potential.”

Arwyn Watkins, retiring NTfW chairman, used the conference theme, conference ‘Standing up for Skills’, to challenge members to improve the way they work together as a network to deliver high quality work based learning programmes and seamless pathways for learners from traineeships and Steps to Employment to apprenticeships and sustainable jobs.

One of the greatest challenges facing the NTfW, he said, was the future funding of work based learning programmes for learners over the age of 25.

He was alarmed by a recent survey that revealed that 56 per cent of secondary school teachers rated their knowledge of apprenticeships as poor compared to just eight per cent rating their knowledge of universities as poor.

He balanced the survey results against the current high demand from post graduates for apprenticeships programmes and urged delegates to promote work based learning at every opportunity when working with schools and teachers.

Professor Teresa Rees from the School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University, focused her address on lifelong learning, calling for more value to be attached to vocational training and more opportunities for accessing it throughout life.

The other keynote speaker was Teresa Holdsworth, deputy director of business and skills division in the Welsh Government’s Department for Education and Skills.

Workshops focused on continuing professional development for business leaders and managers, work based learning, leading the way on Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship and the NTfW’s constitution.

The conference was sponsored by Agored Cymru, Pearson and Media Wales.

Arwyn Watkins

Retiring chairman Arwyn Watkins reflects on the past and looks to the future as he prepares for the National Training Federation Wales’ annual conference in Cardiff on November 17.

Having thought long and hard about the title of my final conference as NTfW chair, ‘Standing Up for Skills’ really does reflect the approach that we have taken over the years as seeking to secure vocational skills parity with other Post 16 opportunities.

I would be the first to admit that there is still a way to go to make this a reality but I am confident that we have secured a firm foundation on which to build.

NTfW constitutes a high quality, high performing network of work-based learning providers. By the very nature of commissioning work-based learning, these providers are periodically required to enter a competitive tendering round and then dust themselves down to work collaboratively to deliver the services commissioned. This is unique in education and training and you can imagine the teething problems and growing pains that surface each time the outcome of a competitive tendering round is published.

The journey for me since returning to Mid Wales in 1998 has been the most comprehensive CPD project I could ever have imagined. At that time, there was in the region of 162 contracted providers of work-based learning, which has reduced every year. Now, in November 2011, there are 27 quality assured contracts awarded and 109 NTfW members.

This reduction in the number of direct contract holders has not come as a shock to the NTfW. In fact the federation produced a number of recommendations for DCELLS to take into consideration prior to commissioning the delivery of work-based learning from August 2011 to July 2013. The network has to be applauded for the way it has reacted and strived to deliver the programme commissions in a seamless manner, avoiding any negative impact on the learners who are in learning during such a transformational change.

I believe the network now needs a period of stability so that it can review delivery programmes and make the necessary investments required to maintain quality, in particular in the area of staff development with the aspiration to achieve higher level skills.

It is paramount that our staff are given the opportunity to develop their skills and competencies to such a level that they can pass them on to the workforce of the future. A perfect way of achieving this is through skills competitions, not only for learners but also trainers and mentors. As we have world class skills leaders in Wales, we should take this opportunity to upskill our workforce.

I welcome the Welsh Government’s qualifications review and hope it will lead to our network spending more time focusing on higher level skills rather than on remedial issues, such as numeracy and literacy.

We have developed a strong brand amongst our stakeholders but we need to take this brand out to the wider community to deliver the strong messages of enhancing the value and accessibility of vocational training, especially apprenticeships.

Finally, the constitutional review of NTfW will deliver a structure to take the federation to the next level where it operates at the heart of shaping policies and arrangements for skills and employment, with an overarching mission to raise skills to help drive enterprise, sustainable economic growth and job creation.

Cutting edge technology in world leading businesses, bespoke apprenticeship programmes designed to meet the needs of industry and inspiring individual success stories were celebrated at a high profile award ceremony in Cardiff last night (November 16).

The Apprenticeship Awards Cymru brought together the cream of learners, employers and training providers, who have shown total dedication and commitment to skills development.

Showcasing excellence in skills development in Wales, the awards were organised by the Welsh Government in partnership with the National Training Federation for Wales (NTfW). The main awards sponsor was Pearson and the media partner was Media Wales.

Winners of the Apprenticeship Award categories. (left to right) Marshall Clayton who recieved the Oustanding Apprentice award on behalf of Ben Morgan; Ben Hipkiss of Kronospan, Large Employer of the Year; Stephen Roberts, Foundation Apprentice award; Barbara Poole of Acorn, Apprenticeship Provider award; Richard Wilkins, Apprentice of the Year; Lynne Huxtable of Mercure Swansea Hotel, Medium Empolyer of the Year; and Tomos Hopkin, Young Apprentice award

The winners were:

• Apprentice of the Year, Richard Wilkins, 21, from Airbus, Broughton;
• Young Apprentice of the Year, Tomos Hopkin, 18, of Rhiwfawr, Swansea;
• Foundation Apprentice of the Year, Stephen Roberts, of Neatcrown Corwen Ltd, Corwen;
• Outstanding Apprentice of the Year, Benjamin Morgan, 23, from Shotton, Deeside;
• Large Employer of the Year, Kronospan Limited, Chirk;
• Medium Employer of the Year, Mercure Swansea Hotel;
• Apprenticeship Training Provider of the Year, Acorn Learning Solutions, Newport.

The awards ceremony was held at the Mercure Holland House Hotel, Cardiff where Deputy Minister for Skills Jeff Cuthbert paid tribute to the inspirational stories of achievements by learners, employers and providers involved in apprenticeships across Wales.

“Irrespective of whether or not they collected an award, the 19 finalists are all winners,” he said. “Each has an inspiring story to tell, making them true ambassadors for the Welsh Government’s apprenticeship programmes, which are part-financed by the European Social Fund.

“The Welsh Government is committed to creating more apprenticeship opportunities for young people in Wales and continuing to support employers who are willing to offer high quality apprenticeship places.”

NTfW Chairman, Arwyn Watkins said: “The award finalists are excellent examples of a partnership approach to skills development in Wales by employers, apprentices and providers working together to deliver a high quality, high performing workforce. They are ambassadors who, I am sure, will champion apprenticeships as one of the solutions for economic recovery.”

Richard Wilkins, 21, from Acrefair, an apprentice with Broughton-based aerospace company Airbus, collected the Apprentice of the Year award. Earlier this month, he was named joint runner up of the Engineering Employers Federation Apprentice of the Year award for Wales.

During his Higher Aeronautical Engineering (Supply Chain Logistics) Apprenticeship, Richard identified savings of over £170,000 within the company through improving the way stock is managed.

He was joined in the list of finalists by fellow Airbus apprentice Beth Pickering, 21, from Mold.

Young Apprentice of the Year is butcher Tomos Hopkin, 18, from Rhiwfawr near Swansea. He has already proved himself a cut above the rest by winning the Welsh Young Butcher of the Year for two years running and the Grand Slam British Young Butcher of the Year title.

Having completed a Foundation Apprenticeship with Cambrian Training Company, he demonstrated his skills in an international butchery showcase at the WorldSkills event in London last month and has launched his own business, Gwyrhyd Mountain Meat, making door to door sales of quality meat from the family farm.

“I would definitely recommend an apprenticeship because you earn while you learn and you end up with a trade,” he said. “Winning the Young Apprentice of the Year award was a big shock because I didn’t think I stood much of a chance.”

Foundation Apprentice of the Year is Stephen Roberts, of Neatcrown Corwen Ltd, Corwen, who is so highly regarded by his employer that he is often tasked with troubleshooting problems and has developed a test to check the security of seals on bottles

Stephen, who is dyslexic, has completed a Foundation Apprenticeship in Engineering, combining work with training at Yale College in Wrexham and is now progressing to a level 3 Apprenticeship.

“I want to show people that you don’t have to be brilliant at school to be able to achieve things,” he said. “I will run my own business one day and will make sure that I give other people a chance to make things happen and take charge of their own futures.”

A special award for Outstanding Apprentice of the Year went to motor vehicle technician Benjamin Morgan. He completed his Foundation Apprenticeship and Apprenticeship whilst working at Humphreys Garage in Bagillt, Flintshire with training at Deeside College.

Benjamin – who is newly-married – now works full-time at the garage but, due to his reputation as an excellent vehicle technician, is often approached by other garages to deal with complex engine diagnostic problems.

“I realised the importance of getting qualifications if I want to progress within the motor industry,” said Benjamin.

“My spare time and money goes into buying all the latest automotive diagnostic electronic testing equipment. My aim is to set up my own business.”

His tutor at Deeside College, Marshall Clayton, was delighted that Benjamin had won the award: “I have never experienced a learner who has such a desire to excel. He has had distinctions in every one of his exams.”

The Large Employer of the Year Award went to Kronospan of Chirk, the world’s largest manufacturer of wood panel products and laminate flooring. HR manager Ben Hipkiss describes work-based learning was the future of engineering training in the UK.

The introduction of a dedicated apprenticeship programme at Kronospan eight years ago has resulted in apprentice recruitment being embedded into the core of the company’s business plan. The company has recruited 40 apprentices, of which many are being developed to become engineers, team leaders and mentors of the future.

Another award headed for Swansea as the Mercure Swansea Hotel was named Medium Employer of the Year. The hotel established its apprenticeship scheme to enhance opportunities and demonstrate commitment to existing and new staff, but has found it also benefits from increased interest from potential employees.

The hotel currently has 10 apprentices and has recruited and trained 26 over the past five years. They work and train in areas such as customer service, professional cookery, hospitality supervision and leadership, business administration and kitchen services.

“All of the staff who have completed their qualifications have increased their career opportunities and many who have done so have been promoted,” said Lynne Huxtable, HR manager.

The final award for the Apprenticeship Provider of the Year went to Newport-based Acorn Learning Solutions. The company impressed the judges with its record for innovation and delivering learning and development solutions that add real value to apprentices and employers.

The company has trained 4,386 apprentices over the past five years and currently has 1,214 on a programme. Bespoke and customised apprenticeships are delivered to a wide range of employers, including Little Inspirations, Cassidian, Leading Edge Group, Vale of Glamorgan Council, Peacocks, DAS and Zurich.

The retiring chairman of the National Training Federation Wales is to challenge members of the nation’s work-based learning network to upskill their own staff to deliver world class learning programmes.

Arwyn Watkins will take the chair for the last time at the NTfW’s Annual Conference at Mercure Cardiff Holland House Hotel, on November 17, after two and half terms in the hot seat.

The conference theme, ‘Standing up for Skills’, focuses on the benefits and value of vocational skills and training in working with businesses to deliver for Wales. The NTfW is a network of 109 quality assured learning providers, which has links to 35,000 employers across Wales.

Mr Watkins will use the theme to challenge members to improve the way they work together as a network to deliver high quality work-based learning programmes for the Welsh Government.

He will also urge members to focus on their own staff development programmes to ensure that they are best equipped to deliver skills to help Wales compete with the world’s best.

Mr Watkins, managing director of award-winning Cambrian Training Company, based in Welshpool, said his primary motivation as NTfW chairman had always been to raise the profile of work-based learning apprenticeships as an option for learners.

“This year has seen a major change in the way work-based learning is commissioned in Wales from a high quality, high performing network of providers, who are all members of the NTfW,” he said.

“The challenge now is how the network improves the way in works together to provide seamless pathways for learners from traineeships and Steps to Employment to apprenticeships and sustainable jobs.

“The recent WorldSkills 2011 event in London set the global benchmark for skills and our apprentices, mentors and trainers must aspire to achieve that standard if we are to develop a world class economy in Wales.

“It is critical that we, as providers, support lifelong learning for our workforce so that we have the skills and competencies to deliver higher level apprenticeships, which will enable Wales to compete with the best in the world.”

Another keynote speaker, Professor Teresa Rees from School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University, will also focus her address on lifelong learning. She will call for more value to be attached to vocational training and more opportunities for accessing it throughout life.

Other keynote speakers are the Welsh Government’s Deputy Minister for Skills Jeff Cuthbert, AM, Teresa Holdsworth, deputy director of business and skills division in the Welsh Government’s Department for Education and Skills and Lord Ted Rowlands, NTfW president.

Three workshops will be held focusing on continuing professional development for business leaders and managers, work-based learning, leading the way on Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship and the NTfW constitution.

The conference follows on from the Apprenticeship Awards Cymru ceremony at the same hotel on the night of November 16. Designed to celebrate the outstanding achievements of learners, employers and providers, the awards are organised by the Welsh Government in partnership with NTfW and main sponsor Pearson.

The conference is sponsored by Agored Cymru, Pearson, Media Wales, City & Guilds and ILM. To book a place at the conference or the awards ceremony, contact Karen Smith, NTfW’s project manager, on Tel: 029 2061 8228 or e-mail: Karen.Smith@ntfw.org.

Apprentice Christopher Selio at work

A 19-year-old man from Rhoose, near Barry in South Wales has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award that recognises the outstanding achievements of learners, employers and providers involved in the delivery of quality apprenticeships across Wales.

Christopher Selio, who works for British Airways Maintenance at Cardiff (BAMC), is one of 19 finalists in six categories of the Apprenticeship Awards Cymru, organised by the Welsh Government in partnership with the National Training Federation Wales (NTfW). Welsh Government apprenticeship programmes are part funded by the European Social Fund.

The winners will be announced at a high profile presentation ceremony at the Mercure Cardiff Holland House Hotel, Cardiff, on Wednesday, November 16. The main sponsor of the awards, which aim to showcase excellence in skills development in Wales, is Pearson and the media partner for the event is Media Wales.

Christopher started his three-year Aeronautical Engineering Apprenticeship with BAMC in 2010.

He spent the first year of the Foundation Apprenticeship at the International Centre for Aerospace Training at Cardiff and Vale College. Now in his second year, he is at college one day a week studying for a BTEC in Aeronautical Engineering and the rest of his time he works with the BAMC team at Cardiff Airport.

“I feel that I have come a long way since starting the apprenticeship,” said Christopher. “My knowledge of aircraft is growing and I am working more confidently with a group of people of all ages. I give 100% to every piece of work and have set myself high targets for the year.”

His team leader Paul Constable said: “During his short time with BAMC Chris has developed a great understanding of the aviation industry. His work is of a consistently high standard and he has an excellent attitude – nothing is too much trouble for him.”

Christopher has been shortlisted in the Foundation Apprentice of the Year category. The other award categories are: Apprentice of the Year, Young Apprentice of the Year, Medium Employer of the Year, Large Employer of the Year and Apprenticeship Provider of the Year.

Around 250 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 Welsh National Culinary Team.

Deputy Minister for Skills, Jeff Cuthbert said: “I have been encouraged by the extremely high standard of this year’s finalists and the variety across all ages and sectors, which shows the strength of apprenticeship delivery in Wales.

“Irrespective of whether or not they collect an award, the 19 finalists are all winners. Each has an inspiring story to tell, making them true ambassadors for apprenticeship programmes in Wales.

“The Welsh Government is committed to creating more apprenticeship opportunities for young people in Wales and continuing to support employers who are willing to offer high quality apprenticeship places.”

The NTfW is a network of 90 quality assured learning providers, which has links to 35,000 employers across Wales.

President Lord Ted Rowlands said: “Apprenticeship Awards Cymru showcases and celebrates the achievements of those who have exceeded expectations, shown a dynamic approach to training, demonstrated initiative and enterprise, innovation and creativity and shown an understanding and commitment to the improvement of skills development for the Welsh economy.”

Frances Maclean, apprentice co-ordinator at Newport City Homes, with apprentice Joshua Downing.

Newport City Homes (NCH) has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award that recognises the outstanding achievements of learners, employers and providers involved in the delivery of quality apprenticeships across Wales.

The housing provider is one of 19 finalists in six categories of the Apprenticeships Awards Cymru, organised by the Welsh Government in partnership with the National Training Federation Wales (NTfW). Welsh Government apprenticeship programmes are part funded by the European Social Fund.

The winners will be announced at a high profile presentation ceremony at the Mercure Cardiff Holland House Hotel, Cardiff, on Wednesday, November 16. Main sponsor of the awards, which aim to showcase excellence in skills development in Wales, is Pearson and media partner for the event is Media Wales.

NCH, which is a finalist in the Large Company category, wanted to deliver more than just quality homes when it was formed in 2009 following the transfer of housing from Newport City Council. It wanted to make a difference to the community.

So the company decided to employ its own apprentices who are placed with various suppliers for experience. It has taken on more than 40 apprentices to date and this year more than 200 people applied for 11 apprenticeships.

John Harrhy, an NCH Board member added: “We believe that through our support our apprentices are given the best opportunity to make a difference for themselves and their community. We are pleased that the apprentice programme is making a real contribution to the lives of young people and their families, as well as helping towards the establishment of a skilled workforce in the Newport area.”

Around 250 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 Welsh National Culinary Team.

Deputy Minister for Skills, Jeff Cuthbert said: “I have been encouraged by the extremely high standard of this year’s finalists and the variety across all ages and sectors, which shows the strength of apprenticeship delivery in Wales.

“Irrespective of whether or not they collect an award, the 19 finalists are all winners. Each has an inspiring story to tell, making them true ambassadors for apprenticeship programmes in Wales.

“The Welsh Government is committed to creating more apprenticeship opportunities for young people in Wales and continuing to support employers who are willing to offer high quality apprenticeship places.”

The NTfW is a network of 90 quality assured learning providers, which has links to 35,000 employers across Wales.

President Lord Ted Rowlands said: “Apprenticeship Awards Cymru showcases and celebrates the achievements of those who have exceeded expectations, shown a dynamic approach to training, demonstrated initiative and enterprise, innovation and creativity and shown an understanding and commitment to the improvement of skills development for the Welsh economy.”

Rhys West busy at work.

A young engineering apprentice from South East Wales described by his employer as “inspirational” has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.

Rhys West, 20, from Penpedairheol, who works as a gas engineer with Brecongate Projects in Pontypridd. is one of 19 finalists in six categories of the Apprenticeship Awards Cymru, organised by the Welsh Government in partnership with the National Training Federation Wales (NTfW).

The awards are designed to recognise the outstanding achievements of learners, employers and providers involved in the delivery of quality apprenticeships across Wales. Welsh Government apprenticeship programmes are part funded by the European Social Fund.

The winners will be announced at a high profile presentation ceremony at the Mercure Cardiff Holland House Hotel, Cardiff, on Wednesday, November 16. The main sponsor of the awards, which aim to showcase excellence in skills development in Wales, is Pearson and the media partner for the event is Media Wales.

During a four-year apprenticeship, Rhys worked on a range of different contracts with Brecongate Projects, from domestic gas servicing to emergency call-outs. He now works on commercial and industrial maintenance contracts with a local authority.

“I have found it invaluable working alongside time-served specialists in the trade,” said Rhys. “I want to move forward within the company, providing professional services and also provide future apprentices with the skills and opportunities I have been so lucky to have.”

Rhys, who is shortlisted in the Apprentice of the Year award category, has also introduced a number of new ideas to improve the business, including job sheets that can be sent to mobile phones, making logging jobs easier and quicker.

He studied at The College Ystrad Mynach, gaining an NVQ Level 3 in Mechanical Engineering (Plumbing) and has also taken extra qualifications to boost his skills at evening classes.

Now studying an Apprenticeship in Mechanical Engineering Services – Plumbing, he will eventually become a fully-qualified electrical engineer and mechanical engineer.

Spurred on by his son’s success, Rhys’s father Paul, who was a welder/fabricator, has also now retrained as a Mechanical Engineer. He has been taken on by Brecongate, often working with Rhys.

Ryan Powell, commercial director for Brecongate, said: “Rhys is a highly motivated individual and is not only a credit to our organisation but also to the industry as well as being a great inspiration to the younger generation. I expect him to go much further with his career and look forward to seeing what he achieves in the future.”

Around 250 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 Welsh National Culinary Team.

Deputy Minister for Skills, Jeff Cuthbert said: “I have been encouraged by the extremely high standard of this year’s finalists and the variety across all ages and sectors, which shows the strength of apprenticeship delivery in Wales.

“Irrespective of whether or not they collect an award, the 19 finalists are all winners. Each has an inspiring story to tell, making them true ambassadors for apprenticeship programmes in Wales.

“The Welsh Government is committed to creating more apprenticeship opportunities for young people in Wales and continuing to support employers who are willing to offer high quality apprenticeship places.”

The NTfW is a network of 90 quality assured learning providers, which has links to 35,000 employers across Wales.

President Lord Ted Rowlands said: “Apprenticeship Awards Cymru showcases and celebrates the achievements of those who have exceeded expectations, shown a dynamic approach to training, demonstrated initiative and enterprise, innovation and creativity and shown an understanding and commitment to the improvement of skills development for the Welsh economy.”

Beth Pickering

Airbus has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award that recognises the outstanding achievements of learners, employers and providers involved in the delivery of quality apprenticeships across Wales.

The Broughton-based aerospace company is one of 19 finalists in six categories of the Apprenticeships Awards Cymru, organised by the Welsh Government in partnership with the National Training Federation Wales (NTfW). Welsh Government apprenticeship programmes are part funded by the European Social Fund.

Two of Airbus’ apprentices, Richard Wilkins from Acrefair, and Beth Pickering from Mold, are also finalists in the Apprentice of the Year category at the awards.

The winners will be announced at a high profile presentation ceremony at the
Mercure Cardiff Holland House Hotel, Cardiff, on Wednesday, 16th November. Main sponsor of the awards, which aim to showcase excellence in skills development in Wales, is Pearson and media partner for the event is Media Wales.

Airbus, which has taken on 850 apprentices over the past five years, is a finalist in the Large Company category. The company has challenged the current thinking around higher level skills within its apprenticeship programme with the development of an innovative model that it believes is a true alternative to university.

Airbus Higher Apprentices have the chance to achieve a full BEng with Hons in aeronautical engineering manufacture within the normal three year apprenticeship.

Gary Griffiths, Head of Apprenticeship Programmes for Airbus in the UK.

“Our Higher Apprentices will not only achieve a foundation degree, a foundation PEO, an NVQ Level 4 in Engineering leadership, but also a full BEng with Honours,” said Gary Griffiths, Head of Apprenticeship Programmes for Airbus in the UK.

Apprentice Richard Wilkins has even identified savings of over £170,000 within the company through improving the way stock is managed. “Airbus has provided me with a unique opportunity and I have tried to do the best I possibly can to repay the level of investment I have received,” he said.

It’s turning out be a memorable year for Richard, for this week he was joint runner up for the Engineering Employers Federation Apprentice of the Year award for Wales.

Richard Wilkins

Around 250 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 Welsh National Culinary Team.

Deputy Minister for Skills, Jeff Cuthbert said: “I have been encouraged by the extremely high standard of this year’s finalists and the variety across all ages and sectors, which shows the strength of apprenticeship delivery in Wales.

“Irrespective of whether or not they collect an award, the 19 finalists are all winners. Each has an inspiring story to tell, making them true ambassadors for apprenticeship programmes in Wales.

“The Welsh Government is committed to creating more apprenticeship opportunities for young people in Wales and continuing to support employers who are willing to offer high quality apprenticeship places.”

The NTfW is a network of 90 quality assured learning providers, which has links to 35,000 employers across Wales.

President Lord Ted Rowlands said: “Apprenticeship Awards Cymru showcases and celebrates the achievements of those who have exceeded expectations, shown a dynamic approach to training, demonstrated initiative and enterprise, innovation and creativity and shown an understanding and commitment to the improvement of skills development for the Welsh economy.”