Award finalist Thomas targets multimedia career

Posted on by karen.smith

English | Cymraeg

Thomas Watkins – seeking a multimedia career.

Determined Thomas Watkins has refused to allow an autistic spectrum disorder that affects his speech to get in the way of his dream of a career in the media industry.

Thomas, 26, from Thornhill, Cardiff, has achieved a Higher Apprenticeship (Level 4) in Creative and Digital Media (Interactive Media Pathway) through training provider Sgil Cymru whilst working for White Hart Multimedia.

As a reward for his learning journey, Thomas has been shortlisted for this year’s Apprenticeship Awards Cymru. He will be competing to become Higher Apprentice of the Year at the prestigious 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.

Thirty star employers, learners and learning providers from across Wales have been shortlisted for the Apprenticeship Awards Cymru.

Chris Brooks, White Hart Multimedia’s director, is full of admiration for Thomas, who is now freelance. “He has never let the challenge, that his speech impediment presents, prevent him from fully engaging in the work environment, an obstacle which may have defeated someone without the quiet determination and bravery that Thomas displays daily. He is an inspiration to everyone who works here.”

He’s not the only one impressed, as Thomas was named the Creative Industries Apprentice of the Year at the Quality Skills Alliance Awards in Cardiff earlier this year.

His passion for digital and creative media was sparked in school and he went on to complete a HND in Design in Digital Media at Bridgend College before securing the multimedia apprenticeship.

His training in the workplace and at Pinewood Studio Wales covered graphics, cameras and editing software, combining interactive components and testing e-Learning platforms.

Thomas independently completed a film project for a school dance club, which required a series of skills and has displayed a talent for testing e learning modules and digital reporting systems, creating graphics for the interactive packages.

“My life goal is to do something that makes me happy and, as I enjoy working with multimedia, I want to make this my career,” said Thomas.

“I’m now freelance which is common for people in this industry because of the nature of the work and I’m determined to make this my career.”

Congratulating Thomas on being shortlisted for an award, 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 has 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.”

Read more about the Apprenticeship Awards Cymru finalists

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