Traineeship kick starts Katie’s promising career
Eighteen-year-old Katie Roberts, who is building a promising career following a Traineeship, has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.
Katie, from Sandycroft, Deeside, 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.
When Traineeships Learner of the Year finalist Katie left school she lacked the confidence to succeed at college, yet knew that to get a job she needed to improve her skills and gain qualifications.
“I did childcare at college for a year but left because I had no confidence in my ability,” said Katie, who joined the Traineeship programme run by Wrexham ITEC to help her improve her employability.
She couldn’t drive, or afford to learn, so finding work near her home on Deeside was important to her. “The Traineeship has been a totally different way of learning. It’s not like school or college – I’ve been able to have my independence whilst learning,” she said.
Through the programme, Katie was offered a placement at Flame Homeware in Sandycoft. Initially she worked in an administrative role, but her skills and dedication were noticed and her responsibilities grew. Within a few months she became a member of the buying and sales team, involved in everything from working at trade shows to updating the company website.
She has now successfully completed her NVQ and is working at Flame Homeware as a website administrator through the Jobs Growth Wales programme.
Carol Formstone from Wrexham ITEC said: “Katie has demonstrated that anything is possible. From being a shy and introverted person, she has now blossomed into a very much appreciated team member of Flame Homeware.”
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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