High flying Airbus UK women compete for national apprenticeship award
Two talented young women who are developing promising careers with a leading Welsh aircraft manufacturer have been shortlisted for the same prestigious national apprenticeship award.
Devon Sumner and Daniella Hughes, who work for the Broughton-based Airbus UK, are finalists in the Higher Apprentice of the Year category at the Apprenticeship Awards Cymru 2014. Also competing for the Higher Apprentice award is Luke Godrich, 30 from Morriston who works for the DVLA in Swansea.
They are among 36 finalists in 13 categories who 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.
Devon Sumner with apprentice training adviser Kim Shallcross at Airbus UK, Broughton
Devon, 23, already has a CV to be proud of. She has met the Queen at Buckingham Palace, taken Prime Minister David Cameron on a tour of her Airbus UK work place and appeared on TV.
Working as a Higher Apprentice with Airbus, Coleg Cambria and Glyndwr University, she has a string of qualifications that include a distinction in her Foundation Degree in Aeronautical Engineering and an NVQ Level 4 in Engineering Leadership.
This year she should achieve a first class Bachelor’s Degree with Honours in Aeronautical Engineering and achieve incorporated engineering status with the RAeS. She has also won the foundation degree Ede & Ravenscroft Prize at Glyndwr University and the national EEF Outstanding Achievement Award.
“I believe myself to be a great ambassador both for apprentices and women in engineering,” she said.
Daniella Hughes – passionate about her career with Airbus UK.
As a high-flying student Daniella turned her back on a university degree course and instead targeted a career with Airbus UK through a Higher Apprenticeship in Supply Chain Logistics.
Six years on, she has a string of qualifications to her name including NVQ Level 2 in Performing Engineering Operations, NVQ Level 3 in Logistics Operations Management and ERR, and BTEC Level 2 in Supply Chain Management. And in August Daniella passed her final module of Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Level 5.
Hands-on training at Broughton has been complemented by college work at the Management Centre at Coleg Cambria and she was awarded ‘Warehousing Learner of the Year 2014’ through her logistics NVQ.
“I feel passionate about the opportunity Airbus offers,” said Daniella. “They have given me invaluable training, I feel a valued member of the organisation and my confidence has grown through meetings with several political leaders and the Airbus CEO.”
Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology, Julie James, said: “Higher Apprenticeships have just as much to offer as a place at a top university and it’s clear that more and more learners in Wales are opting for this route. Between 2012-2013, 2,275 Higher Apprenticeship places were created in Wales compared to just 280 in 2011/12.
“Thanks to their Higher Apprenticeships, Devon, Daniella and Luke are now rapidly progressing in their chosen field. They are all fantastic role models for young people who are considering similar careers and I’m delighted that they’re being recognised in this way.
More than 300 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 Welsh National Culinary Team.
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