Natasha lands dream design job after traineeship
Seventeen-year-old Natasha Fenton, who has secured her dream job with a sign-printing company after a Traineeship, has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.
Natasha, from Neath, is one of 28 finalists in nine categories of the Apprenticeship Awards Cymru, organised by the Welsh Government in partnership with the National Training Federation for Wales (NTfW).
The Apprenticeship Awards Cymru recognise the outstanding achievements of learners, employers and providers involved in the delivery of quality Apprenticeships and Traineeships across Wales. Apprenticeship and Traineeship programmes in Wales are part funded by the European Social Fund through the Welsh Government.
The winners will be announced at a high profile awards presentation ceremony at Venue Cymru, Llandudno on Wednesday, October 24, where the winners of the National Training Awards for Wales will also be recognised. The joint awards which will be attended by around 300 key stakeholders from the vocational education and training sector across Wales.
Sponsor of the Apprenticeship Awards Cymru, which aim to showcase excellence in skills development in Wales, is Pearson and media partner is Media Wales.
Natasha, a Traineeships Learner of the Year finalist, left school with few qualifications, moved to Neath with her mum and started a catering course in college, which she decided really wasn’t for her.
At that point, she was taken on by her local training provider, Pathways Training, with the intention of boosting her skills and confidence and finding a career she could follow.
Her Traineeship programme involved gaining qualifications in maths and English as well as improving her communication skills and confidence.
In her spare time, Natasha enjoys art and design, so a placement was organised at Tint Wizard, a local sign-printing company. She soon became an integral member of the team as her commitment, dedication and art and design skills shone through.
“I really didn’t know what I wanted to do before I left school – the Traineeship has helped me to find a job I really love,” said Natasha. “I now have a permanent job and feel very lucky.
“It’s so interesting, I do something different every day and I’m also studying publishing at the local college. I’d love to have my own design company one day.”
Lee Roberts from Pathways Training said: “The transformation in Natasha is truly amazing. As she went through the programme you could see her confidence and motivation building each day. Her dedication was excellent and she had an attendance record of 100%.”
Paul Griffiths, of Tint Wizard, said: “Natasha is an outstanding case for all that is good with the Apprenticeship and Traineeship programmes and her family can be very proud of her.”
Deputy Minister for Skills, Jeff Cuthbert said: “These awards recognise excellence by individuals, employers and learning providers in delivering training. I am delighted with the standard of this year’s finalists and the variety across all ages and sectors, which shows the strength of the skills being delivered in Wales.
“All the finalists have an inspiring story to tell and are great ambassadors for Apprenticeship and other programmes in Wales.
“The skills acquired through programmes, such as Apprenticeships, provide great benefits to individuals and employers, helping make Welsh businesses more competitive.
“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 116 quality assured work based training providers with links to 35,000 employers across Wales.
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