Cambrian

Work‑based learning provider Cambrian Training Company has expressed pride in topping the charts for apprenticeship framework success in Wales, especially as it works in some of the country’s most demanding sectors.

The positive endorsement for the Welshpool‑based business, which supports learners and employers across Wales from its network of five offices, is revealed in a new report by Medr, the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research in Wales.

The Learner Outcome Measures for Apprenticeships, August 2024–July 2025 report shows that Cambrian Training Company topped the charts with a framework success rate of 81% – up from 67% in 2022–23 and 74% in 2023–24.

Importantly, this success has been achieved while working in some of the most challenging sectors in Wales today, including hospitality and food and drink manufacturing.

Cambrian Training Company says maintaining high standards in these environments takes exceptional resilience and the results are a testament to the dedication of learners and employers who work with the company to uphold excellence in delivery and achievement.

The company came out top for both Foundation Apprenticeships (Level 2) and Apprenticeships (Level 3). Out of the 580 enrolled learners, 481 – or 83% – achieved their Foundation Apprenticeship, while 479 of the 570 learners – or 84% – achieved their Apprenticeship. The national average for both was 78%.

Having celebrated its 30th birthday last year, the company also achieved the national average of 72% for Higher Apprenticeships (Levels 4 & 5), with 216 of 330 learners achieving their frameworks.

Committed to delivering excellence, Cambrian Training Company has pioneered training in the hospitality and food and drink manufacturing industries, whilst also expanding into leadership and management, retail and health and social care.

Transitioning to a 100% employee‑owned trust last year, the company now has 63 employees and nine partner subcontractors working with more than 850 employers across Wales.

From launching centres of excellence to becoming a direct Welsh Government contractor, the company remains focused on empowering individuals, supporting communities and driving forward inclusive, high‑quality vocational education across Wales.

The Medr report follows praise from Estyn inspectors, who commended Cambrian Training Company for its “strong and close engagement with employers”.

Feature image: Directors and staff at Cambrian Training Company’s 30^th anniversary celebrations.

The iconic Man versus Horse Race, held every summer in the Mid Wales town of Llanwrtyd Wells, has a new headline sponsor this year.

Leading Welsh work-based learning provider, Cambrian Training Company and sister business Trailhead Fine Foods, manufacturers of Welsh Salt Beef and Get Jerky beef and venison snacks, have agreed to sponsor the 45th running of the event on Saturday, June 13.

The challenging 22-mile race route, which rises to 4,000 feet, takes in Tarmacadam roads, forestry tracks, farm tracks, bridleways, open moorland and rivers.

This year, the race has a brand new course and the organisers are introducing GPS tracking as part of the timing system.

Entries are now full with 75 horses, 186 relays teams (each comprising of three runners) and 706 individual runners. Runners must be aged 18-years or over, whilst horse riders have a minimum age of 16-years, the horses are checked by vets before, during and after the race.

Individual runners and first leg relay runners start at 11am, followed by the horses and their riders at 11.15am from outside the Neuadd Arms Hotel.

Cambrian Training Company is not only sponsoring the event but hopes to have staff taking part. Faith O’Brien, managing director, is a keen horsewoman and Donna Heath, operations manager for essential skills and sector lead for leadership and management and Alex Hogg, head of information technology and MI analyst, are both experienced ultra runners.

Green Events, the race organisers, said:

The race began in 1980 following a chat over a beer in the Neuadd Arms Hotel. Landlord Gordon Green overheard two men discussing the relative merits of men and horses running over mountainous terrain.

Never one to miss an opportunity to promote Llanwrtyd Wells and improve business at his hotel, enterprising Gordon decided to put it to the test. So began Green Events and its first, longest standing, and now internationally acclaimed event, Man v Horse.

The course was changed in 1982 to provide a more even match between the man and the horse, resulting in close finishes – sometimes with the horse winning by only a few seconds.

It took 25 years before a runner finally beat all the horses – in 2004 Huw Lobb won in two hours and five minutes, beating the fastest horse by two minutes. His feat was repeated by Florien Holtinger in 2007, Ricky Lightfoot in 2022, Daniel Connolly in 2023, and Dewi Griffiths last year.

The main prize is an escalating jackpot for the runner who beats the first horse and rider, it starts at £500 and increases by £500 every year the event takes place until it is won by a runner. The first jackpot won in 2004 had reached £25,000 – this year it’s back to £500.

Feature image: Runners, riders and the Welsh hills in the Man v Horse race.

Two talented hospitality apprentices from the Swansea area shared their stories and skills as they helped to take apprenticeships to the heart of the Welsh Government yesterday (Wednesday).

Oliver Addis-Fuller, duty manager at Glyn Clydach Hotel, Neath Abbey, Neath and award-winning Aaron Jones, shift supervisor at Penycae Inn, Penycae, supported the Apprenticeship Fayre in the Senedd’s Neuadd in Cardiff. 

They helped man the stand for their apprenticeship provider, Cambrian Training Company, at the event.

Work-based learning providers and colleges joined forces with apprentices and employers to celebrate Apprenticeship Week Wales – February 9-15 – at the event organised jointly for a second time by the National Training Federation for Wales (NTFW) and CollegesWales (ColegauCymru).

Jointly sponsored by the Senedd Cross Party Group co-chairs Luke Fletcher MS and Joyce Watson MS, the fayre offered visitors a chance to try out real hands-on tasks reflecting the broad range of apprenticeship pathways on offer across Wales.

Building on the success of last year’s event, the fayre showcased practical skills, technologies and industries through interactive displays and exhibition stands, while highlighting the transformative impact of vocational learning.

Apprentices who attended had the opportunity to meet Senedd Members and share their experiences whilst work-based learning providers, colleges and employers, outlined the ongoing support needed to deliver apprenticeship programmes successfully.

Oliver encouraged MSs and other visitors to have a go at mocktail making and showcased Cygnet Swan featuring the new Cygnet Infinity non-alcoholic gin.

He played a key role in organising the front of house at Welsh superstar Katherine Jenkins OBE’s Cygnet Gin Influencer Pairing Menu held at Penderyn Copperworks Distillery in Swansea last November.

Oliver’s father, Andrew, curated the five-course meal for the high-profile celebrity event. In addition to being a hospitality training officer with Cambrian Training Company, Andrew also runs Fullers Flavour Consultancy.

Working towards an Apprenticeship in Hospitality Supervision and Leadership, Oliver has also organised the front of house set up for The Loft Restaurant at Glyn Clydach Hotel, a new wedding and events venue.

Andrew will be joining Oliver, Aaron and Faith on the stand at the Senedd event.

Speaking to audiences about his inspiring apprenticeship journey is one of Aaron’s key attributes. He addressed an NTFW networking conference in Cardiff last year and is invited to speak at a range of events.

Diagnosed with autism as a child, Aaron has recently completed his City & Guilds Apprenticeship in Hospitality Supervision and Leadership.

Encouraged by his employer, Anthony Christopher, landlord of Penycae Inn, Aaron embraced his neurodiversity and proactively sought work experience placements and job opportunities that have developed his skills and knowledge.

A popular waiter who excels at front of house duties, he won Cambrian Training Company’s Apprentice Special Recognition Award last year and participated in the company’s 30th anniversary corporate video and social media campaigns.

Feature image: Cambrian Training Company apprentice Aaron Jones with First Minister Eluned Morgan at the Apprenticeship Fayre.

Hospitality apprentice Aaron Jones delivered an inspiring speech at the National Training Federation of Wales (NTFW) members networking event at Cardiff Bay.

Aaron, who is close to completing his City & Guilds Apprenticeship in Hospitality Supervision and Leadership, was invited to represent Cambrian Training Company apprentices at the Pierhead event.

Diagnosed with autism as a child, he has embraced his neurodiversity and proactively sought work experience placements and job opportunities that have developed his skills and knowledge along the way.

Through his unwavering determination, resilience and passion for personal growth, he continues to break boundaries and achieve great things, both in his professional career and personal life.

Encouraged by his employer Anthony Christopher, landlord of Pen-y-Cae Inn,  Swansea, Aaron began his apprenticeship in July 2024 and works as a popular waiter, excelling at front of house duties.

With support from training officer, Leah Williams and essential skills Wales tutor, Julie Lovell, he has excelled, completing significant observations, such as running a service and conducting a cellar risk assessment, while mastering challenging written and knowledge-based tasks.

Aaron aims to complete his apprenticeship by Christmas, with ambitions for future promotion opportunities. He will celebrate his achievement at Cambrian Training Company’s summer apprenticeship graduation and awards ceremony at the Royal Welsh Showground next June.

His apprenticeship journey has already been marked by notable successes. He won Cambrian Training Company’s Apprentice Special Recognition Award this summer, was a finalist for the Outstanding Individual Award and participated in the company’s 30th anniversary corporate video and social media campaigns.

He also promotes Pen-y-Cae Inn, a Best Gastro Pub of the Year finalist, on his social media accounts which received the Outstanding Achievement award in the Best Gastro Pub of the Year category at this year’s Food Awards Wales.

Aaron’s speech reflected on the skills he has gained, the support he has received and the opportunities apprenticeships have opened for him.

He was introduced by Cambrian Training Company’s managing director Faith O’Brien, who also spoke about the company’s 30^th anniversary this year.

Cambrian Training Company is one of Wales’ leading work-based learning providers, delivering high-quality apprenticeship programmes across a wide range of sectors. The company is committed to supporting learners, employers and communities by championing skills development and career progression.

Feature image: Apprentice Aaron Jones (right) with his employer Anthony Christopher, Cambrian Training Company managing director Faith O’Brien, NTFW strategic director Lisa Mytton and Luke Fletcher, MS

Four employees of a leading Welsh work-based learning provider have practiced what the company preaches by enhancing their skills and professional development.

The achievements of Alex Hogg, head of information technology, Sharon Roberts and Iestyn Evans, training officers and Manon Rosser, Welsh language support and communication officer, were celebrated at Cambrian Training Company’s autumn apprenticeship graduation ceremony last week.

Alex, 43, has achieved a First Class Bachelor of Science (Honours) Degree Apprenticeship in Applied Software Engineering with the Open University, recognising his commitment to lifelong learning

Having worked for Welshpool-based Cambrian Training Company for 17 years, he balanced his role managing IT and data analysis with four years of weekly academic study time.

Throughout his studies, Alex applied his learning directly to the business, developing several bespoke software applications that have streamlined internal processes -from expenses to travel – saving staff time and improving efficiency.

His role is central to the company’s operational success, ensuring accurate data analysis and reporting to meet an £8 million apprenticeship contract with the Welsh Government.

Completing an apprenticeship in Welsh Language Translation has opened doors for graduate Manon who has become an Apprenticeship Ambassador with Coleg Cymraeg.

A Politics and Modern History graduate, she completed her apprenticeship with Gower College Swansea together with a Level 3 Digital Literacy qualification.

Sharon, who lives near Abergavenny, has completed an Apprenticeship in Management which she adds to a string of other qualifications, including a Higher Apprenticeship in Leading the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment.

A training officer and internal quality assurer in food and drink manufacturing, she signed up for the apprenticeship to improve understanding of management functions and to help manage her caseload.

She has worked for Cambrian Training Company for 10 years, delivering food and drink related frameworks and assuring the quality standards.

Iestyn, 56, who lives in Caerphilly, graduated with a Higher Apprenticeship in Leaning and Development which is supporting his work as a food and drink manufacture training officer.

Having graduated from King’s College, London with a Degree in Pharmacy, Iestyn ran his own pharmacy shop in Carmarthen until his late 30s when he decided to take on a new challenge as a Cardiff Youth Offending Team mentor.

He then trained as a butcher with Chris Hayman Butchers, Maesycwmmer before joining Cambrian Training Company five years ago to share his skills and knowledge with apprentices.

Faith O’Brien, Cambrian Training Company managing director, congratulated the four graduates and said: “We are committed to ensuring that every member of our team maintains up-to-date sector knowledge.

Feature image: Cambrian Training Company’s managing director Faith O’Brien (centre) with graduates (from left) Alex Hogg, Sharon Roberts, Manon Rosser and Iestyn Evans.

The achievements and dedication of more than 100 apprentices from across Wales were celebrated by a leading work-based learning provider at a graduation ceremony in Mid Wales today (Tuesday 4th Nov).

Welshpool-based Cambrian Training Company combined the Llanelwedd ceremony with hosting the Mid Wales leg of the Roadtrip to Excellence Team Wales torch relay, which celebrates Wales hosting the WorldSkills UK National Finals apprenticeship competition, from November 25 to 28, for the first time.

Faith O’Brien, managing director of award-winning Cambrian Training Company, congratulated the graduates, saying:

She revealed that more than 540 apprentices had completed their frameworks in the past six months, describing them as “stories of growth, resilience and ambition”.

Five apprentices that have completed their apprenticeships as part of Cambrian Training’s supported shared apprenticeship programme were at the Llanewedd ceremony to graduate. 

They are Holly Curtis who achieved a Level 2 Cleaning and Support Services Skills; Alaw Williams who achieved a Level 2 Diploma in Hospitality Services and Dion Dimitrakis, Matthew Ball and Malachi De Jesus who all achieved Level 2 Diplomas in Business Administration.

The supported shared apprenticeship programme is a collaborative initiative in partnership with Elite and Agoriad that provides individuals with additional learning needs paid work experience and the opportunity to work towards achieving a formal qualification. 

Dion’s line manager Rachel Edwards has been very impressed with his work ethic on the programme.

Cambrian Training Company is one of Wales’ leading providers of apprenticeships for  Medr. Sectors covered by the company and its partners include hospitality, food and drink manufacturing, business administration, leadership and management, customer services and retail skills, sustainable resource management, health, social care and early years, barbering and hairdressing and active leisure.

Faith also announced that next year’s Cambrian Training Company Apprenticeship Awards will shortly be open for nominations from apprentices, employers, trainers and tutors.

She thanked the company’s trainers, mentors, sub-contractor partners, employers and families and friends for their key contributions towards the success of the apprentices.

Feature image: Apprentices with Cambrian Training Company’s managing director Faith O’Brien at the graduation ceremony.

One of Wales’ leading work-based learning providers, Cambrian Training Company (CTC), yesterday (Tuesday) hosted a leg of the Welsh Government’s Team Wales Skills Torch Relay.

The hosting event at the Royal Welsh Showground in Llanelwedd coincided with a ceremony to celebrate the graduation of more than 100 Cambrian Training Company apprentices.

The Roadtrip to Excellence torch relay celebrates Wales for the first time hosting the WorldSkills UK National Finals, from November 25 to 28.

The relay is travelling around Wales celebrating the very best of  Welsh apprentices, especially those competing in the WorldSkills UK National Finals, employers and educators. At each stop, the torch is being welcomed with a community celebration.

Among the highlights was Mia Haf Rees, commis chef at The Grove of Narberth, who completed her Level 3 Professional Cookery Apprenticeship in just 14 months instead of the usual 22 months. 

Chosen by Cambrian Training Company as torch bearer to represent hospitality apprentices across Wales, Mia said:

Mia hopes her journey will inspire other to explore apprenticeships. Her CTC training officer praised her dedication and creativity. 

Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership Jack Sargeant, MS, said:

Faith O’Brien, Cambrian Training Company’s managing director, said the company was honoured to host the Team Wales Torch on such an important day for the graduating apprentices.

She encouraged the company’s learners to enter Skills Competition Wales 2026, registration for which is open from November 24 to December 5.

The UK WorldSkills Finals bring together hundreds of talented apprentices and learners across 45 disciplines – from engineering, digital and health to hospitality, construction and the creative industries.

Follow the torch’s journey around Wales at Tîm Cymru / Team Wales on social media. For more information on Skills Competition Wales and WorldSkills UK, visit inspiringskills.gov.wales/ .

Cambrian Training Company and its partners deliver apprenticeships for the Welsh Government in hospitality, food and drink manufacturing, sustainable resource management, business administration and management, customer services and retail skills, health, social care and early years, barbering and hairdressing and active leisure.

Feature image: Mia Haf Rees carrying the Team Wales Skills Torch though the audience at the apprenticeship graduation ceremony.

One of Wales’ leading independent work-based learning providers has delivered in excess of 20,000 apprenticeship programmes in more than 4,500 businesses over the past 30 years.

Welshpool-based Cambrian Training Company (CTC), which covers the whole of Wales from its network of five offices, is celebrating 30 years of delivering quality apprenticeships to businesses.

The innovative company, which held 30th anniversary celebrations today (Tuesday), has run a social media campaign, featuring apprentices, employers, staff and stakeholders, daily throughout September.

The company began life as a small subsidiary of Mid Wales Tourism (now MWT Cymru), delivering vocational skills to support the development of the region’s tourism sector.

CTC has grown into one of Wales’ most respected apprenticeship providers, with 63 employees and nine partner subcontractors currently working with more than 850 employers.

Totally committed to delivering excellence, the company has pioneered training in the hospitality and food and drink manufacturing industries, whilst also branching out into new sectors, such as health and social care.

Apprenticeship Provider of the Year and Best Work-Based Apprenticeship Provider in Wales are just two of the accolades won by the company, which nurtures talent.

CTC created the Young Butcher of the Year competition which has evolved to become Apprentice Butcher of the Year and the Cambrian Training Awards. The company has also supported Skills Competition Wales’ hospitality competitions since its inception in 2014.

From launching centres of excellence to becoming a direct Welsh Government contractor and recently transitioning to a 100% employee-owned trust, the company is passionate about empowering individuals, supporting communities and driving forward inclusive, high-quality vocational education across Wales.

In addition, CTC plays a pivotal role in championing and supporting the development, growth and long-term sustainability of Wales’s hospitality and food and drink manufacturing sectors – critical contributors to the Welsh economy and key sources of employment, particularly within rural communities.

Through strategic partnerships and sponsorships, including the Culinary Association of Wales, Food & Drink Wales Awards, Royal Welsh Agricultural Society and regional tourism awards, CTC actively supports sector development, celebrates excellence and fosters innovation.

The company’s deep engagement with industry bodies and events strengthens vocational pathways and ensures that training remains relevant, responsive and meets the needs of Welsh businesses and communities.

CTC is focused on playing a key role in Wales’ evolving tertiary education system, ensuring that students are aware of and understand all the career pathways open to them when they leave school.

Founder trustee director of Cambrian Training (Trustees) Ltd EO, Arwyn Watkins, OBE, who led a management buy out of the company in 2002, spoke about the history, challenges and evolution of the business, “built on passion, innovation and, above all, people”.

In a message to the board of directors, he added:

Faith added:

Feature image: Directors and staff at Cambrian Training Company’s 30^th anniversary celebrations.

Trainers at one of Wales’ leading work-based learning providers have been praised for becoming learners to enhance their skills and knowledge through apprenticeships to develop their careers.

Nine employees of Welshpool-based Cambrian Training Company, which has offices across Wales, were among more than 100 apprentices recognised at an apprenticeship graduation ceremony.

The company and its sub-contractors hosted the bi-annual ceremony at the Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd where they recognised the learning journey of graduates from a wide range of industries.

Six staff achieved the Agored Cymru Level 3 Certificate in Learning & Development. They are Scott Morgan, Dan Phillips, Matt Davies, Ruth Bartlett, Hannah Gover and Michelle Ward-Jones.

Grace Rutter and Kirsty Broomfield graduated with a City & Guilds Higher Apprenticeship (Level 4) in Business Administration while Jane Gammon achieved the Pearson Edexcel Higher Apprenticeship (Level 4) in Management.

The company’s managing director, Faith O’Brien, congratulated her colleagues.

Cambrian Training Company has recently marked its 30th birthday by becoming employee owned. The company and its subsidiary Trailhead Fine Foods, are now part of an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), which is designed to empower employees.

Feature image: Cambrian Training Company’s managing director Faith O’Brien with the graduating staff members.

Milestones in the learning journeys of more than 100 Welsh apprentices were celebrated at an apprenticeship graduation ceremony in Mid Wales.

Apprentices travelled from across Wales to attend the bi-annual graduation ceremony organised by Cambrian Training Company and its sub-contractors at the Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd.

Cambrian Training Company’s managing director, Faith O’Brien, congratulated the graduates, but stressed:

Cambrian Training Company is one of Wales’ leading work-based learning providers, delivering apprenticeships for the Welsh Government.

Sectors covered by the company and its partners include hospitality, food and drink manufacturing, leadership and management, sustainable resource management, health and social care and hairdressing.

Faith revealed that more than 480 of the company’s learners had successfully completed their frameworks over the past six months.

She thanked trainers and mentors who had contributed to the success of the graduating apprentices and the company’s partners, stakeholders and employers for their “unwavering” support.

One of this year’s graduates was Lowri Milson, 23, from Penclawdd. Working with Cambrian Training Company and Elite, she was one of their first learners to complete a Foundation Apprenticeship in Hospitality Services on the Supported Shared Apprenticeship programme, designed for apprentices with learning needs.

 Lowri, who volunteers at cafes in Penllegaer and Dunvant, is keen to secure a job working in a bar. She was supported to achieve her apprenticeship by Cambrian Training Company’s hospitality training officer Andrew Addis-Fuller who said he was proud of her achievement.

Lowri said:

Feature image: Apprentices with Cambrian Training Company’s managing director Faith O’Brien (seated centre) at the graduation ceremony.

The achievements of apprentices, employers and work-based learning practitioners from across Wales were celebrated at an awards ceremony in Mid Wales.

Twenty-seven finalists competed for the Apprenticeship, Employment and Skills Awards organised by Cambrian Training Company, a leading Welsh work-based learning provider.

The prestigious awards, held at The Metropole Hotel & Spa, Llandrindod Wells, recognised employers, learners and practitioners who have excelled in apprenticeship programmes delivered by the Welshpool-based company and its sub-contractors.

A popular winner was autistic apprentice Aaron Jones, a waiter at Penycae Inn, Penycae, near Swansea, who received a standing ovation after collecting the Apprentice Special Recognition 2025 Award.

He praised Cambrian Training Company’s hospitality training officers Andrew Addis-Fuller and Leah Williams for their support and encouragement to achieve his goals, which include completing his Hospitality Supervision and Leadership Apprenticeship early next year.

The Foundation Apprentice of the Year was awarded to Cameron Long, a cleaning support services attendant at Elite Clothing Solutions, Ebbw Vale, who has completed a  Supported Shared Apprenticeship with support from Elite Supported Employment.

Apprentice of the Year was Cai Watkins, head of business unit contract manager for Cambrian Training Company, Welshpool, while the Higher Apprentice of the Year award went to Mathew Verallo, operations manager for The Celtic Collection’s Tŷ Milford Waterfront, Milford Haven.

The awards for employers was keenly contested. The Small Employer of the Year was Silver Assist Homecare, Llangorse, Brecon, Filco Markets, Llantwit Major collected the Medium Employer of the Year Award and Achieve Together, Cardiff was named Large Employer of the Year.

Outstanding Individual of the Year was Denise Hodson, a playworker at Little Disciples Childcare, Penymynydd, Flintshire and Welsh Ambassador of the Year was Phoebe Wilson, lead training officer at Clybiau Plant Cymru Kids’ Clubs, Cardiff.

Practitioner of the Year was Elfed Wood, from Portal Training, Cardiff, the Employer Special Recognition Award went to The Grove, Narbeth and Kepak, Merthyr Tydfil was recognised for Outstanding Contribution to Apprenticeships.

The other finalists were:

Foundation Apprentice of the Year Award: Josh Williams, a receptionist at Whitbread Premier Inn, Bangor and Leanne Barratt, a chef at Mitchell & Butlers’ Miller & Carter, Killay.

Apprentice of the Year Award: Deanne Rance, area manager for Lonetree-McDonalds, Newport and Jodie Bowater, hotel manager Whitbread Premier Inn, Bangor.
Higher Apprentice of the Year: Ashley Richards, general manager at Peppermint Cardiff and Keri-Ann Evans, head chef at Bluestone, Narberth.

Outstanding Individual of the Year: Rachael Bowles, blending room team leader for Hilltop Honey, Newtown and Aaron Jones, a waiter at Penycae Inn, Penycae, near Swansea.

Small Employer of the Year: Nazareth House, Cardiff and Interplay, Penlan, Swansea.
Medium Employer of the Year: Voco St David’s Cardiff and The Grove, Narberth.
Large Employer of the Year: Kepak, Merthyr Tydfil and Urdd Gobaith Cymru.

Welsh Language Ambassador: Catherine Smith, training officer at Clybiau Plant Cymru Kids’ Clubs and Samantha James, restaurant manager at Millie & Sid’s, Tywyn.

Work-based Learning Practitioner: Sean Williams from Sirius Skills Consulting, Mountain Ash and Sarah Bird from Clybiau Plant Cymru, Cardiff.

Feature image: Winners of the Apprenticeship, Employment and Skills Awards organised by Cambrian Training Company.

Staff at one of Wales’ leading work-based learning providers are practicing what they preach by enhancing their skills and knowledge through apprenticeships to develop their careers.

Three employees of Welshpool-based Cambrian Training Company, which has offices across Wales and its sister company, Trailhead Fine Foods, were among nearly 100 apprentices recognised at an apprenticeship graduation ceremony.

Cambrian Training Company and its sub-contractors hosted the bi-annual ceremony at the Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd where they recognised the learning journey of graduates from a wide range of industries.

Cai Watkins, the company’s acting contracts manager, graduated with an Apprenticeship in Business Administration, Catherine Isaac, finance officer, graduated with an Apprenticeship in Hospitality Supervision and Leadership and Tony Donovan, production assistant, graduated with a Foundation Apprenticeship in Business Administration.

Three other former employees, who worked at Chartists 1770 at The Trewythen, Llanidloes, which recently closed – Mel Canning, Lucy Evans and Abbie Howes – graduated with an Apprenticeship in Hospitality Supervision and Leadership.

Cai, 21, who had previously achieved a Foundation Apprenticeship in Business Administration, is now considering progressing to a Higher Apprenticeship Level 4 in Project Management.

Having joined the company straight from school three years ago, he said;

“The apprenticeships have been a great help, giving me the skills and confidence to do my job.”

Catherine said:

“I loved doing the Apprenticeship in Hospitality Supervision and Leadership and the support from my training officer, Felicity Perris, was amazing. An apprenticeship is a good way of benchmarking the skills that you have and I am interested in progressing.”

Toni, 24, who has worked for Trailhead Fine Foods in Welshpool for three years, said she jumped at the chance to do the Foundation Apprenticeship.

“It was a great opportunity and I have been given more responsibilities as a result of the qualification,” she said. “I would like to progress to Level 3 in the future to increase my skills and knowledge.”

The graduation ceremony followed a positive recent Estyn inspection of Cambrian Training Company whose contribution to the hospitality sector in Wales was highlighted as an example of best practice. The company delivers apprenticeships for the Welsh Government.

The company’s managing director, Faith O’Brien, congratulated her colleagues.

“We were delighted to be able to recognise and celebrate the achievements of our graduating staff members,” she said.

“As a business we encourage all our staff to continuously improve their skills and knowledge to develop their careers and fulfil their potential. Continuing professional development is essential to ensure that we deliver the very best training and support services to our apprentices and their employers across Wales.

“Apprenticeships open doors for everyone, allowing individuals to enter their desired careers and helping businesses to build the skilled workforce they need.”

The achievements of nearly 100 apprentices from across Wales were celebrated at an apprenticeship graduation ceremony in Mid Wales.

Cambrian Training Company and its sub-contractors hosted the bi-annual ceremony at the Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd where they recognised the learning journey of graduates from a wide range of industries.

The ceremony followed a positive recent Estyn inspection of Cambrian Training Company whose contribution to the hospitality sector in Wales was highlighted as an example of best practice.

The company is one of Wales’ leading work-based learning providers, delivering apprenticeships for the Welsh Government. Its sub-contractors are Apprenticeship Group Wales (AGW), Clybiau Plant Cymru Kids Clubs, Call of the Wild, Inspiro Learning, Portal, Progression Training, Sirius Skills and The Work Based Training Agency (WBTA).

Cambrian Training Company’s managing director Faith O’Brien congratulated all the graduates, including six of the company’s own staff.

Thanking training officers and mentors, she added:

Faith went on to acknowledge the support of sub-contractors saying that their collaboration ensures that the skills gained by apprentices are relevant and exactly what evolving industries need.

She also praised “supportive employers” for recognising the value of apprenticeships and what they add to their organisations.

Feature image: Apprentices celebrate their success at the graduation ceremony with Cambrian Training Company’s managing director Faith O’Brien.

One of the top work-based learning providers in Wales is celebrating after receiving a glowing report from Estyn, following an inspection this summer.

Senior leaders at Welshpool-based Cambrian Training Company, which has offices across Wales, are recognised for establishing “a clear vision and strategic objectives to meet the needs of its learners and employers”.

Inspectors were so impressed by the way the company’s senior leaders engage with and influence the hospitality, food and drink sectors that the business has been asked to prepare a best practice case study for Estyn’s website.

Faith O’Brien, Cambrian Training Company’s Managing Director, said:

In partnership with 10 subcontractors, Cambrian Training Company delivers apprenticeships from Levels 2 to 5 for Medr across the whole of Wales.

The majority of the company’s 2,100 apprentices work in the hospitality and catering, health, public services and care sectors.

Apprenticeships are also delivered in food and drink manufacture, butchery, children’s early years, leadership and management, engineering and manufacturing technologies, hair and beauty, digital marketing, leisure and sport, business administration, retail and customer service and sustainable resource management.

The company is praised for learner-focused training and developing learners in the workplace with strong support from employers.

In response to Estyn’s recommendations, Cambrian Training Company has an action plan to improve framework success and completion rates, target setting and self-evaluation.

The company’s subcontractors are Apprenticeship Group Wales, Call of the Wild, Clybiau Plant Cymru, Inspiro, Lifetime Training, NTG Training, Portal Training, Progression Training, Sirius Skills and Work Based Training Agency.

Feature image: Cambrian Training Company Executive Chairman Arwyn Watkins, OBE with managing director Faith O’Brien.

“Remember this day as a milestone, but not the destination,” more than 70 Welsh apprentices were told at their apprenticeship graduation ceremony in Mid Wales.

That was the message from Faith O’Brien, managing director of Cambrian Training Company which, with its sub-contractors, celebrated the achievements of their apprentices at the bi-annual ceremony held at the Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd.

“The skills you have gained through your apprenticeship are the tools; how you utilise them, shape them and innovate with them is up to you,” she told the graduates.

“As you move forward, keep the spirit of learning alive, embrace challenges and remember that every experience, good or bad, is a step closer to the professional you aspire to be.

“Congratulations and here’s to new beginnings, to the future leaders, innovators and trailblazers, and to the immense potential that each one of you holds. Believe in yourselves, trust in your abilities to overcome any obstacle that may come your way and never lose sight of your capacity to achieve greatness.”

Cambrian Training Company is one of Wales’ leading work-based learning providers, delivering apprenticeships for the Welsh Government.

A former apprentice herself, Faith said a Foundation Apprenticeship in Administration marked the start of her practical learning journey which has led to her current role.

She thanked trainers and mentors who had contributed to the success of the graduating apprentices and the company’s partners and stakeholders for their “unwavering support”.

“Our collaboration ensures that the skills our apprentices gain are not just relevant but are exactly what our evolving industries need,” she added.

The graduates included friends Alex Deacon, 34, and Iain Sturdy, 37, who work as apprentice chefs for ESS-Compass, Crickhowell and both live in Abertillery. Having both achieved a Foundation Apprenticeship in Cooking  they are now progressing to a Level 3 Apprenticeship and Essential Skills qualifications.

Alex, who is dyslexic, was a kitchen porter before opting to become an apprentice chef two years ago and works with his father, Stephen, who is catering manager.

“I am passionate about cooking and what’s good about the apprenticeship is that I am learning new skills while working,” he said. “My ambition is to become a head chef.

“The combination of having trainers helping me with both my cooking and maths skills is a powerhouse.” 

Iain opted to become an apprentice chef after being made redundant from a food factory three years ago and has no regrets about his career switch.

“I love cooking different foods and my ultimate ambition is to own a taco truck,” he said.

“I have learnt so much through my apprenticeship which has improved my cooking skills, essential skills and my career. There is no better feeling than having an instructor say your food is amazing.

“I wasn’t a good learner in school, but I thoroughly enjoy the way you learn with an apprenticeship.”

Another graduate was David Moore, 62, from Newport, who has switched careers from a chef to golf associate, supporting visiting golfers to The Celtic Collection. He has completed a Foundation Apprenticeship in Hospitality and is considering progressing to an Apprenticeship.

Having spent 36 years as a chef in the Newport and Cardiff areas, he loves meeting people which prompted his career change.

“I enjoyed doing my apprenticeship with Cambrian Training who allowed me to learn at my own pace,” said David, who is dyslexic. “It was nice to be recognised and to shake hands with one of the bosses at Cambrian Training on stage at the graduation ceremony.”

Rob Hookham, Cambrian Training’s business development and operations officer, said:

“David is a people person and one of the more mature apprentices that I have inducted at The Celtic Collection. His graduation is testament to his commitment to learning and that apprenticeships are open to anyone between the ages of 16 and 66.”

Visit: www.cambriantraining.com

Feature image: Alex Deacon and Iain Sturdy with Donna Heath and Will Richards from Cambrian Training.

Two South Wales businesses enjoyed double success at a leading Welsh work-based learning provider’s annual awards dinner.

The Celtic Collection, a group of business and leisure brands including the iconic Celtic Manor Resort in Newport and The Green Giraffe Nursery, Cardiff collected two awards each.

In addition to winning the Large Employer of the Year accolade, The Celtic Collection celebrated employee Kieran Ray, who works at the Celtic Manor Resort, being named Apprentice of the Year at Cambrian Training Company’s annual Apprenticeship, Employment and Skills Awards.

John Eagle, The Celtic Collection’s learning development manager, said:

“We are very proud to win these awards and to be recognised for developing our people. Apprenticeships are the cornerstone of our workforce and our message is: come and join us, whatever your background, and you can develop a career in hospitality that has the potential to take you around the world.”

The Green Giraffe Nursery was named Medium Employer of the Year and employee Laura Harding was joint winner of the Foundation Apprentice of the Year Award with Jan Gric from Nazareth House, Cardiff.

“These awards are lovely recognition for our investment in our people,” said Andea McCormack, The Green Giraffe’s nursery director. “We are really honoured and hope being recognised as the Medium Employer of the Year will help us to attract more apprentices.”

The annual awards recognise the outstanding achievements of employers and learners from across Wales who have excelled in apprenticeship programmes delivered by Welshpool-based Cambrian Training Company and its sub-contractors.

Twenty-seven finalists competed for this year’s awards organised by the leading provider of apprenticeships to the hospitality sector in Wales and held at The Metropole Hotel & Spa, Llandrindod Wells.

There were also joint winners of the Outstanding Apprentice of the Year Award, with Stewart Wooles from ESS-Compass, Crickhowell and Sam Hoyland, who works for JNP Legal, Merthyr Tydfil being recognised.

Anna Tommis, who works for Stenaline, Holyhead, was named Higher Apprentice of the Year, while Catherine Isaac, who divides her working week between Cambrian Training Company and the company’s restaurant with rooms, Chartists 1770 at The Trewythen, Llanidloes, won the Welsh Apprentice Ambassador award.

The Small Employer of the Year Award went to Fleetsauce, Wrexham and Puffin Produce Ltd from Haverfordwest received an Employer Special Recognition Award.

Cambrian Training Company’s executive chairman Arwyn Watkins, OBE, said:

“As someone who started out on their career as an apprentice at the age of 16,  I know only too well the difference a hands-on vocational learning opportunity can make to  an individual’s career prospects. It is the very foundation to the world of work and success.

“The apprenticeship programme in Wales is very often seen as the largest continuing professional development programme for the workforce. We are so lucky to have the support of all political parties who recognise the importance of supporting this programme and I am so proud of the teams delivering the programme across Wales in a range of sectors.”

He also praised employers who support apprenticeships.

“Unlike any other programme of professional learning, an apprentice requires a contract of employment,” he said. “Today in Wales, under 25% of employers enable their employees to undertake an apprenticeship programme, so let’s celebrate those that entrust us to help them grow and develop their workforce.”

Faith O’Brien, Cambrian Training Company’s managing director, congratulated all the award winners and finalists who, she said, richly deserved recognition for their dedication and commitment to driving the economy forward and supporting the apprenticeship programme here in Wales.

The other finalists were: Foundation Apprentice of the Year, Robert Stephens, ESS-Compass, Crickhowell. Apprentice of the Year, Keri-Ann Evans, Bluestone, Narberth and Eveline Maria Meerdink, Robinsons, Conwy. Higher Apprentice of the Year, Tina Barry, Sirius Skills Consulting Ltd, Mountain Ash.

Outstanding Apprentice of the Year finalists were, Anne Lucas, Bluebird Home Care, Cowbridge; Andrew John Ogborne, Ogborne to Drive, Llanelli; Rajani Gurung, Woodside Care Home, Port Talbot; Ethan Wodecki, Vale Resort, Hensol;  Mike Evans, Sirius Skills, Mountain Ash;  Dobromila Illieva, Trefeddian Hotel, Aberdovey; Adri Razumnova, Celtic Collection’s The Parkgate Hotel, Cardiff and Emma Purcell, Little Red Berries Day Nursery, Cwmbran.

Small Employer of the Year finalists, Kings Arms, Cardiff; Crown Inn and Coffi Fach, Bridgend. Medium Employer of the Year, Puffin Produce Ltd, Haverfordwest and Nazareth House. Large Employer of the Year, Vale Resort, Hensol

Feature image: Cambrian Training Company’s managing director Faith O’Brien (centre) with the award winners.

Employers and learners from across Wales who have excelled in apprenticeship programmes delivered by Cambrian Training Company and its sub-contractors for the Welsh Government will be celebrated at an awards dinner later this month.

Twenty-seven finalists will compete for this year’s Apprenticeship, Employment and Skills Awards organised by the Welshpool-based company, which is one of Wales’ top work-based learning providers.

The prestigious awards, to be held at The Metropole Hotel & Spa, Llandrindod Wells on May 22, will celebrate the outstanding achievements of apprentices and employers who are committed to apprenticeships.

Finalists for Foundation Apprentice of the Year Award are: Jan Gric, Nazareth House, Cardiff; Laura Harding, The Green Giraffe Nursery, Cardiff and Robert Stephens, ESS-Compass, Crickhowell. Apprentice of the Year Award finalists are: Kieran Ray, Celtic Manor, Newport; Keri-Ann Evans, Bluestone, Narberth and Eveline Maria Meerdink, Robinsons, Conwy. Higher Apprentice of the Year finalists are Anna Tommis, Stenaline, Holyhead and Tina Barry, Sirius Skills Consulting Ltd, Mountain Ash.

Outstanding Apprentice of the Year Award finalists are: Stewart Wooles, ESS-Compass, Crickhowell; Sam Hoyland, JNP Legal, Merthyr Tydfil; Anne Lucas, Bluebird Home Care, Cowbridge;  Andrew John Ogborne, Ogborne to Drive, Llanelli; Rajani Gurung, Woodside Care Home, Port Talbot; Ethan Wodecki, Vale Resort, Hensol;  Mike Evans, Sirius Skills, Mountain Ash;  Dobromila Illieva, Trefeddian Hotel, Aberdovey; Adri Razumnova, Celtic Collection’s The Parkgate Hotel, Cardiff and Emma Purcell, Little Red Berries Day Nursery, Cwmbran.

Small Employer of the Year Award finalists are: Fleetsauce, Wrexham; Kings Arms, Cardiff; Crown Inn and Coffi Fach, Bridgend. Medium Employer of the Year Award finalists are: The Green Giraffe Nursery, Cardiff, Puffin Produce Ltd, Haverfordwest and Nazareth House, Cardiff. Large Employer of the Year finalists are: The Celtic Collection, Newport and Vale Resort, Hensol

Faith O’Brien, Cambrian Training Company’s managing director, said:

“The awards ceremony is a time of celebration, not just for the apprentices and employers themselves but for everyone who has had the privilege of being part of their journey. 

“We come together to celebrate the dedication and commitment by individuals and companies playing a crucial role in driving the economy forward and supporting the apprenticeship programme here in Wales.”

Feature image: Outstanding Individual of the Year finalist Adri Razumnova from the Parkgate Hotel, Cardiff with her training officer Scott Morgan from Cambrian Training Company.

Apprenticeships are providing skilled and committed workers to help Conwy County Borough Council achieve its goal of sending zero waste to landfill.

Recycling 35,581 tonnes of waste during 2022-’23, Conwy currently ranks sixth out of 22 councils across Wales for the amount of waste it recycles and is hoping to achieve the Welsh Government’s 70% target this year.

From October 30, it’s illegal to sell single-use plastic in Wales, which will encourage businesses and consumers to help protect our planet.

 Since 2013, 45 council employees from the waste collection and disposal teams have successfully completed Apprenticeships in Sustainable Recycling Activities and Systems Operational Management, delivered by leading pan-Wales work-based learning providing Cambrian Training Company.

Some employees have upgraded their skills and careers from operatives to managers by progressing from Foundation (Level 2) to Higher (Level 4) Apprenticeships.

The council, which operates a waste transfer station in Abergele and a materials recycling facility in Mochdre, currently has six Cambrian Training Company apprentices in its teams.

Danielle Richards, the council’s assistant waste disposal manager, is a former waste strategy apprentice herself and is passionate about work-based learning and waste management.

In fact, she was the council’s first apprentice in the waste management team between 2005-’07 and has recently qualified as a chartered waste manager.

She says apprenticeships are imperative if the country is to fill a national skills gap in the waste recycling and management industry.

“Waste and recycling will always need to be managed and Conwy County Borough Council is trying to build resilience in its services by ensuring that we have skilled and versatile staff on site who have the capacity to progress,” said Danielle.

“Apprenticeships are extremely important because they give people the opportunity to work and learn at the same time and their confidence comes on in leaps and bounds, which is then transferred to the workplace.”

She praised the support provided to apprentices by Cambrian Training Company.  

“They understand the skills gap that we are trying to fill and the resilience that we are trying to build within our team,” she added.

One of Danielle’s colleagues who has worked his way up from a refuse and recycling operative to a recycling education officer, after completing apprenticeships at Levels 2-4, is Rory Woller, 31, from Llanfairfechain.

Having worked for the council for 12 years, he now manages a team of four community recycling officers.

“When I first joined the authority, I was determined to develop a career whereby I would keep climbing the ladder,” he said. “I am committed to this sector now and any future employment would possibly be in site management or waste regulations.

“An apprenticeship shows the level of learning that you are capable of achieving and demonstrates that you are committed to improving yourself and your professional development.”

The Apprenticeship Programme in Wales is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.

Feature image: Conwy County Borough Council assistant waste disposal manager Danielle Richards with recycling education officer Rory Woller.

This Adult Learners Week, Cambrian Training wants to inspire individuals of all ages to be lifelong learners and debunk the myth that apprenticeships are only for school leavers.

Their work-based apprenticeships give individuals from all walks of life the opportunity to gain brand new skills, embed their current knowledge with qualifications; or even change careers.

Last year alone, Cambrian Training helped over 500 individuals aged 24 and over achieve their career goals through their award-winning apprenticeship programmes.

One of those apprentices is Dai Moore, a Golf Services Associate who initially felt apprehensive about doing an apprenticeship due to his age, but now has an unwavering commitment to achieving his Level 2 Hospitality Services qualification and recommends apprenticeships wholeheartedly to everyone.

Dai, employed at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, states:

“This has been nothing short of an amazing experience for me! Cambrian Training has helped me to grow both personally and professionally and I now have a thirst for knowledge as well as a passion for all things customer service.”

From an apprentice who is just beginning their learning journey, to an individual who continues to grow and progress – Lesley Davies has just completed her Level 4 Hospitality Management Apprenticeship and is now embarking on a Level 5 in Management.   

Lesley praises her Training Officer Aled for his unrivalled knowledge and support and credits him and her Apprenticeship for being promoted an impressive three times.  

“I cannot thank Aled enough for the training and knowledge he has provided me with. The course itself is well-rounded and has definitely assisted in improving my management skills; helping me to advance in my career.”

“I am very keen to continue to progress onto the level 5 course and can’t wait for the graduation event”, says an excited Lesley.

Former chef Gerwyn Williams credits his Apprenticeship in Sustainable Recycling Activities in assisting his transition from running his own restaurant, to a career in waste recycling.

Now a Team Manager at Bryson Recycling Wales, Gerwyn says:

“I encourage all of my workmates to do an apprenticeship as it definitely opens doors.”

Gerwyn won Cambrian Training’s Apprentice of the Year Award at this year’s event and said:

“Having changed my career, this award shows that I have chosen the right path.”  

Another inspiring story is that of Ceri Nicholls, a Cambrian Training employee who has just completed her Level 4 Apprenticeship in Digital Marketing.   

“After being successful within event management, I wanted to move into more of the marketing side of things. My apprenticeship has enabled me to do just that. I have gained valuable experience and theoretical knowledge as well as an accredited qualification. That is what makes work-based apprenticeships so great!”

These are the experiences of just a small number of the many older apprentices who – for over 25 years – Cambrian Training has supported to achieve their career goals.   

Adult Learning Week is the biggest celebration of lifelong learning in Wales, with more than 10,000 adults taking part every year. The campaign’s aim is to encourage a passion for learning and skill development.

With qualifications in a variety of sectors and the ability to deliver across the whole of Wales, Cambrian Training want to encourage everyone this Adult Learners Week to progress in their career by gaining new skills and qualifications; no matter your age. 

Contact their dedicated team today to understand what apprenticeships can do for your career. Email on: info@cambriantraining.com or tel: 01938 555 893

The Apprenticeship Programme in Wales is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.

Visit: www.cambriantraining.com

Feature image: Dai Moore, Level 2 Apprentice in Hospitality Services.

Award-winning, pan Wales training provider Cambrian Training is celebrating Zero Waste Week from September 4-8 and has published its own Sustainability Strategy.

Based in Welshpool, Cambrian Training is one of Wales’ main providers of apprenticeships to businesses of all sizes and is playing a key role in helping the Welsh Government work towards its Net Zero 2050 target.

The company’s Sustainability Strategy sets out a commitment to digital meetings with staff and learners to reduce the impact of travel. Other commitments include investment in renewable energy, such as solar panels, energy efficient appliances, biodegradable and compostable products, water saving and organic and locally sourced food produced using sustainable farming practices.

To reduce carbon emissions, Cambrian Training pledges to work towards a complete fleet of electric vehicles, car sharing and encouraging staff to get active by walking and cycling short distances rather than jumping in a car.

The company, which operates pan Wales, has launched a pioneering Apprenticeship in Energy and Carbon Management to help businesses move towards the Net Zero 2050 target

The apprenticeship is perfect for companies of all sizes which already have or wish to appoint an energy champion. Approval is currently being sought from Qualifications Wales to add a Foundation and Higher Apprenticeship in Energy Management in order to create a clear progression route for learners and businesses.

Cambrian Training also delivers Waste and Recycling Management apprenticeships to suit all areas of the industry, from Levels 2 to 4, covering the collection, transport, disposal and the final management of waste and recyclables.

Faith O’Brien, Cambrian Training’s managing director, said:

“As business leaders, we see sustainability as more than just a buzzword; it’s a commitment to our future and we aim to foster a transformative approach to our practices.

“By integrating sustainability at every level, we are not only preparing our staff and apprentices for the challenges of today but ensuring a resilient and prosperous tomorrow.”

Cambrian Training works with a wide range of employers across Wales to deliver sustainable resource apprenticeships, including the county councils for Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Pembrokeshire.

Other businesses include Bryson Recycling, Lelo Skip Hire Ltd, Mainetti (UK) Ltd, Crest Cooperative, Ash Waste Services, Antur Waunfawr and CB Environmental.

Award-winning Bryson Recycling, based in Colwyn Bay, is the largest social enterprise recycler in the UK, currently employing 10 apprentices in a Welsh workforce of 60. Treating waste as a sustainable resource, the company recycles 12,000 tonnes of house waste annually.

Bryson Recycling was rewarded for prioritising staff learning and development earlier this year when it won the Large Employer of the Year at Cambrian Training’s annual Apprenticeship, Employment and Skills Awards.

Apprenticeships have given Bryson Recycling employees the skills and knowledge to climb the promotion ladder from recycling operative to managers, improving the business performance in the process.

Running work-based apprenticeships has also helped the company to retain staff and win contracts from Conwy County Borough Council and Denbighshire County Council for five household recycling centres across North Wales.

Gareth Walsh, Bryson Recycling (Wales) general manager, emphasises the learning culture within the business.

“My entire management team has come through Cambrian Training’s apprenticeship programme,” he said

“Our qualified apprentices are now helping to mentor the next generation of apprentices coming through. Apprenticeships are integral to the company’s mission alongside managing resources sustainably to help save the environment.

“At Bryson Recycling we recognise the crucial role that our staff play in the success of our business and we take great pride in developing our people.

“We have been working with Cambrian Training for more than six years and the apprenticeship programme has benefitted our business in a number of ways – it has helped us improve the quality of our services, supported staff retention and has helped employees progress their career within the organisation.”

Supporting the Welsh Government’s circular economy mission, Bryson Recycling operates a ‘Choose to Reuse’ scheme across its five sites where employees identify items that could be reused and are set aside for members of the public to take.

The company also has reuse shops at its Mochdre and Rhyl sites which are operated in partnership with a local charity, St David’s Hospice.

For more information about the Apprenticeships in Energy and Carbon Management and Waste and Recycling Management delivered by Cambrian Training, contact Amy Edwards, Head of Sustainability, at amy@cambriantraining.com or visit the company’s website www.cambriantraining.com .

Founded by Rachelle Strauss in 2008, #ZeroWasteWeek is an annual awareness campaign designed to help householders, businesses, organisations, schools, universities and community groups to reduce landfill waste to save money, preserve resources and protect the environment.

Rachel’s mission is to empower everyone to rethink ‘rubbish’ as a valuable resource. By making small changes that lead to more sustainable consumption patterns, everyone can help to reduce landfill, save money and participate in the circular economy in line with the global goals for sustainable development, she says.

The Apprenticeship Programme in  Wales is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.

Feature image: Solar panels on Ty Cambrian, Cambrian Training’s headquarters in Welshpool.

A man who has climbed through the ranks at Bryson Recycling to become a Team Leader has won second apprenticeship award.

Andrew Bennett, 54, who works at the company’s Mochdre site, was named the Outstanding Apprentice of the Year at Cambrian Training Company’s annual Apprenticeship, Employment and Skills Awards. He adds the accolade to the Foundation Apprentice of the Year Award which he won in 2019.

Recognising employers and learners who have excelled in apprenticeship, skills and employment training programmes delivered by Cambrian Training Company, the awards were held at The Metropole Hotel & Spa, Llandrindod Wells.

“The award is a reflection of the hard work I am doing for the company,” said Andrew. “I love my job and want to continue my career with the company to become team manager.

“Apprenticeships have helped me to learn a lot more about recycling and I promote them to my workmates.”

It was a successful night for Bryson Recycling which won the Large Employer of the Year award and employee Gerwyn Llyr Williams was named Apprentice of the Year.

Despite being dyslexic and losing the sight in his left eye as a child, Andrew has worked hard to achieve a Foundation Apprenticeship and an Apprenticeship in Sustainable Recycling Activities which have secured him promotion to team leader.

He is now working towards a Higher Apprenticeship (Level 4) in Systems and Operations Management and helps members of his team with their apprenticeships.

Andrew, who originally joined Bryson Recycling on the Community Payback scheme in 2017, has improved the recycling rate at Abergele by teaching customers how to save items from landfill.

Following the lead by a workmate the previous year, he took recycled toys and games to a local church for children in need last Christmas.

John Franks, Bryson Recycling’s Site Manager, said:

“Andrew has done a great job of completing so many courses and also assists other members of staff complete their qualifications, which has improved his development as a leader.

“He has jumped on board with our Choose to Reuse programme which enables customers to help themselves to items that are not needed or wanted by others.  Andrew took it upon himself to take toys and games to a church over Christmas for children who don’t have much, which was a fantastic idea.”

Faith O’Brien, Cambrian Training Company’s Managing Director, congratulated Andrew and other award winners and finalists.

“You have worked hard to get to where you are today and you should be proud of your accomplishments,” she said.

“You have invested your time and energy into learning your craft and your efforts have paid off. You have not only gained valuable knowledge and skills, but you have also earned the respect and admiration of your peers and colleagues.

“The knowledge and skills you have gained are just the beginning. There is always more to learn and new challenges to overcome. I encourage you to continue to push yourself, seek out new opportunities and strive for excellence.”

The Apprenticeship Programme in Wales is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.

Picture caption: Andrew Bennett receives the Outstanding Apprentice of the Year award from Faith O’Brien, Cambrian Training Company’s Managing Director.

A ground-breaking Apprenticeship in Energy and Carbon Management is being launched in Wales to help businesses move towards the country’s Net Zero target by 2050.

The new apprenticeship qualification – the first in Wales – is being delivered by award-winning training provider Cambrian Training Company and is designed for companies of all sizes and industries to save money and reduce their carbon footprint.

“This is an opportunity for all businesses across Wales to upskill staff to gain invaluable skills and knowledge within sustainability and meet targets set by the Welsh Government’s plan of ‘Net Zero by 2050,” said Amy Edwards, Cambrian Training’s Head of Sustainability.

“Learning through apprenticeships can help staff develop practical skills paired with theoretical knowledge that are essential to develop a successful career in the industry.

“The new Apprenticeship in Energy Management is perfect for companies of all sizes who already have or wish to appoint an energy champion. This apprenticeship is available to both new recruits and existing employees.”

Heading the team delivering the new apprenticeship, Amy is keen to recruit more sustainability training officers across Wales to meet the expected demand from businesses.

Amy will be working closely with team member Liz Cain to deliver this exciting new qualification; who is close to completing a Master’s Degree in Outdoor Sustainability Environmental Education through the University of Scotland.

Typical job roles that would be supported by the apprenticeship include junior energy manager, energy analyst, facilities manager, finance officers involved in energy budgets, lifecycle/maintenance engineer, new energy manager, up-skilling energy specialists, energy, Net Zero or carbon champion and building energy supervisor.

The apprenticeship will support organisations to meet energy and cost reduction objectives and targets as part of their wider sustainability commitments, such as carbon and water management and corporate social responsibility.

It will help the apprentice to recognise opportunities to save money, understand key challenges associated with transport efficiencies and carbon emissions and how they relate to their organisation’s energy management strategy, regulatory and legal compliance and reporting status.

The apprentice will work with customers and suppliers to analyse and understand their organisation’s energy and water usage and review waste management and supply chain requirements.

Cambrian Training is seeking approval from Qualifications Wales to add a Foundation and Higher Apprenticeship in Energy Management in order to create a clear progression route.

The Welsh Government funded apprenticeship can be delivered through the medium of Welsh or bilingually and is delivered directly in the workplace. All apprenticeship qualifications are tailored to the needs of the learner and business.

For more information about this new apprenticeship in Energy and Carbon Management, contact Cambrian Training online at www.cambriantraining.com/wp/en/contact-us/

Picture caption: Cambrian Training Company’s Head of Sustainability Amy Edwards (centre) with Training Officers Liz Cain and Rodica Zus.

A North Wales social enterprise, which employs 100 staff providing work, training and health and wellbeing opportunities for more than 60 people with learning disabilities, has won an award from a leading Welsh work-based learning provider.

Antur Waunfawr, based in Caernarfon, was named Medium Employer of the Year at Cambrian Training Company’s annual Apprenticeship, Employment and Skills Awards.

Recognising employers and learners who have excelled in apprenticeship, skills and employment training programmes delivered across Wales by Cambrian Training Company, the awards were held at The Metropole Hotel & Spa, Llandrindod Wells.

The awards ceremony turned into a triple celebration for Antur Waunfawr when the company’s multi-skilled bikes officer Jack Williams won the Foundation Apprentice and Welsh Language Ambassador of the Year Awards.

Gwenlli Wynne, Antur Waunfawr’s business development manager, said:

“Receiving these awards means so much to us all and we thank everyone that made it happen. Having the opportunities to offer our staff an apprenticeship course in Welsh is so valuable.

“I’d like to thank Amy Edwards from Cambrian Training for the support she gave Jack Williams and Tom Workman throughout their apprenticeships.”

Ellen Thirsk, Antur Waunfawr’s chief executive, said:

“We are so proud to win the Medium Employer of the Year award and congratulate Jack Williams on winning two apprenticeship awards. Big congratulations also to everyone else who took part. It’s nice to see people developing themselves.”

Passionate about developing employees, the company has supported 21 on Apprenticeships ranging from Levels 2 to 4 in Sustainable Recycling Activities, Health and Social Care Practice and Professional Practice in Health and Social Care.

Many of the staff, whose first language is Welsh, have completed their apprenticeships in their first language or bilingually.

The company runs four sustainable local businesses involved in reusing furniture, clothes and textiles, recycling plastic, paper shredding, a bike hire, repair and service shop, a café, craft shop, micro-brewery and a seven-acre nature park and allotments.

Founded in 1984, Antur Waunfawr supports the continuous improvement of staff and projects, providing local young people with opportunities to stay within their communities by providing training and employment opportunities to preserve wealth in our region.

Gwenlli Wynne, Antur Waunfawr’s business development manager, said:

“Our managers always look ahead and future proof our projects and one of the ways to achieve this is by developing our staff.

“As a close knit company, our managers know all 100 staff by name and not number, make time to know everyone and understand their strengths and weaknesses and work with them. We see potential in people and find the most suitable training for everyone.”

Faith O’Brien, Cambrian Training Company’s managing director, congratulated Antur Waunfawr and the other award winners and finalists.

“Employers are the driving force behind the success of apprenticeships and their dedication to providing quality training and mentorship is commendable,” she said.

“Through their participation, they open the doors to real-world experiences, enabling apprentices to acquire the practical skills and knowledge necessary for their chosen fields.

“Apprenticeships are an investment in our future and they provide the foundation for a strong and vibrant economy.”

The Apprenticeship Programme in  Wales is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.

Picture caption: Antur Waunfawr apprentices Tom Workman (left) and Jack Williams at Beics Antur Bikes with the three awards.

Former chef Gerwyn Llyr Williams has swapped running his own award-winning restaurant for a new career in waste recycling, quickly being promoted to Team Manager at Bryson Recycling’s Denbigh and Ruthin sites.

His decision to change career secured him the Apprentice of the Year Award at leading Welsh work-based learning provider Cambrian Training Company’s annual Apprenticeship, Employment and Skills Awards.

Recognising employers and learners who have excelled in apprenticeship, skills and employment training programmes delivered by Cambrian Training Company, the awards were held at The Metropole Hotel & Spa, Llandrindod Wells.

“I have really chuffed to win this award,” said Gerwyn. “Having changed my career, this award shows that I have chosen the right path and I hope to grow with the company in the future.

“I am encouraging all my workmates to do an apprenticeship because it definitely opens doors.”

Gerwyn’s transition from being a chef has been supported by an Apprenticeship in Sustainable Recycling Activities and he is now working towards a Higher Apprenticeship (Level 4) in Systems and Operations Management which he says has helped his progression.

His willingness to learn and work in different roles across the business, has seen him climb the promotion ladder since joining in 2020.

Bryson Recycling describes Gerwyn as an asset who has contributed to improving the company’s recycling rate and reducing the amount of materials going to landfill.

“After many years in the catering industry, I was ready for a new challenge and sold my business at the end of 2019,” added Gerwyn who opened a restaurant in Betws-y-Coed after working as a chef in North Wales and London. He still works part-time as a chef.

“When I started my new role, it was a new challenge being out of my comfort zone, especially having been working for myself for six years. What I have learnt on my apprenticeships has helped prepare me for being a team leader and setting up the new sites to meet company procedures and build a good, safe workforce.”

John Franks, Bryson Recycling’s Site Manager, said it didn’t take the company long to realise that Gerwyn would be a great asset.

“Gerwyn has taken great strides within the company since coming to work for us during a very testing time for everyone just before the Covid outbreak,” he added. “As he came to us with no knowledge of waste, it is a credit to him that he picked up the understanding of recycling very quickly.”

Faith O’Brien, Cambrian Training Company’s Managing Director, congratulated Gerwyn and all the other award winners and finalists.

“You have worked hard to get to where you are today and you should be proud of your accomplishments,” she said.

“You have invested your time and energy into learning your craft and your efforts have paid off. You have not only gained valuable knowledge and skills, but you have also earned the respect and admiration of your peers and colleagues.

“The knowledge and skills you have gained are just the beginning. There is always more to learn and new challenges to overcome. I encourage you to continue to push yourself, seek out new opportunities and strive for excellence.”

The Apprenticeship Programme in  Wales is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.

Picture caption: Gerwyn Llyr Williams receives his award from Cambrian Training Company’s Managing Director Faith O’Brien.

The UK’s biggest hotel chain with more than 800 hotels, 400 restaurants and 36,000 employees has picked up an award from a leading Welsh apprenticeship provider.

Whitbread plc was named Macro Employer of the Year at Cambrian Training Company’s apprenticeship awards held at The Metropole Hotel & Spa, Llandrindod Wells.

The awards recognise employers and learners who have excelled in apprenticeship, skills and employment training programmes delivered by Cambrian Training Company and partners.

Whitbread plc includes Premier Inn and restaurant brands Beefeater, Brewers Fayre, Table Table and Bar + Block and Cookhouse & Pub in its stable.

Apprenticeships fit neatly into the company’s ‘Force for Good’ sustainability programme, the pillars of which are opportunity, community and responsibility.

Richard Brooks-Harley, Whitbread’s apprenticeships delivery manager, said the company was delighted to win the award.

“I am very proud of what we do to support our apprentices across the devolved nations.

“Apprenticeships provide opportunities to all our employees and to receive this award on their behalf is very meaningful to me.”

Over the last year, 230 apprentices have achieved their apprenticeship with a further 2,100 now on the programme. A wide range of apprenticeships associated with the hospitality industry, from Levels 2-5, are provided and help to retain staff which improves the guest experience, boosts sales and reduces costs.

The apprenticeships are delivered by Lifetime Training in partnership with Cambrian Training Company. In 2022, 70% of the company’s apprentices were promoted within a year of completing their apprenticeship.

Whitbread plc’s founder, Samuel Whitbread, was himself an apprentice, which underlines the company’s commitment to learning and development.

Charlene Clark, Whitbread plc’s apprenticeship support co-ordinator, said: 

“Our apprenticeship provision fits in with our Force for Good programme and gives all our team members the opportunity to learn and develop. With a no barriers to entry approach, all our team can reach their potential.

“We have an available apprenticeship programme for every operational role within our organisation and strive to provide industry leading training and development in an inclusive environment for all our teams.”

Highlighting the value of retaining employees, a one per cent decrease in staff turnover adds £5million to the company’s bottom line. Retention is 10% higher for apprentices.

Faith O’Brien, Cambrian Training Company’s managing director, congratulated Whitbread and the other award winners and finalists.

“Employers are the driving force behind the success of apprenticeships and their dedication to providing quality training and mentorship is commendable,” she said.

“Through their participation, they open the doors to real-world experiences, enabling apprentices to acquire the practical skills and knowledge necessary for their chosen fields.

“Apprenticeships are an investment in our future and they provide the foundation for a strong and vibrant economy.”

The Apprenticeship Programme in  Wales is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.

Picture caption: Whitbread’s apprenticeships delivery manager Richard Brooks-Harley receives the Macro Employer of the Year award from Cambrian Training Company’s managing director Faith O’Brien watched by area manager for Wales Mark Hughes, partnership manager for Whitbread Phil Prior and operations manager for the devolved nations Justin Hoskins, all from Lifetime Training.

A multi-skilled bikes officer with North West Wales social enterprise Antur Waunfawr was honoured twice at a leading Welsh training company’s annual awards ceremony.

Versatile 24-year-old Jack Williams was named Foundation Apprentice of the Year and Welsh Language Ambassador of the Year at Cambrian Training Company’s Apprenticeship, Employment and Skills Awards.

Recognising employers and learners who have excelled in apprenticeship, skills and employment training programmes delivered by Cambrian Training Company, the awards were held at The Metropole Hotel & Spa, Llandrindod Wells.

“It’s amazing to win these awards and nice to be recognised for the work we are doing with Antur Waunfawr,” said Jack. “These awards are not just for me, but for everyone who works there.

“Antur Waunfawr has supported and helped me to go on the apprenticeship and courses which have been brilliant. Doing an apprenticeship while you are working and being paid is much more beneficial to me than being in a classroom.

“Being able to do the apprenticeship in the Welsh language was so much easier for me to communicate in my first language. I would like to see more bilingual apprentices to grow the Welsh language.

“Having suffered with mental health issues myself, I hope that, by winning these awards, I can encourage other young people to talk more about their feelings.”

The award judges were impressed by Jack’s willingness to help across the business, sharing his time between the bike shop and helping with the collection of recycled materials, clothing and furniture.

He also acts as a support worker and coach to individuals with additional needs, visits schools to teach students how to ride safely and maintain a bicycle and is the company’s zero waste champion in the workshop.

Dedicated to developing his skills, Jack has progressed from a Foundation Apprenticeship to an Apprenticeship in Sustainable Recycling Activities Supervisor as well as completing a series of in-house training courses bilingually.

Welsh language is spoken daily at work and he promotes the language wherever possible. He writes informative email templates bilingually to support the busy workshop, where he is the zero waste champion.

Tom Workman, Antur Waunfawr’s senior bike officer, said:

“Over the last two years, Jack has implemented many superb ideas in the way we run as a business and in our day to day workshop activities.

“He has grown into the role of zero waste champion in the workshop, using all salvageable parts of old bikes and breaking down the rest to recyclable elements.

He’s an essential member of the team here in Beics.”

Faith O’Brien, Cambrian Training Company’s managing director, congratulated Jack and other award winners and finalists.

“You have worked hard to get to where you are today and you should be proud of your accomplishments,” she said.

“You have invested your time and energy into learning your craft and your efforts have paid off. You have not only gained valuable knowledge and skills, but you have also earned the respect and admiration of your peers and colleagues.

“The knowledge and skills you have gained are just the beginning. There is always more to learn and new challenges to overcome. I encourage you to continue to push yourself, seek out new opportunities and strive for excellence.”

The Apprenticeship Programme in  Wales is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.

Two social enterprises completed a hat-trick at a leading Welsh apprenticeship provider’s annual awards ceremony.

Bryson Recycling (Wales), based in Colwyn Bay and Antur Waunfawr, based in Caernarfon, both had triple reason to celebrate at Cambrian Training Company’s annual Apprenticeship, Employment and Skills Awards.

The largest social enterprise recycler in the UK, Bryson Recycling was named Large Employer of the Year while employees Andrew Bennett and Gerwyn Llyr Williams won the Outstanding Apprentice of the Year and Apprentice of the Year awards, respectively.

Antur Waunfawr won the Medium Employer of the Year, while the company’s 24-year-old bikes officer, Jack Williams, completed the double by winning Foundation Apprentice of the Year and Welsh Language Apprenticeship Ambassador awards.

Other winners were Gladstone’s Library, Hawarden, who won the Small Employer of the Year Award and Whitbread plc who won the Macro Employer of the Year.

The prestigious awards, held at The Metropole Hotel & Spa, Llandrindod Wells, celebrated employers and learners from across Wales, who have excelled in the work-based apprenticeship programmes delivered by Cambrian Training Company.

Faith O’Brien, Cambrian Training Company’s managing director, congratulated the winners and finalists.

“The path to becoming a professional is not an easy one and it takes a great deal of determination, perseverance and a willingness to learn,” she said. “Our apprentices have shown that they possess these qualities and more.

“They have taken on the challenges of learning a trade and, through their hard work and effort, they have become skilled and knowledgeable in their chosen field.

“Apprenticeships are an investment in our future, providing the foundation for a strong and vibrant economy. Tonight, we celebrate not only the achievements of our apprentices, but also the dedication and support of their mentors, trainers and employers.”

Addressing the apprentices, she added:

“As you move forward in your careers, remember that learning never stops. I encourage you to continue to push yourself, seek out new opportunities and strive for excellence.”

The Apprenticeship Programme in Wales is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.

Feature image: Bryson Recycling’s Andrew Bennett, Dan McCade, Gareth Walsh, Mark Ellis and Gerwyn Llyr Williams with their awards.

One of Wales’ leading work-based learning companies has celebrated the achievements of apprentices from across country at its Apprenticeship Graduation Awards ceremony.

Sixty apprentices received their graduation scrolls in their cap and gowns at the ceremony organised by Welshpool-based Cambrian Training Company at the Metropole Hotel and Spa, Llandrindod Wells.

The graduates included Patrick Rixson, 24, head chef at Bank Farm Leisure, Horton, Gower, who qualified as an engineer before deciding to focus on his passion for cooking, having been inspired by his mum.

Patrick began washing pots in the kitchen at his local pub, The Ship Inn in Port Eynon, at the age of 15 and graduated to commis chef. He went on to work at Bank Farm Leisure and the Britannia Inn, Llanmadog, achieving a Foundation Apprenticeship and Apprenticeship in Professional Cookery with Cambrian Training.

Keen to continue learning, he recently completed a Higher Apprenticeship (Level 4) in Hospitality Management and hopes to gain experience working in other kitchens in the future before ultimately opening his own bistro where he can teach chefs.

“Apprenticeships are brilliant because they offer you so many opportunities to progress yourself whilst working full-time,” said Patrick. “They open your eyes to what the trade can offer when you have the right skills the knowledge under your belt.

“My advice to school leavers or anyone considering their future career is not to be a sheep and follow the flock to college or university. You can progress on your own through an apprenticeship and achieve more than you would by going to college or university, building up a huge debt at the end.”

Training officer Will Richards praised Patrick’s enthusiasm and passion to learn new things.

“We can teach the skills and theory, but we can’t teach the will to succeed and Patrick has that in abundance,” he said.

“The last year has been character building for him because he combined the Higher Apprenticeship with running a busy kitchen.”

Congratulating all the graduates, Cambrian Training’s managing director Faith O’Brien told them:

“You have worked hard, showed dedication and have come out on top, with skills and knowledge that will last a lifetime.

“Your training has given you the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally and to become part of a skilled workforce that will make a valuable contribution to society.

“You have the potential to make a positive impact on the world and I have no doubt that you will go on to achieve great things.

“Remember that learning never stops. Your apprenticeship has provided you with a solid foundation, but the future is yours to shape.”

She praised training officers and staff at Cambrian Training and the company’s partners for playing a critical role in ensuring that apprentices receive the best vocational training and personal development experience.

She also acknowledged the important support given to apprentices by employers, work colleagues, their families and friends.

Cambrian Training’s partners are Sirius Skills Consulting, Lifetime Training, Progression Training, Call of the Wild, Clybau Plant Cymru, AGW, Work-based Training Agency, Portal Training, Inspiro and NTG Training.

The Apprenticeship Programme in Wales is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.

Visit: www.cambriantraining.com

Nineteen finalists have been announced for the annual Apprenticeship, Employment and Skills Awards organised by one of Wales’ top training companies.

The prestigious awards will be held at The Metropole Hotel & Spa, Llandrindod Wells on May 17 and is a celebration of employers and learners from across Wales, who have excelled in the work-based apprenticeship programmes delivered by Cambrian Training Company.

Finalists for Foundation Apprentice of the Year Award are Jack Williams, bikes officer and multi-skilled worker at Antur Waunfawr, Caernarfon, Katie Duffy, chef at The Links at the Ashburnham Golf Club, Burry Port and Jason Taylor, frozen intakes supervisor Kepak St Merryn, Merthyr Tydfil.

Apprentice of the Year Award finalists are: Gerwyn Llyr Williams, team manager at Bryson Recycling’s Denbigh and Ruthin sites, Sabrina Germani, assistant manager at Coffi Co, Cardiff, David Bennett, beef boning hall manager at Kepak St Merryn, Merthyr Tydfil and Hannah May Riddell, assistant manager of Las Iguanas, Cardiff.

Finalists in the Outstanding Apprentice of the Year Award are Andrew Bennett, team leader at Bryson Recycling’s Abergele site, Antony Ockwell, apprentice butcher at Barratt’s Fine Meats, Rhoose and Diana Matos, purchasing assistant and Layla Gibbons, food and beverage associate, who both work for The Celtic Collection, Newport.

Finalists for the Small Employer of the Year Award are The Trewythen Restaurant with Rooms, Llanidloes and Gladstone’s Library, Hawarden. Alongside Claremont Court Care Home, Newport and Antur Waunfawr, Caernarfon contesting the Medium Employer of the Year Award; whilst the Large and Macro Employer of the Year Awards finalists are Bryson Recycling (Wales), Colwyn Bay, The Celtic Collection, Newport, Whitbread plc and Bodelwyddan Castle Hotel, Bodwelwyddan.

Faith O’Brien, Cambrian Training Company’s managing director, said:

“As we approach the graduation ceremony at the Metropole Hotel & Spa, I am both excited and proud to host the awards.

“This is a time of great celebration, not just for the apprentices themselves but for everyone who has had the privilege of being part of their journey.

“We gather to celebrate the dedication and commitment by individuals and companies playing a crucial role in driving the economy forward and supporting the apprenticeship programme here in Wales.”

The Apprenticeship Programme in Wales is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.

Visit: www.cambriantraining.com

Bilingual apprenticeships are helping two men to develop promising careers at a leading North Wales social enterprise that provides jobs and training opportunities for people with learning disabilities in their own community.

Tom Workman, 39, senior bikes officer and Jack Williams, 24, bikes officer, work for Antur Waunfawr, based in Waunfawr and Caernarfon, where they are close to completing an Apprenticeship (Level 3) and Foundation Apprenticeship (Level 2) respectively in Sustainable Recycling Activities.

Their apprenticeships are being delivered bilingually by Amy Edwards, head of Cambrian Training Company’s sustainable, food, drink and business unit.

Tom and Jack run Antur Waunfawr’s bike shop, Beics Antur Bikes, which hires bikes, including ebikes and adaptive bikes, as well as refurbishing and recycling donated bikes and supporting and training individuals with learning disabilities.

Antur Waunfawr employs 97 staff and supports 65 adults with learning difficulties, whilst also providing valuable reuse, recycling and health and wellbeing services to the communities it serves.

Recognising the value of bilingual apprenticeships to the business, Antur Waunfawr and Cambrian Training Company are highlighting apprentices Tom and Jack to celebrate Apprenticeship Week in Wales from February 6-12. Find out more about the week at www.cambriantraining.com/wp/en/national-apprenticeship-week-2023/

Tom, who previously was a statistician with the WJEC in Cardiff before moving to North Wales, says he has found his “dream job” with Antur Waunfawr and is enjoying his bilingual apprenticeship – the first time he has studied in Welsh.

“My advice to anybody considering an apprenticeship is to pick something that interests you and go for it,” he said. “I like a new challenge and see myself working at Antur Waunfawr for a good while because I work with good people.”

Jack, who previously worked in an office for four years, says he loves his job because of the interesting variety of work and he enjoys making a positive impact in the lives of the people he supports and trains.

“The main benefits of an apprenticeship are that you are learning and developing your career whilst also improving yourself as a person,” he added. “It has been really helpful to do the apprenticeship through the medium of Welsh.

“I would definitely like to climb the ladder within the company and progress to a Level 3 Apprenticeship.”

Gwenlli Wynne, Antur Waunfawr’s business development manager, says Tom and Jack are valuable members of staff.

“It has been great to see them develop since they started with us in 2021,” she added.

“They have both completed Level 2 and 3 Cycle Mechanics qualifications and are aiming to finish their apprenticeship by the end of this month.

“As Antur Waunfawr works in the medium of Welsh, it’s important that we can offer our staff the opportunity of completing qualifications in Welsh, their first language. Having the regular onsite visits from Cambrian Training staff in Welsh has made the experience easier for our staff.”

Amy Edwards said of Jack and Tom:

“They are very good learners with excellent customer service skills and are keen to develop their skills and knowledge to provide training support to the adults with learning difficulties that they work with.

“Jack’s first language is Welsh and most of his discussions with me are recorded in Welsh. Tom prefers to complete his written work in English but confidently speaks Welsh during his observations.”

Learn more about apprenticeships in Welsh and how Cambrian Training Company promotes the use of the Welsh language at: www.cambriantraining.com/wp/en/promoting-the-welsh-language/

Apprenticeship Week promotes the benefits of an apprenticeship to employers and individuals. Apprenticeships offer the perfect combination of earning and learning, allowing apprentices to continue their education and gain nationally recognised qualifications whilst working alongside experienced staff.

Employers recruit apprentices to create a motivated workforce and a future pipeline of talent. Apprenticeships are open to everyone over the age of 16, of all abilities, and support is tailored for each apprentice. Available at four levels, there is an apprenticeship to suit every learner in 23 work sectors.

As part of its ‘Genius Decision’ campaign, the Welsh Government says apprenticeships help individuals accelerate their career by providing the right experience and job-specific skill and help businesses recruit in a cost-effective way.

A leading training company has been named the Best Work Based Apprenticeship Provider in Wales by Corporate Vision Magazine.

Cambrian Training Company, which has offices in Welshpool, Llanelli, Builth Wells, Holyhead and Colwyn Bay, received the accolade in Corporate Vision’s Education & Training Awards 2022.

“Our awards have always been centred around recognising and rewarding the determination, ambition and excellence of the world’s finest educators – from the key education providers, to training specialists and educational technology innovators,” said Corporate Vision.

The magazine says Cambrian Training Company has “forged an incredible reputation through its work-based apprenticeship programmes”.

The company is praised for its innovations in digital learning, support for learners, partnerships with employers across Wales and for working closely with the Welsh Government, qualification awarding bodies and communities.

“For over 25 years, the multi-award-winning Cambrian Training has been delivering expert training in a range of industry sectors, defining it as a leading figure within its field of apprenticeships in Wales,” says Corporate Vision.

“It’s training officers, who are both devoted and enthusiastic, are professionals within a plethora of diverse sectors, including – but not limited to – hospitality, food and drink manufacturing, sustainable resource management, and business.

“Busting the myths and misconceptions surrounding apprenticeships comes naturally with this task, and it is something that Cambrian Training is deeply passionate about. The company wants to shine a light on the array of positives that work-based training provides to both learners and businesses.”

Arwyn Watkins, OBE, Cambrian Training Company’s managing director, said:

“I am delighted that the company and its staff have been recognised for their work in delivering apprenticeships across Wales, especially after the challenges that we all faced during the pandemic.

“This award is also an endorsement for all the work we do to help apprentices and employers achieve their respective goals.”

Picture caption:

Cambrian Training Company’s managing director Arwyn Watkins, OBE and director of quality and skills Anne Jones with staff members Haydn Lloyd, Cai Watkins, Jack Brets, Jacqueline Jones and Cath Watkin.

Staff from a leading provider of apprenticeships have raised £1,872 for Marie Curie  by virtually walking the Cambrian Way Path with support from an army of friends.

Cambrian Training Company, which has offices in Welshpool, Llanelli, Builth Wells, Holyhead and Colwyn Bay, launched its 60 Days Across the Cambrian Way fundraising challenge in August last year.

The company encouraged individuals, families, businesses, organisations and sports clubs to join staff in covering the 291-mile distance of the Cambrian Way Path virtually in 60 days.

Individuals took on the challenge alone and by splitting the distance with a team or with family and friends, thereby boosting their health and mental wellbeing, whilst supporting a much loved charity.

Welshpool-based WPG Ltd donated medals for all participants and signed up a team of 21 staff members to take on the challenge while Constructiv Clothing Ltd from Newtown sponsored a T-shirt.

Cambrian Way Path stretches from Cardiff to Conwy, crossing the Cambrian Mountains, after which Cambrian Training is named.

Marie Curie, the UK’s leading end of life charity, provides essential nursing for people with any terminal illness, a free support line and a wealth of information and support on all aspects of dying, death and bereavement.

“We are delighted with the sum raised for Marie Curie thanks to the contributions of staff and supporters,” said Katy Godsell, Cambrian Training’s marketing manager.

“Marie Curie is a fantastic charity that touches the lives of so many people in Wales and needs public support more than ever, after the challenges of the last couple of years.”

Marie Curie’s senior community fundraiser for Wales Victoria Hardy, speaking on behalf of the charity’s Welshpool Fundraising Group, said: “We are thrilled that Cambrian Training chose to support Marie Curie in this way.

“These funds will be used to support our local Marie Curie services so that more people and their families can access the care and support they need, at the time when they need it most.”

Three years ago, Cambrian Training raised £2,290 for Cancer Research by running, walking and cycling 1,000 miles, visiting all 22 counties of Wales, during the year. A team of staff members also ran the Cardiff Half Marathon for the charity.

Cambrian Training specialises in the delivery of apprenticeships and employability opportunities across a range of industries pan-Wales.

“Well trained staff equals a happy environment in the workplace and that benefits everybody, including the community.”

Those are the words of Steve James, hotel services department manager at Bronglais General Hospital, Aberystwyth, which was named Macro Employer of the Year at the annual Apprenticeship, Employment and Skills Awards organised by Cambrian Training Company.

 The hospital, which is part of Hywel Dda University Health Board, works closely with Cambrian Training Company to deliver a Foundation Apprenticeship in Cleaning and Support Services and an Apprenticeship in Cleaning and Support Supervision to 17 employees.

Apprenticeships contribute towards well trained staff who fully understand their roles in delivering healthcare to the community.

Soft facilities management officer Denise Thomas and domestic supervisors Jane Weston and Carina James-Moffat accepted the award on behalf of the team covering Bronglais General Hospital, Tregaron Community Hospital and Aberaeron Integrated Care Centre.

They said:

“We are ecstatic to win this award on behalf of all domestic staff at the hospitals and care centre. It has been a challenging two years, so it’s nice to be rewarded for our hard work and to be recognised as an integral part of hospital services.

“The apprenticeship programme is very important because it gives people, who may not have done that well at school, a chance to achieve a work-based qualification.”

Recognising employers and learners who have excelled in apprenticeship, skills and employment training programmes delivered by Cambrian Training Company, the company’s annual awards were held at The Metropole Hotel & Spa, Llandrindod Wells on June 14.

With offices in Welshpool, Holyhead, Colwyn Bay, Llanelli and Llanelwedd, Cambrian Training Company delivers work-based apprenticeships across Wales.

Arwyn Watkins, OBE, the company’s managing director, congratulated Bronglais General Hospital and the other award winners and finalists for their achievements despite the challenging disruptions caused by the pandemic over the past two years.

“These awards showcase the dedication and commitment by individuals and companies to the apprenticeship programme here in Wales,” he added. “One can only imagine the challenges that hospital staff have faced over the past two years.

“The work that they do is of critical importance and ensures that hospitals function.”

The Apprenticeship Programme in  Wales is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.

Feature image: Denise Thomas, Jane Weston and Carina James-Moffat from Bronglais General Hospital receive the Large Employer of the Year award from Arwyn Watkins, OBE, managing director of Cambrian Training Company.

Apprenticeships will be in the spotlight at this year’s Smallholding & Countryside Festival on the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells on the weekend of May 21 and 22.

Awarding-winning work-based apprenticeship provider, Cambrian Training Company, will be available all weekend to offer advice to businesses and individuals who are considering apprenticeships.

The company, which has a showground pavilion office opposite the Food Hall, will be able to advise employers about the opportunities available to develop and expand their workforce with support from the Welsh Government’s apprenticeship programme.

Information will also be available for individuals who are seeking to start their career, develop their skills of maybe even a change of career.

Cambrian Training Company has more than 25 years’ experience of delivering apprenticeships and other training programmes, specialising in sectors including hospitality, food manufacture and sustainable resource management. For more information about apprenticeships, email the company at info@cambriantraining.com or call 01938 555893.

The company has supported the Smallholding & Countryside Festival, which is a celebration of rural life with smallholding pursuits at its heart, for many years.

The popular event showcases the diversity of the Welsh countryside and provides a great day out for young families, garden enthusiasts and anyone with an interest in agriculture, country sports or the great outdoors.

There is something for everyone, with a packed programme of livestock and equine competitions, more than 200 trade stands, displays, exhibitions, activities and live music. Artisan food and drink from across Wales will be showcased in the Food Hall.

Exciting attractions will include Rockwood Dog display team, high flying stunts from the BMX Show, family fun from the Panic Family Circus, a living history display from the Woodville Medieval Re-enactment Group and the Welsh Festival of Land Rovers

On May 21, special guest, BBC TV gardening expert Charlie Dimmock, will be speaking about wildlife and water.

Award-winning training provider Cambrian Training Company has expanded its sustainable resource management team to cover the whole of Wales.

The Welshpool-based company has promoted Amy Edwards to new head of business skills, sustainable resource management and energy and Emyr Jones joins her team as the training officer covering South Wales.

The company, which also has offices in Llanelli, Builth Wells, Holyhead and Colwyn Bay, already successfully delivers apprenticeships for waste management companies across North and Mid Wales and Pembrokeshire.

The appointment of Emyr, who lives near Ammanford, will see training delivery extended to the rest of Wales. He was previously a Jobs Growth Wales engagement officer for Cambrian Training Company.

Before joining the company four years ago, he worked in the waste management industry for 13 years in South Wales.

Amy, who has also worked for Cambrian Training Company for nearly five years and lives in  Colwyn Bay, has stepped up from training officer in North Wales to head a team of seven in her business unit.

She is excited by the potential of delivering waste management qualifications, through awarding body WAMITAB, to all parts of Wales.

“We are here to help companies, councils and organisations involved in waste management and recycling activities across Wales to upskill their workforce,” said Amy.

“Sustainable resource management is one of the Welsh Government’s priority routes for apprenticeships to educate people about the benefits of recycling and sustainability to reduce our impact on the environment.

“We support a lot of learners who didn’t do that well in school and have additional learning needs. They thrive when doing an apprenticeship because they receive one-to-one support from our training officers.

“We specialise in adapting learning to suit the needs of the learner and the employer so that both benefits. Employing and supporting apprentices reflects well on waste management companies during audits by Natural Resources Wales and also benefits staff retention.

“A key part of the apprenticeship is to explain the requirements that the latest industry legislation imposes on a company which helps apprentices understand why they must adhere to policy and do things in a certain way.”

Emyr is enjoying his new career challenge and is already engaging with companies across South Wales who are keen to upskill their workforce.

“I am extremely motivated and look forward to engaging with employers from Newport, Gwent to Newport, Pembrokeshire,” he said. “We have years of experience at Cambrian Training of tailoring the delivery of apprenticeships to meet the needs of each client.

“One of the joys of being a training officer is supporting learners to achieve and progress. Apprenticeships are less about academic and more about practical, workplace experience which is what employers want.”

Away from work, Emyr is well known as one of the presenters of S4C’s popular quiz show Oci Oci Oci! and was once ranked in the top five darts players in Wales.

View the full list of apprenticeships offered by Cambrian Training at cambriantraining.com or to arrange a meeting with Emyr contact info@cambriantraining.com .

The Apprenticeship Programme in Wales is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.

Feature image: Amy Edwards

One of the leading training providers in Wales is encouraging employers to make a genius decision by recruiting an apprentice or upskilling an existing employee on an apprenticeship programme funded by the Welsh Government.

The call from Welshpool-based Cambrian Training Company (CTC), which has offices pan-Wales, comes as the country celebrates Apprenticeship Week from February 7-13.

The award-winning company is the leading provider of apprenticeships to the hospitality industry in Wales, including Craft Cuisine and British Institute of Innkeepers.

In addition, the company delivers apprenticeships in Food and Drink Manufacture, Butchery, Health and Social Care, Children’s Early Years, Equine, Financial Services, Team Leading and Management, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies, Retail and Customer Service, Sustainable Resource Management and Water Engineering.

CTC says apprenticeships enable cost-effective recruitment, create a pool of talent with a skilled, qualified and motivated workforce, fill skills gaps to meet demands now and in the future and helps businesses grow by recruit, retraining or redeploying their workforce.

One of the hospitality businesses that the company works with is Lake Vyrnwy Hotel at Llanwddyn which has 11 apprentices, aged from 17 to mid-40s.

Managing director Anthony Rosser said:

“Apprenticeships are now the cornerstone of our recruitment. It’s a wonderful opportunity for employees to receive structured training, very beneficial for recruitment, staff retention and progression, helps to drive up standards within your business and is easy to organise and administer.”

The owners of the largest meat processing plant and abattoir in Wales are using the Welsh Government’s Apprenticeship Programme to upskill and develop their workforce.

Kepak, which has a workforce of 850 at the company’s flagship facilities at St Merryn Merthyr, is upskilling 50 staff in the first phase of apprenticeships, increasing to around 75 staff within a year.

Paul Hughes, Kepak St Merryn Merthyr site director, said:

“One of Kepak’s key values is ambition. We want to invest in an Apprenticeship Programme that gives all of our employees an opportunity to grow and develop to their full potential within the business and to satisfy their own personal goals.

“By upskilling our existing workforce as our first priority and then looking to attract people to join the food industry and offer them a career path through, we are hopeful that we can attract a diverse range of talent to our business.

“We think it’s fantastic that the Welsh Government provides support to businesses likes ours to make these apprenticeship opportunities possible. We are looking forward to more local people joining our business and giving them access to these training opportunities in the coming months.”

Phill John, managing director of NorthWales Media, a Flint-based technology business, is another advocate of apprenticeships. The company currently has three apprentices in its workforce of 11.

“The Apprenticeship Programme, in our case, has developed personnel who are a major asset in the growth of the company,” he said. “NorthWales Media will only be successful in our industry if we continue staff training and development.

“We expect to take on more apprentices in the near future due to the success of our partnership with Cambrian Training.”

CTC says apprenticeships are an effective way to grow and elevate a business by upskilling its current staff or expanding by hiring new employees. In a government survey, 74% of employers said apprenticeships helped them improve the quality of their product or service.

 Ensuring that staff have a broad range of knowledge, skills and qualifications is a productive way to take a business to the next level. In a survey, 86% of employers said apprenticeships helped them develop skills relevant to their organisation.

Offering exciting opportunities for staff progression enables a business to show employees its commitment to their continual professional development.

This in turn improves staff wellbeing, reduces turnover and increases retention. A survey also revealed that 78% of employers said apprenticeships helped them improve productivity.

Getting support from the local people is vital to develop a business and ensure repeat customers. An easy but effective way for a business to do this is by offering career development to employees, which helps to develop a positive reputation in the local community and assists recruitment.

The Welsh Government offers a number of schemes and incentives to encourage businesses to offer apprenticeships to their employees. CTC provides can help check if a business is eligible for funding support for apprenticeships.

CTC is keen to explode a common myth that hiring an apprentice is a time consuming process. The company’s training officers help to guide a business through the complete process, from finding the correct qualification and form filling to the apprentice search and recruitment process.

For more information about how apprenticeships can elevate a business, email CTC at info@cambriantraining.com .

The Apprenticeship Programme in Wales is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.

Feature image: Chris Jones, head of Cambrian Training Company’s food and drink business unit (second from right), with training co-ordinator John Eagle, trainee Jordan Jones and trainer Laurence Murphy, all from Kepak.

Regional tourism trade organisation, MWT Cymru, and award-winning training provider, Cambrian Training Company, are joining forces to deliver skills training to tourism and hospitality businesses across Mid Wales.

A programme of practical skills workshops, curated by Cambrian Training Company, will be delivered online to members of MWT Cymru throughout 2022 to help tackle a skills and staffing crisis across the tourism and hospitality industry.

The first online event to launch the workshop series will take place on February 8, coinciding with National Apprenticeship Week (February 7 – 13).

Businesses will hear from speakers at Cambrian Training Company about the benefits of apprenticeships, a selection of the apprenticeships on offer and how to recruit an apprentice, followed by a question and answer session.

Cambrian Training Company was established in Welshpool in 1995 as a subsidiary of Mid Wales Tourism to deliver vocational skills that supported the development of the region’s tourism sector.

It is now and independent company, with offices across Wales, and the leading provider of apprenticeships to the country’s hospitality industry.

MWT Cymru, also known as Mid Wales Tourism, is a membership organisation that represents more than 600 tourism and hospitality businesses across Powys, Ceredigion and Southern Snowdonia.

MWT Cymru is a membership organisation that promotes the region through its Visit Mid Wales marketing and PR activity, as well as providing specialist business support. It also represents the Mid Wales tourism sector at a regional, national and UK level.

Arwyn Watkins, OBE, managing director of Cambrian Training Company, said:

“We have always remembered our roots with Mid Wales Tourism and we are delighted to be working with MWT Cymru to deliver these workshops for their members, free of charge.

“This is an important way for us to help support the Welsh tourism industry to find new ways of building their businesses, supporting local communities and enhancing the skill set of those employed in this vital industry for the Welsh economy. We must keep training and skills at the forefront.”

Val Hawkins, chief executive of MWT Cymru, said:

“We share Cambrian Training Company’s concern about the staffing crisis affecting the tourism and hospitality industry.

“With investment in skills and training being so important, we encourage all our businesses to sign up for these skills workshops and look longer-term at the benefits of providing apprenticeship opportunities.

“Supporting the tourism industry in Mid Wales is at the heart of what we do and we are very pleased to bring the expertise of Cambrian Training Company to our members.”

All online events and skills workshops will be publicised on MWT Cymru’s trade event calendar on www.mwtcymru.co.uk for businesses to sign up.

Feature image: Arwyn Watkins, OBE, managing director of Cambrian Training Company, speaking at the 2021 Mid Wales Tourism & Hospitality Conference.

The leading provider of apprenticeships to the hospitality industry in Wales has welcomed plans to create a Commission for Tertiary Education and Research to govern all post-16 education and training.

Arwyn Watkins, managing director of Welshpool-based Cambrian Training Company, which has offices across Wales, believes the commission will have much better control over post-16 education and training provision based on evidence and the needs of the economy

The bill to create the new body is expected to become law by next summer and will herald the end of the Higher Education Funding Council.

Plans for the new commission come at an opportune time for Mr Watkins as he is calling for a change to the compulsory education system in Wales to give apprenticeships parity of esteem with university degrees to meet the needs of employers.

He maintains that the most talented young people are encouraged to aspire to attend university rather than to consider apprenticeships in sectors, such as hospitality, where there is a desperate need for skilled employees.

“The Commission for Tertiary Education and Research will be in a much better position to respond to national and regional learning priorities based on evidence to fit the actual needs of the economy,” said Mr Watkins. “Commissioning learning, whatever that might be, cannot continue to be a free for all.

“We have to realise that we live on an island and there is no longer freedom of movement of people following Brexit, which should not come as a surprise to any of us. How are we going to fill job vacancies and fill skills gaps?

“There is a high percentage of our talented young people that leaves the area at the age of 18 for higher education rather than staying to develop higher level skills through apprenticeships. Many of these young people never return to employment within the region and this must change.”

Last week, Mr Watkins addressed more than 100 delegates at the Mid Wales Tourism and Hospitality Conference, organised by MWT Cymru at the Metropole Hotel and Spa, Llandrindod Wells, where he spoke about the recruitment crisis facing the hospitality industry following Brexit and the pandemic.

He asked all delegates to stand up and remain standing if they currently employ or have in the past employed an apprentice. Only six delegates remained standing!

He stressed that apprenticeships in Wales are open to people aged from 16 to 65, including those already employed in businesses.

Significant investment in Powys and Ceredigion planned over the next decade

had the potential to be a regional economic “gamechanger”, with projects likely to impact positively on the visitor economy which would require a highly skilled workforce.

“Changing the compulsory education system is not likely to win votes but meeting the needs of our regional economy is far more important, in my opinion, to the region than votes,” he added.

“Never in my working life have I experienced the need to reduce the operational hours of a business not because of the limited number of customers but the lack of human resources available to deliver the quality of service expected by the business and its customers. For the past seven months in Mid Wales, this has been a regular picture.”

He urged businesses to put pressure on politicians at all levels to challenge the compulsory education system and to develop innovative ways of engaging with primary and secondary schools to make children aware of exciting career opportunities within the hospitality and tourism sector.

“Let’s see governing bodies, school leaders, teachers and career guidance giving the same amount of support to students to complete an application for an apprenticeship opportunity as they currently do for the completion of a UCAS form,” he said.

He also challenged employers to create apprenticeship opportunities at the same time as students are considering their school options.

He is concerned how much longer businesses can continue to operate with a staff shortage before they become unsustainable, with the consequent impact on visitor experience.

“We need to be continually raising the quality and increasing the offer, not reducing it,” he said.

He revealed that Cambrian Training Company has a minimum of £1.8 million available annually for the next five to seven years to deliver apprenticeships within Powys and Ceredigion.

He pledged to secure additional funding for the tourism – the “most economically important” sector in Mid Wales – if there is demand from businesses to make the Apprenticeship Programme one of the solutions to their skills and staffing crisis.

“Our sector cannot take advantage of the technological advances of automation,” he added. “To be at our best, we need human interaction and that requires higher level skilled individuals and teams. That does not in itself mean higher education.”

One hospitality business already benefitting from the Apprenticeship Programme, having already signed up 13 apprentices, aged from 17 to mid-40s, is Lake Vyrnwy Hotel at Llanwddyn.

Operations director Anthony Rosser said:

“I don’t understand why more tourism and hospitality businesses don’t employ apprentices. It’s a wonderful opportunity for employees to receive structured training, very beneficial for recruitment, staff retention and progression, helps to drive up standards within your business and is easy to organise and administer.”

Feature image: Arwyn Watkins, OBE – time to change the compulsory education system.

Apprentice Awards Wales but more widely Apprenticeship, Employment and Skills are a major part of Cambrian Training’s portfolio.

At the recent awards ceremony food service business Compass Group completed a notable apprentice winning hat-trick at the annual Apprenticeship, Employment and Skills Awards organised by one of Wales’ top training companies.

The company and its employees celebrated three awards at the event which recognised employers and learners who have excelled in apprenticeship, skills and employment training programmes delivered by Cambrian Training Company.

Compass Group won the Macro Employer of the Year award while catering manager Stewart Wooles and chef Alastair Jones, both employees of Compass Group (ESS) at RRC Crickhowell, won the Apprentice of the Year and Foundation Apprentice of the Year awards respectively.

Flint-based IT and marketing business North Wales Media did the apprentice double by winning the Small Employer of the Year award and the company’s marketing manager Sara-Mai Reyes Escoto was named Higher Apprentice of the Year. Fellow employee, videographer Ciri-Ann John, was runner up for the Apprentice of the Year award.

Fifteen finalists were shortlisted for awards in eight categories. To be nominated, employers and learners must be engaged with programmes delivered by Cambrian Training Company. With offices in Welshpool, Holyhead, Colwyn Bay, Llanelli and Llanelwedd, the company delivers work-based apprenticeships pan-Wales.

The other apprentice award winners were: Outstanding Individual of The Year: Joseph Hembrough,  fishmonger / manager at The Menai Seafood Company, Port Penrhyn, Bangor

Medium Employer of the Year: Claremont Court Care Home, Malpas, Newport. Large Employer of the Year: Kepak St Merryn Merthyr.

The finalists were: Outstanding Individual of The Year: Chloe Jade Varney, a kitchen assistant at Tan yr Allt Care Home, Pontardawe for Fieldbay. Foundation Apprentice of the Year: Michael Mcquillan, a waste and recycling supervisor at Thornton Depot, near Milford Haven for Pembrokeshire County Council. Apprentice of the Year: Graham Jones, a waste and recycling operative at Rhayader for Powys County Council. Higher Apprentice of the Year: John Franks, team manager at Bryson Recycling, Mochdre, Conwy.

Employers of the Year:  Warner Leisure, Bodelwyddan Castle Hotel, near Rhyl and Bronglais Hospital, Aberystwyth – Hywel Dda Health Board.

Winners of each category will have the chance to be put forward for the prestigious Apprenticeship Awards Cymru, which are jointly organised by the National Training Federation for Wales and the Welsh Government.

Katy Godsell, Cambrian Training Company’s marketing manager, congratulated all theapprentice winners and praised the high calibre of all finalists.

“These awards celebrate the achievements of those who have exceeded expectations during their engagement and commitment to their apprenticeship training and skills programmes,” she said.

“They have shown a unique approach to apprenticeship training and development and demonstrated initiative and enterprise, innovation and creativity during a challenging past 18 months.”

The Apprenticeship Programme in Wales is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.

To learn more about Cambrian Training working with businesses and their apprenticeships see Kepak Targets Welsh Apprenticeships to Upskill its Workforce.

For more details of Cambrian Training www.cambriantraining.com

Feature image: Winners of the apprentice awards Stewart Wooles, Alastair Jones, Sara-Mai Reyes Escoto and Joe Hembrough.

Welshpool print company WPG Ltd is sponsoring a virtual across Wales walk or run, which begins on Sunday, to raise money for Marie Curie.

The company is donating medals for all participants and has signed up a team of 21 staff members to take on the 60 Days Across the Cambrian Way fundraising challenge organised by Cambrian Training Company, one of Wales’ leading apprenticeship providers.

Cambrian Training Company is encouraging individuals, families, businesses, organisations and sports clubs to join staff in covering the 291-mile distance of the Cambrian Way Path virtually in 60 days from Sunday, August 1.

Everyone who registers at www.cambriantraining.com/wp/en/60-days-across-the-cambrian-way-in-support-of-marie-curie/ can take on the challenge alone or by splitting the distance as a team or with family and friends.

Registration costs £15 and includes a T-shirt sponsored by Constructiv Clothing Ltd, a Newtown-based branded clothing and sportswear supplier.

Participants can either secure sponsorship and record the miles they walk on a tracking sheet or donate to a fundraising page www.justgiving.com/fundraising/cambriantraining .

Cambrian Training Company had originally planned to involve staff and the apprentices and business they work with. Now the fundraising venture has grown to include everyone who would like to participate to boost their health and mental wellbeing, whilst supporting a much loved charity.

Ian Jones, WPG Ltd’s managing director, said:

“When Cambrian Training approached us asking for support for the charity walk, we were pleased to be able to provide medals, unique to the event, a service which is linked to our trophies department.

“Kelly Griffiths, our account manager, also rallied around to drum up entrants at work, all eager to take part and help out. I’m looking forward to taking part.

“Reece Thomas worked on the medal design, featuring the Marie Curie daffodil emblem, which is so well known. Marie Curie nurses have been on the front line of the pandemic providing vital end of life care for patients and their loved ones.

“With all charities really struggling to raise vital funds, we are happy to support Marie Curie, such a worthy cause, whilst taking on the challenge.”

Katy Godsell, Cambrian Training’s marketing manager, thanked WPG Ltd for sponsoring the medals and raising a team.

“The virtual 60 Days Across the Cambrian Way is open to anyone who would like to take part to improve their fitness, health or mental wellbeing,” she said. “Although the challenge starts on August 1, everyone can still register after this date. All we ask is that the challenge is completed by the end of September.

“The more miles we walk or run, the more money we will raise for Marie Curie, which touches the lives of so many people in Wales and needs public support more than ever.”

Cambrian Training Company, which has offices in Welshpool, Llanelli, Builth Wells, Holyhead and Colwyn Bay, is asking all participants to share their photos by tagging @cambriantrainingcompany on Facebook, @cambriantraining on Instagram and @CTCwbl on Twitter.

Feature image: WPG Ltd pre-press operator Reece Thomas shows Cambrian Training Company’s marketing manager Katy Godsell the medal designed for the 60 Days Across the Cambrian Way challenge.

One of the country’s leading apprenticeship providers is extending an open invitation to join in a virtual across Wales walk or run to raise money for Marie Curie.

Cambrian Training Company hopes individuals, families, businesses, organisations and sports clubs will join staff in covering the 291-mile distance of the Cambrian Way Path virtually in 60 days from August 1.

Everyone who registers to take on the fundraising challenge can do so alone or by splitting the distance as a team or with family and friends.

Cambrian Training Company’s initial idea of involving staff and the apprentices and business they work with across Wales has now grown to include anyone who would like to take part to boost their health and mental wellbeing, whilst supporting a much loved charity.

Children can also sign up and join in but must be accompanied by a participating adult.

The company, which has offices in Welshpool, Llanelli, Builth Wells, Holyhead and Colwyn Bay, has adopted Marie Curie as its 2021 charity.

Marie Curie, which has seen fundraising severely hit by the pandemic, provides frontline nursing and hospice care, a free support line and a wealth of information and support on all aspects of dying, death and bereavement.

Those taking part in the virtual walk or run can either secure sponsorship and record the miles they walk on a tracking sheet or donate to a fundraising page –  www.justgiving.com/fundraising/cambriantraining .

Constructiv Clothing Ltd, a leading supplier of branded clothing and sportswear in Mid Wales and Shropshire, is supporting the challenge by sponsoring t-shirts which all participants will receive as part of their £15 registration fee.

Cambrian Training Company is asking all those who take part to share their photos by tagging @cambriantrainingcompany on Facebook, @cambriantraining on Instagram and @CTCwbl on Twitter.

The Cambrian Way Path stretches from Cardiff to Conwy, crossing the Cambrian Mountains, after which Cambrian Training is named.

“The virtual Cambrian Way Path walk or run is open to anyone who would like to take part to improve their fitness, health or mental wellbeing,” said Katy Godsell, Cambrian Training’s marketing manager.

“We would especially love the businesses and apprentices that we work with, together with family members and friends, to join us by committing to do a section of the path virtually.

“The more miles we walk or run, the more money we will raise for Marie Curie, which touches the lives of so many people in Wales and needs public support more than ever.”

Vaughan Harding, from Constructiv Clothing Ltd, said:

“We are delighted to be working with Cambrian Training Company to support this virtual event because Marie Curie is a great charity very close to our hearts.

“After spending much of the past year in lockdown, most people are keen to get out and exercise and they can now convert the miles they walk or run into much needed cash for a charity that does so much good work in our communities.”

Marie Curie community fundraiser, Charli Thomas said:

“Marie Curie Cymru is thrilled to be chosen as Cambrian Training’s charity of the year. This past 18 months has been incredibly difficult for charities and our Marie Curie nurses and information support line officers have continued to support people living with terminal illness throughout.

“We are so happy to have Cambrian Training’s support to help fund these vital frontline services in Wales. Good luck to everyone taking part in the virtual Cambrian Way Path walk.” 

Two years ago, Cambrian Training raised £2,290 for Cancer Research by running, walking and cycling 1,000 miles, visiting all 22 counties of Wales, during the year. A team of staff members also ran the Cardiff Half Marathon for the charity.

Cambrian Training specialises in the delivery of apprenticeships and employability opportunities across a range of industries pan-Wales.  The Apprenticeship Programme in Wales is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.

Feature image: Katy Godsell (right) and Ceri Nicholls from Cambrian Training Company’s marketing team with Vaughan Harding of Constructiv Clothing Ltd and the T-shirt his company is sponsoring for the virtual Cambrian Way walk for Marie Curie.

The owners of an 18^th century coaching inn, hotel and eatery in the heart of the historic market town of Machynlleth are investing in staff development as the business bounces back from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Charles Dark and his wife, Sheila Simpson, from The Wynnstay, are confident of a busy summer ahead now that lockdown restrictions are being lifted. They hope that the predicted UK staycation boom will see a repeat of record business last August when takings were 40 per cent up on 2019.

The couple have owned The Wynnstay, which has 24 bedrooms, for a total of 23 years in two spells. This week, they saw four members of their 20-strong staff enrol on apprenticeships with Welshpool-based Cambrian Training Company to develop their skills and roles in the business.

Rhian Davies and Grace Edge have signed up for a Foundation Apprenticeship in Hospitality Services, Adrian Avadani will be working towards Foundation Apprenticeship in Professional Cookery and his sister, Irina, the hotel manager, is seeking a Higher Apprenticeship (Level 4) in Management. Grace is set to be fast-tracked to Higher Apprenticeship in Management within 18 months.

“We have always invested in training our staff but it’s more important than ever now that there is a national recruitment problem in the hospitality industry, which is a shame as it can lead to serious, sustainable and well paid careers” explained Charles.

“We are committed to training the developing our staff, most of whom live locally.”

Chris Bason, Cambrian Training Company’s head of hospitality, said: “We have a long-standing relationship with The Wynnstay and, in the current climate, it’s nice to see the business supporting apprenticeships.

“Charles and Sheila always want the best for their team to develop The Wynnstay which is at the forefront of hospitality in Machynlleth.”

During the series of Covid-19 lockdowns, Charles and some of his staff have been busy redecorating and improving the hotel, including installing new ground floor toilets, a new kitchen for head chef Gareth Johns and his team and new cooling and alarm systems.

The main ground floor room has also had a complete makeover, which entailed removing layers of wallpaper and paint spanning 200 years. The improvements cost £100,000, supported in part by a Welsh Government grant.

The rear of the hotel has also been transformed with a new seating area and pond with a feature cast iron fountain.

“We have invested to improve the product and have the strongest team in place that we have ever had,” said Charles. “We are looking forward to welcoming back our local customers and visitors, the majority of whom come from England.

“The main thing that I noticed last summer, when we were allowed to open, was a sea change in the type of visitors that we were attracting. Their average spend was way up on previous years.

“It takes a while to get going when hospitality reopens, but I am confident that it’s going to be a very good summer . Machynlleth and the Dyfi Valley is multi-faceted, and people come here for a myriad of reasons.”

The Wynnstay makes an excellent base for exploring Machynlleth, the Dyfi Valley and surrounding area which make up the UNESCO Dyfi Biosphere Reserve.

Charles is a director of MWT Cymru, an independent organisation that represents more than 600 tourism and hospitality businesses across Powys, Ceredigion and the Meirionnydd region of Gwynedd. The Wynnstay is a member of MWT Cymru.

Feature image: The Wynnstay’s owner Charles Dark with apprentices Irina and Adrian Avadani, Rhian Davies and Grace Edge

Staff from one of Wales’ leading apprenticeship providers are encouraging the apprentices and businesses they work with across Wales to join them virtually to walk the 291-mile Cambrian Way Path for charity.

Cambrian Training, which has offices in Welshpool, Llanelli, Builth Wells, Holyhead and Colwyn Bay, is launching the company’s 2021 fundraising challenge for Marie Curie on March 1, St David’s Day.

The choice of St David’s Day is particularly fitting as it’s the day when Welsh people celebrate their patron saint by wearing a daffodil, which also happens to be the emblem of Marie Curie, the UK’s leading end of life charity.

Marie Curie provides frontline nursing and hospice care, a free support line and a wealth of information and support on all aspects of dying, death and bereavement.

The Cambrian Way Path stretches from Cardiff to Conwy, crossing the Cambrian Mountains, after which Cambrian Training is named.

The company’s employees are all going to put on their walking boots to contribute towards reaching the target and are hoping that the apprentices and businesses they work with will also chip in.

Those taking part can either secure sponsorship and record the miles they walk or donate to a fundraising page – www.justgiving.com/fundraising/cambriantraining – to ultimately benefit Marie Curie, which has seen fundraising severely hit by the pandemic.

“Ideally, we would like the businesses and apprentices we work with to join us by committing to do a section of the walk virtually and create some friendly competition,” said Katy Godsell, Cambrian Training’s marketing manager.

“The more miles we walk, the more money we will raise for Marie Curie, which is a fantastic charity that touches the lives of so many people in Wales and needs public support more than ever.”

Charli Thomas, community fundraiser at Marie Curie, said:

“While Marie Curie has continued to provide support during the pandemic, through our at home nursing service, information and support services and hospice, our fundraising has continued to be decimated due to the restrictions we are all facing. 

“We are thrilled that Cambrian Training has chosen to support Marie Curie this year. Fundraising partnerships like this are vital to allow us to continue to help people living with a terminal illness, and support their loved ones with death, dying and bereavement. 

“We want to thank all the staff and Cambrian Training for their amazing support during this time.”

Other fundraising events and activities for Marie Curie are planned by the company throughout 2021.

Two years ago, Cambrian Training raised £2,290 for Cancer Research by running, walking and cycling 1,000 miles, visiting all 22 counties of Wales, during the year. A team of staff members also ran the Cardiff Half Marathon for the charity.

Cambrian Training specialises in the delivery of apprenticeships and employability opportunities across a range of industries pan-Wales.

Feature image: Cambrian Training’s managing director Arwyn Watkins with marketing manager Katy Godsell (left) and marketing and events officer Ceri Nicholls.

Employers re-opening and bouncing back from the COVID-19 pandemic are being advised by work-based learning provider Cambrian Training to consider applying for support from the Jobs Growth Wales (JGW) programme if they are looking to create new job opportunities.

The programme is designed to help growing businesses across Wales to create sustainable job opportunities for unemployed and job ready young people aged 16-24 years.

New recruits will be paid at least the national minimum wage for a minimum of 25 hours a week and the programme reimburses half of their wage cost for the first six months.

The Welsh Government programme, which is supported by the European Social Fund, provides young, work-ready people with a valuable opportunity to kick start their career and could be a key tool in helping the Welsh economy recover from the pandemic.

To receive support, a business must create a real job and not a six-month work placement or temporary cover and must have traded for more than six months in the private or third sector in Wales.

Don’t forget, says Cambrian Training, if a JGW recruit has impressed a business enough to earn a full-time job, imagine what he or she could achieve with further training and skills support, such as an apprenticeship.

Because Cambrian Training recognises that recruiting new staff demands time and commitment, employers are supported by the company, as managing agent, allowing them to focus on getting the best out of their new employee from day one.

To make the recruitment process even easier, Cambrian Training lists all vacancies on the JGW section of the Careers Wales website, its own website and promotes them on its social media channels. Work ready young people can then apply online.

Thousands of young people leaving school, college or university across Wales this summer are being advised to check out, online or on social media, the range of job vacancies available at businesses which work with Cambrian Training.

To apply for the job opportunities on Cambrian Training’s website, visit www.cambriantraining.com/wp/en/jobs/ or search #CambrianJobSearch on social media.

Employers interested in creating a job opportunity must first complete an Expression Of Interest form at businesswales.gov.wales/skillsgateway/jobs-growth-wales-form .

As one of the Wales’ leading work-based learning providers, Cambrian Training supports businesses based in Anglesey, Conwy, Gwynedd, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Wrexham, Powys, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Monmouthshire, Carmarthenshire, Swansea, Cardiff and Neath Port Talbot.

The company also delivers apprenticeships in Hospitality, including Craft Cuisine and British Institute of Innkeepers, Food and Drink Manufacture, Butchery, Health and Social Care, Children’s Early Years, Equine, Financial Services, Team Leading and Management, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies, Retail and Customer Service, Sustainable Resource Management and Water Engineering.

One business that has benefited from JGW is Confederate Chemicals in Newtown where operations manager John Hextall said:

“Confederate Chemicals has had a very positive experience with JGW. 

“We had a new job in our laboratory and took on Nia-Faith Williams, a school leaver, who has turned out to be an excellent hire and is contributing to both the chemical and sales teams.

“In addition, we received funding of about £3,000 to help offset the employment costs. I would recommend the programme to any employer looking to create a sustainable new job aimed at someone under 25 years of age.”

Another company that has benefited from the programme is Recruit for Staff in Wrexham where director Paul Stevens said: “Jobs Growth Wales is certainly an opportunity that employers should consider, and the process is easy and quite straightforward.

“We were a bit dubious about the programme at first, but we found that there are some good, keen young people out there looking for opportunities.

“We are pleased with the funding support, as it does take a number of months to get people up to speed with our systems of work. We were keen to start increasing our internal headcount and thought the programme would be a cost-effective method of doing it.”

As more businesses across Wales reopen following the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown restrictions, an award-winning work-based learning provider is ready to help them adapt to the “new normal” with their apprenticeship and recruitment needs.

Celebrating its 25^th year of delivering skills, Cambrian Training is a pan-Wales learning provider with offices in Welshpool, Llanelli, Builth Wells, Holyhead and Colwyn Bay.

Many companies, which have furloughed staff and carried out skills reviews during the pandemic, will now be adapting to the new economic reality. Sadly, some people are losing their jobs, as businesses either close or reduce their workforce.

Cambrian Training is able to support businesses in the sectors it serves by upskilling the existing workforce to meet new challenges, or by recruiting apprentices and unemployed young people to fill Jobs Growth Wales (JGW) vacancies.

The company delivers Foundation Apprenticeships, Apprenticeships and Higher Apprenticeships in Hospitality, including Craft Cuisine and British Institute of Innkeepers, Food and Drink Manufacture, Butchery, Health and Social Care, Children’s Early Years, Equine, Financial Services, Team Leading and Management, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies, Retail and Customer Service, Sustainable Resource Management and Water Engineering.

With many apprentices across Wales furloughed, they are using the time to press ahead with their apprenticeship portfolio.

Although Cambrian Training’s staff have been unable to meet learners face-to-face, they have helped apprentices to forge ahead with their qualifications remotely by using digital technology to provide online support.

Directors and staff are staying connected to their learners via the City & Guilds’ Learning Assistant e-portfolio system. They use Google Hangouts to speak face to face with learners even though they are often hundreds of miles apart. This enables them to provide support and review evidence for learners’ apprenticeship portfolios.

Managing director Arwyn Watkins, OBE, believes the Covid-19 crisis has been transformational for the business.

“The pandemic has made the company re-evaluate the way we do business, engage with learners and colleagues and how we utilise our IT resources to reduce our environmental impact,” he said.

“We have learnt a lot during this crisis about ourselves and the hidden talents we have within the business.

“The dedication of our workforce and the partnership approach we encourage with businesses are key to securing a wide range of practical skills that benefit the individuals that we work with and help to establish them as valuable employees.”

In their spare time, Cambrian Training’s staff have also been busy making potentially lifesaving face masks, surgical caps and scrubs for front line workers in Wales during the lockdown, inspired by hospitality training officer Lisa Jagger from Llanelli and her mum, Bethan.

Donna Heath, national sustainability champion for the Culinary Association of Wales and Cambrian Training, has also developed a free, 30-minute, bilingual online workshop to teach families about food sustainability. Both versions are available at www.youtube.com/channel/UCf-ft3uGM4rgSX51X4ReRCQ ,

www.facebook.com/CambrianTrainingCompany/videos/225119982152774/ and www.facebook.com/CambrianTrainingCompany/videos/819376515218362/

Children and parents in lockdown across Wales are learning how they can play their part in taking care of the planet thanks to the interactive Food Heroes workshop, which is linked to the UNICEF sustainability initiative, the World’s Largest Lesson.

Apprenticeships are a great way for employers to develop employees with the skills and experience they need within their businesses.

Apprentices train in the workplace alongside experienced employees normally for between two and three years. Employers cover their wages and the Welsh Government offers support with some of the training costs.

Training is overseen by Cambrian Training, which regularly assesses the apprentice’s progress. Learning through apprenticeships can help staff develop practical skills in the workplace that are essential to develop a successful career in the industry.

The JGW programme, which is funded by the Welsh Government, is designed to help growing businesses create sustainable job opportunities for unemployed and job ready young people aged between 16-24 years old.

The programme provides valuable opportunities for young people to kick start their career. New recruits are paid at least the national minimum wage for a minimum of 25 hours a week and JGW reimburses half of their wage cost for the first six months.

To receive support, a business must create a real job and not a six-month work placement or temporary cover and must have traded for more than six months in the private or third sector in Wales. Employers must be committed to retaining their new employee beyond the six-month period.

To check out the range of job vacancies, apprenticeships and JGW opportunities available at companies, with which Cambrian Training works, visit www.cambriantraining.com/wp/en/jobs/

The Apprenticeship Programme in Wales is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.

Chefs across the UK have been praised for their “brilliant” response to an appeal by the Culinary Association of Wales (CAW) for surplus chef’s jackets which can be made into masks and other items for care workers to use on the front-line fight against Coronavirus.

Arwyn Watkins, CAW president, launched the appeal on social media to co-ordinate chefs’ practical response to the pandemic. He says demand for the jackets is far outstripping supply.

“Chefs jackets are the perfect material to be made into masks, scrubs bags, headbands and caps for front line staff in care homes and working in the community,” he explained.

“We have jackets coming in from across the UK and many are brand new, made for competitions that are unable to be held because of the lockdown. Demand for jackets is far outstripping supply.

“Some chefs who work in colleges are very frustrated because they want to support the appeal, but their surplus jackets are locked away in places they are unable to access. The response has been brilliant.

“The jackets are made from material that’s ideal because its workwear that withstands a high heat for sterilisation and washing.”

Chefs are being asked to post their clean, spare jackets to: Trailhead Fine Foods, Unit 13 Severn Farm Enterprise Park, Welshpool, Powys, SY21 7DF, where they are collected and distributed to people who convert them into valuable items for front line staff.

Alternatively, chefs who have access to a sewing machine, are being encouraged to make the items themselves for carers in their community after receiving instruction.

Mr Watkins expects more than 200 jackets to be donated to the appeal, which has spread on social media around the globe via the Worldchefs organisation. Several countries, including Brazil, are now copying the appeal.

In addition to the appeal, the CAW is keeping the wider public entertained with social media videos by chefs showing how to produce delicious Welsh Lamb dishes during the lockdown. Dishes using Welsh Beef, pork and other meats will follow.

Follow the series of videos at www.facebook.com/CulinaryAssociationofWales.CymdeithasCoginiolCymru on Facebook.

Feature image: A carer wears a mask made from a chef’s jacket

While many businesses are closed during the Coronavirus pandemic, apprentices across Wales are forging ahead with their qualifications with online support from their learning provider.

Directors and staff at award winning, pan-Wales learning provider Cambrian Training are all working remotely from home during the pandemic but are staying connected to their learners via the City & Guilds’ Learning Assistant e-portfolio system.

Training officers use the Google Hangouts communications software to speak face to face with learners even though they are often hundreds of miles apart. This enables them to provide support and review evidence for learners’ apprenticeship portfolios.

Arwyn Watkins, OBE, Cambrian Training’s managing director, believes the pandemic has the potential to be transformational for the business, which has offices in Welshpool, Llanelli, Builth Wells, Holyhead and Colwyn Bay.

“The pandemic is making the company re-evaluate the way we do business, engage with learners and colleagues and how we utilise our IT resources to reduce our environmental impact,” he said.

“Going forward, there is no point in asking people to travel from all over Wales to every team meeting when it can be held remotely. We are going to learn a lot from the Coronavirus crisis about ourselves and the hidden talents we have within the business.”

With many apprentices across Wales also having to stay at home during the pandemic, they are using the time to press ahead with their apprenticeship portfolio.

Higher apprentice Steffan Walker, 26, is assistant manager at the Harbourmaster Hotel, Aberaeron, which was named Small Employer of the Year at the Apprenticeship Awards Cymru last year.

He has almost completed a Higher Apprenticeship (Level 4) in Hospitality, having progressed from an Apprenticeship and a Level 2 Wines and Spirits qualification.

“I am taking this time when the hotel is closed to complete my Higher Apprenticeship and am now on my last assignment,” he said. “Being able to complete my e-portfolio and to see and talk to my training officer, Hazel Thomas, online is great

“I have been able to show her evidence and other pieces of work I had done for assignments. It’s a great learning tool and, hopefully, it is helping other apprentices as well.

“I want to keep on improving myself and the business because both benefit from apprenticeships. They have definitely helped me in my role, especially learning about different management styles and employment law.”

Steffan has worked at the hotel for 11 years, climbing through the ranks from pot washer to his current position. The hotel supported him while he competed for Great Britain in canoe slalom competitions around the world. He became number one in Wales and won a silver medal at the 2014 World Junior and U23 Canoe Slalom Championships in Australia.

Now his focus is on his career in the hospitality industry. “It was a bit of an identity change when I finished the sport,” he said. “I set myself high standards as a canoeist and I have taken them into my work.”

Hazel, who has 44 learners working towards a range of hospitality and professional cookery apprenticeships, said:

“When the pandemic ends, I think we are going to be re-evaluating the importance of IT skills for communicating with learners and keeping in touch as a team.

“In the hospitality sector, the written element of the work is always the last thing to be completed by learners. This crisis has provided them with an opportunity to get on with this work and get it signed off by us. The learners absolutely love remote learning.”

Cambrian Training’s staff have further developed the e-portfolio system by creating videos to show apprentices how to use it and embedding a list of questions that they must answer.

“What we have developed by using our IT skills in the last two weeks has been phenomenal,” added Hazel. “I can’t tell you how much we have grown as a team.”

Apprenticeships in Wales are funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.

Bronglais General Hospital in Aberystwyth has won an award for its apprenticeship programme which has reduced staff sickness and improved performance over the past 16 years.

From Welsh Country congratulations to training at Bronglais Hospital but we would like to interrupt the press release with our own message to thank all NHS and Social Care Staff at this particular time for their continued dedication and fortitude.  

The programme has proved so successful that Hywel Dda University Health Board is considering adopting the Bronglais General Hospital’s apprenticeships model in its other hospitals.

Qualifications ranging from Foundation to Higher Apprenticeships are offered to kitchen and cleaning staff and porters. To date, 101 qualifications have been achieved.

The hospital collected the Large Employer Apprenticeship Engagement of the Year Award at the annual Apprenticeship, Employment and Skills Awards organised by Cambrian Training, one of Wales’ top work-based learning providers.

After collecting the award with his colleagues, the hospital’s site operations manager Martin Andrews said:

“We have done a lot of work on apprenticeships over the years and a large number of staff have been given the opportunity to go through the training programme, including myself. It has been exceptional.

“Cambrian Training’s training officers, Jo and Donna, have done a fantastic job delivering the training to suit the work patterns in our busy department. This award means a lot to us. It’s fantastic for our hospital department as well as the health board.”

Eighteen employers and learners who have excelled in apprenticeship, skills and employment training programmes delivered by Cambrian Training were shortlisted for the awards, which were presented at the International Pavilion on the Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd.

Katy Godsell, Cambrian Training’s marketing manager, said:

“These awards celebrate the achievements of those who have exceeded expectations during their engagement and commitment to their apprenticeship training and skills programmes. They have shown a unique approach to apprenticeship training and development and demonstrated initiative and enterprise, innovation and creativity.”

Arwyn Watkins, OBE, Cambrian Training’s managing director, told the award ceremony that the company works in partnership with excellent employers to deliver apprenticeships, skills and employment training programmes for the Welsh Government across the whole of Wales.

“If you are thinking of taking on an apprentice for the first time, you will not regret it because he or she will add value to your business,” he said.

He revealed that the latest figures released by the Welsh Government revealed that Cambrian Training, which is 25 years old this year, is the top learning provider delivering Higher Apprenticeships and fourth in Wales for all apprenticeships.

The Apprenticeship Programme in Wales is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.

Visit: www.wales.nhs.uk

Employers and learners who have excelled in apprenticeship, skills and employment training programmes delivered by one of Wales’ top work-based learning providers celebrated success at an annual awards ceremony.

Cambrian Training presented its annual Apprenticeship, Employment and Skills Awards at the International Pavilion on the Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd.

To be nominated for the awards, employers and learners must be engaged with programmes delivered for the Welsh Government by the company, which has offices in Welshpool, Holyhead, Colwyn Bay and Llanelli and Builth Wells.

Held for the fourth time, the awards are designed to celebrate all that is great about training, apprenticeships and skills in Wales. The shortlisted finalists demonstrated the talent pool and range of work-based learning programmes available.

Foundation Apprentice of the Year was Bethany Morgan, 17, a hotel and hospitality apprentice who is now working at ICC Wales, Newport. Apprentice of the Year was mother-of-five Emma Hooper, 36, chief steward at Beachley Barracks, Chepstow for Compass Group PLC – ESS Defence.

Paul Whiffen, 38, syrup room manager at Radnor Hills, Knighton, collected the Higher Apprentice of the Year Award, while Sasha Jones, 20, keyholder at Nags Head Inn, Garthmyl, was named the Outstanding Individual of the Year.

In the Employer Apprenticeship Engagement section, the Micro Employer Award went to Thomas Skip and Plant Hire Ltd, Caernarfon and the Small Employer Award was presented to The Harbourmaster Hotel, Aberaeron. The Medium Employer Award went to Tiny Rebel, Rogerstone, Newport and the Large Employer Award was collected by Bronglais General Hospital, Aberystwyth.

Winners of some categories will have the chance to go forward to the prestigious Apprenticeship Awards Cymru, which are jointly organised by the National Training Federation for Wales and the Welsh Government, in November.

Shortlisted finalists were Foundation Apprentice, Apprentice and Higher Apprentice of the Year, Daniel Carlo, 38, recycling advisor for Bryson Recycling, Conwy; Yasmin Dewse, 28, a chef at Aberystwyth Arts Centre; Daniel Allen, 26, head chef at Clockworks (Marstons), Swansea and Lorna Morris, 46, owner of Beyond Breakout, Newtown. Outstanding Individual of the Year, Chris Evans, 26, waste/recycling operative in Ruthin for Denbighshire County Council.

Shortlisted finalists for the Micro, Small, Medium and Large Employer Apprenticeship Engagement of the Year awards were: Happy Horse Retirement Home, Crai, Brecon; A. J. Rees & Sons Ltd (Andrew Rees Butchers), Narberth and Parry & Evans Limited, Welshpool and Deeside.

“Our awards reward individuals and employers who have excelled in their apprenticeship learning and training programmes that we deliver on behalf of the Welsh Government,” said Katy Godsell, Cambrian Training’s marketing manager.

“They celebrate the achievements of those who have shown a unique approach to apprenticeship training and development and demonstrated initiative and enterprise, innovation and creativity.”

Arwyn Watkins, OBE, Cambrian Training’s managing director, said the company worked in partnership with excellent employers to deliver apprenticeships, skills and employment training programmes for the Welsh Government across the whole of Wales.

“If you are thinking of taking on an apprentice for the first time, you will not regret it because he or she will add value to your business,” he added.

He revealed that the latest figures released by the Welsh Government revealed that Cambrian Training, which is 25 years old this year, is the top learning provider in Wales delivering Higher Apprenticeships and fourth for all apprenticeships.

The Apprenticeship Programme is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.

Visit: www.cambriantraining.com

Eighteen employers and learners who have excelled in apprenticeship, skills and employment training programmes delivered by one of Wales’ top work-based learning providers have been shortlisted for awards.

Cambrian Training, which has offices in Welshpool, Holyhead, Colwyn Bay and Llanelli and Builth Wells, will present its annual Apprenticeship, Employment and Skills Awards at the International Pavilion on the Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd on March 4.

Cambrian Training has chosen Apprenticeship Week Cymru – February 3-7 – to announce the finalists. To be nominated for awards, employers and learners must be engaged with programmes delivered by the company for the Welsh Government.

Held for the fourth time, the awards are designed to celebrate all that is great about training, apprenticeships and skills in Wales. The shortlisted finalists demonstrate the talent pool and range of work-based learning programmes available across Wales.

Finalists for Foundation Apprentice (level 2), Apprentice (level 3) and Higher Apprentice (level 4) of the Year awards are; Bethany Morgan, 17, a hotel and hospitality apprentice from the Celtic Manor Resort, Newport; Daniel Carlo, 38, recycling advisor for Bryson Recycling, Conwy; Yasmin Dewse, 28, a chef at Aberystwyth University; Daniel Allen, 26, head chef at Clockworks (Marstons), Swansea; Emma Hooper, 36, chief steward at Compass Group PLC – ESS Defence, Chepstow;  Stephen Paul Whiffen, 38, syrup room manager at Radnor Hills, Knighton and Lorna Morris, 46, owner of Beyond Breakout, Newtown.

Outstanding Individual of the Year award finalists are Chris Evans, 26, waste/recycling operative in Ruthin for Denbighshire County Council and Sasha Jones, 20, keyholder at Nags Head Inn, Garthmyl.

Shortlisted for the Micro, Small, Medium and Large Employer Apprenticeship Engagement of the Year awards are: Happy Horse Retirement Home, Brecon; Thomas Skip and Plant Hire Ltd, Caernarfon; Harbourmaster Hotel, Aberaeron; A. J. Rees & Sons Ltd (Andrew Rees Butchers), Narberth; Tiny Rebel, Newport; Parry & Evans Limited, Deeside; Bronglais General Hospital, Aberystwyth.

“Our awards reward individuals and employers who have excelled in their apprenticeship learning and training programmes that we deliver on behalf of the Welsh Government,” said Katy Godsell, Cambrian Training’s marketing manager.

“The awards celebrate the achievements of those who have exceeded expectations during their engagement and commitment to their apprenticeship training and skills programmes. They have shown a unique approach to apprenticeship training and development and demonstrated initiative and enterprise, innovation and creativity.

“We are looking forward to sharing so many wonderful stories at the awards night and recognising those who have excelled throughout Wales.”

Winners of some categories will have the chance to be put forward for the prestigious Apprenticeship Awards Cymru, which are jointly organised by the National Training Federation for Wales and the Welsh Government, in October.

The Apprenticeship Programme is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.

Visit: @CambrianTrainingCompany

A leading work-based learning company, which delivers apprenticeships across Wales, has begun the new decade and its 25^th year of delivering skills with a glowing inspection report.

Cambrian Training, which has offices in Welshpool, Llanelli, Builth Wells, Holyhead and Colwyn Bay, received ‘Good’ judgements across all inspection areas from Estyn, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate for Education and Training in Wales.

To celebrate the inspection report launch, the company held a reception on Thursday, which was attended by local Assembly Member Russell George, Shadow Minister for Economy Infrastructure and Skill, employers, apprentices and staff.

Cambrian Training delivers Foundation Apprenticeships, Apprenticeships and Higher Apprenticeships in Hospitality, including Craft Cuisine and British Institute of Innkeepers, Food and Drink Manufacture, Butchery, Health and Social Care, Children’s Early Years, Equine, Financial Services, Team Leading and Management, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies, Retail and Customer Service, Sustainable Resource Management and Water Engineering.

The company’s sub-contractors include Call of the Wild, Haddon Training, Lifetime Training, Progression Training, Sirius Skills and Wiser Academy.

The inspection report highlights that the company’s senior leadership team has established a successful corporate culture with a strong identity, rooted in its locality and its specialist core provision, which has been developed in response to employers’ needs.

It notes the delivery of masterclasses to supplement and broaden learners’ experiences and a partnership approach with employers to create opportunities for learners to grow and develop.

The company’s strategic approach to support the communities and economy of Wales is also recognised in the evidence-based report.

Arwyn Watkins, OBE, Cambrian Training’s managing director, said:

“The acknowledgement and recognition of strong vocational skills and the ability for them to be applied in the workplace by the apprentices on our programmes is at the core of our teaching and learning.

“The dedication of our workforce and the partnership approach we encourage with businesses are key to securing a wide range of practical skills that benefit the individuals that we work with and help to establish them as valuable employees.”

Anne Jones, Cambrian Training’s director of quality and skills, said the company was delighted to receive ‘Good’ judgements across all inspection areas, which confirmed its status as one of Wales’ top training providers.

“The report is a glowing endorsement of our company, our quality staff and our sub-contractors and gives us a solid platform to continue improving and developing,” she added.

Mr George said:

“I congratulate Cambrian Training on receiving an excellent Estyn inspection report. It’s of great benefit to Mid Wales to have a company based here that specialises in apprenticeships and supports employability opportunities so relevant to the local and Welsh economy.”

Visit: www.cambriantraining.com

Feature image: Cambrian Training’s directors and staff with Montgomeryshire AM Russell George, employers and apprentices at the reception to launch the Estyn inspection report.

Kind-hearted directors and staff at an award-winning training provider are helping the homeless in communities across Wales this Christmas.

When Loz Gaskin, staff development and Online resource officer at Welshpool headquartered Cambrian Training, suggested supporting the Helping Our Homeless Wales Christmas Shoebox Collection, she was encouraged by the support from within the company.

Twenty-three shoeboxes full of essentials, such as hats, gloves, scarves, socks, books, food and chocolate treats, have been collected together with 30 brand new jackets, 15 second hand warm jackets and bags of food.

“Within our qualifications, all apprentices complete a module on wellbeing and we encourage them to look at topics including homelessness,” explained Loz. “It therefore felt fitting that we should support this Welsh charity based in Llandrindod Wells that works with the homeless.

“Our donations will go to homeless people in our communities across Wales. You can feel so helpless when you pass a homeless person on the street, but this collection ensures that they receive essential items this Christmas.

“Our directors and staff have been so generous with the things they have put in their shoeboxes. It’s nice that they have put so much time and effort into it and have gone above and beyond what was expected.”

Even Loz’s children have been involved in packing and her daughter’s Rainbow group from Arddleen has donated two shoeboxes. She said it was good that children were learning about homelessness.

Helping Our Homeless Wales is a charity established to improve the lives of those living on the street by providing essentials, care and face-to-face support. The charity has been running for three years.

Thanking Cambrian Training for its support, Sian Clarke, vice chairman, said: “I am amazed at how many shoeboxes the company has supported us with and we are very thankful.

“The homeless people we support across Wales love receiving these shoeboxes. Supporters have received has been amazing this year and I can’t wait to do the final count next week. The current record of 450 shoeboxes was achieved last year and I am hoping we have collected more than 500 this year.”

Cambrian Training, which has offices in Welshpool, Llanelli, Builth Wells, Holyhead and Colwyn Bay, has also been raising money for Cancer Research this year after setting itself a target of running, walking and cycling 1,000 miles, visiting all 22 counties of Wales.

A company Christmas Jumper Day on December 13 will raise money for Save the Children.

Visit: www.cambriantraining.com

Creating new jobs for young people could save your business up to £4,267

For a limited time only, funding and support up to the value of £4,267 are available to growing Welsh businesses who are creating new, sustainable job opportunities for young people.

Employers are being advised to apply to the Welsh Government’s Jobs Growth Wales (JGW) programme over the next three months in preparation for their new year recruitment drive.

As one of the Wales’ leading work-based learning providers, Cambrian Training is urging employers to waste no time in applying for this funding support.

Cambrian Training’s dedicated Business Engagement Officers across Wales are ready to advise and help employers in your area to complete their JGW application form, if required. For more information, advise or guidance please email; info@cambriantraining.com or phone 01938 555893 opt 4.

JGW helps growing businesses across Wales to create sustainable job opportunities for unemployed and job ready young people between the ages of 16-24 years old.

New recruits are paid at least the national minimum wage for a minimum of 25 hours a week and JGW reimburses half of their wage cost for the first six months.

Supported by the European Social Fund, JGW is designed to provide young, work-ready people with a valuable opportunity to kick start their career.

To receive support, a business must create a real job and not a six-month work placement or temporary cover and must have traded for more than six months in the private or third sector in Wales.

All jobs created must be sustainable and employers must be committed to retaining their new employee beyond the six-month period. Don’t forget, if they’ve impressed you enough to earn a full-time job, imagine what they can achieve for your business with further training and skills support, such as an apprenticeship.

Because Cambrian Training recognises that recruiting new staff demands time and commitment, employers will be supported by the company, as managing agent, allowing them to focus on getting the best out of their new employee from day one.

To make the recruitment process even easier, Cambrian Training lists all vacancies on the JGW section of the Careers Wales website and promotes them on its social media channels. Work ready young people can then apply online.

To apply for the job opportunities on Cambrian Training’ website, visit www.cambriantraining.com/wp/en/jobs/ or search #CambrianJobSearch on social media.

Cambrian Training specialises in work-based apprenticeship training in hospitality, food and drink manufacturing, sustainable resource management, business and administration, team leading and management, AAT accounting, financial planning services, customer service and retail skills, equine care and health, social care and early years.

Employers interested in creating a job opportunity must first complete an Expression Of Interest form at businesswales.gov.wales/skillsgateway/jobs-growth-wales-form and select Cambrian Training as their managing agent.

Areas across Wales that Cambrian Training support are; Anglesey, Conwy, Gwynedd, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Wrexham, Powys, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire,

Monmouthshire, Carmarthenshire, Swansea, Cardiff and Neath Port Talbot.

One business that has benefited from JGW is Confederate Chemicals in Newtown, which is currently trying to recruit its second JGW employee to become a technical service chemist.

Operations manager John Hextall explained “Confederate Chemicals has had a very positive experience with the first JGW post we advertised two years ago.  We had a new job in our laboratory and took on Nia-Faith Williams, a school leaver, who has turned out to be an excellent hire and is contributing to both the chemical and sales teams.

“In addition, we received funding of about £3,000 to help offset the employment costs. I would recommend the programme to any employer looking to create a sustainable new job aimed at someone under 25 years of age.”

Another business who has also benefited from JGW is architectural practice Mark Waghorn Design, Llandeilo. Partner Mark Waghorn said:

“The JGW programme has been essential to our company as it has allowed us to find the right kind of candidates.

“I would definitely recommend JGW. It’s a wonderful way to hire young people and offer them a chance to start their career path with the guarantee and support of this programme. As an employer, having the financial help provided by JGW is also a great incentive.”

Bronglais General Hospital in Aberystwyth is reaping the benefits of achieving its 100^th apprenticeship delivered by award-winning learning provider Cambrian Training.

The learning partnership between the hospital and Cambrian Training began 15 years ago and 101 staff, aged between 17 and their 60s, have since completed apprenticeship frameworks.

The apprenticeships have been so successful at lowering staff sickness levels and improving performance that Hywel Dda University Health Board is considering using Bronglais as a model to introduce them in other hospitals in the new year.

The frameworks completed at Bronglais, ranging from foundation to higher apprenticeships, include hospitality management, hospitality supervision, housekeeping, food and drink services, cleaning and support services skills and hospitality services. The Apprenticeship Programme is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.

Stephen John, Hywel Dda University Health Board’s facilities operations manager, presented a Higher Apprenticeship (Level 4) in Hospitality Management to Mark Westlake and Foundation Apprenticeships (Level 2) in Cleaning and Support Services Skills to Kathryn Dollery, Sion Treharne, Anish Kuriakose and Jane Weston. Tim Jones and Marzena Wlodarczyk, who have also completed the Foundation Apprenticeship, were unable to attend the ceremony.

“Achieving the 100^th apprenticeship through Cambrian Training shows the consistent period of investment in staff at the hospital,” said Mr John. “The training has resulted in a significantly lower level of staff sickness at Bronglais which consistently has the highest standards of cleanliness.

“The training stimulates the workforce to be hungry for learning and development and they are more motivated which is borne out by the levels sickness and performance.”

Bronglais General Hospital’s hotel services co-ordinator Steve James said he was delighted that 101 kitchen and domestic staff, porters and drivers had achieved apprenticeships over the past 15 years.

“In my opinion, this has been a wonderful and worthwhile venture that has proved very beneficial to the staff and brilliant for the hospital,” he said. “All training is work-based and the trainers are excellent, undertaking an assessment of the education level of each staff member at the start.

“In my experience, well trained staff are much happier and competent.”

Training officer Joanna Davies, from Cambrian Training, has the distinction of having delivered qualifications to the company’s first and 100^th apprentices at the hospital. After eight years working with her team delivering qualifications at the hospital, she left to run a business with her husband, Nick, for six years before returning last November.

“I was one of the first training officers at Bronglais Hospital 15 years ago with my hospitality team which delivered various qualifications,” said Joanna. “It’s a privilege to come back to Cambrian Training and be able to continue to deliver qualifications at Bronglais.

“I am delighted that the hospital has now achieved more than 100 apprenticeship frameworks by continuing to work closely with Cambrian Training.”

Visit: www.cambriantraining.com

Pan Wales learning provider Cambrian Training’s sustainable resource management team has been presented with an Excellence in Innovation Award.

The award was presented to mark the 30^th birthday of WAMITAB, a national awarding organisation and charity that develops qualifications for those working in resource management and recycling, cleaning, facilities management and parking enforcement.

“Cambrian Training have been an approved WAMITAB centre since 2014. In that time, they have grown their assessor and IQA talent pool considerably, affording them the ability to offer a wide range of WAMITAB qualifications to exacting standards,” said the award citation.

“Cambrian Training have consistently challenged themselves and WAMITAB to offer relevant and specialist Continuing Professional Development to qualification deliverers, recognising that excellence propagates excellence. With this award, we recognise the centre’s Excellence in Innovation.”

Katie Cockburn, WAMITAB’s director of qualifications and standards, said award winners were identified after detailed consultations had taken place with the organisation’s board of trustees, external quality assurance team and members of staff who came into contact with companies and individuals delivering its qualifications.

“Cambrian Training’s award was specifically for growing its pool of Assessors and Internal Quality Assurers (IQAs), which are in short supply for this niche area of expertise,” she explained.

“Compliance is very important, but we also want centres that go that extra mile to continuously improve their processes and the learner experience. We must offer qualifications that continue to be needed by industry.”

Heather Martin, Cambrian Training’s head for sustainability and business, said:

“We were all a little surprised by the award, as we didn’t know it was happening. It’s nice that the hard work of the company’s sustainable resource management team has been recognised with the WAMITAB award for Excellence and Innovation in delivery across the centre network.”

Heather manages a team of five which delivers sustainable resource management qualifications from Foundation Apprenticeships to Higher Apprenticeships across North and Mid Wales and Pembrokeshire. The team is also keen to expand its training services to Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire.

A number of the team’s apprentices have either won or been nominated for national awards.

For more information about the sustainable resource management qualifications delivered by Cambrian Training, email Heather at heather@cambriantraining.com or call 01938 555893.

Visit: www.cambriantraining.com

Just a month after starting a Higher Apprenticeship, Lee Price had to deal with the devastating death of Rob, her husband of 36 years.

Support from her colleagues, employer, training provider and family encouraged her to continue training and she completed the qualification nine months ahead of schedule despite being short-staffed at work.

Now Lee is in line for national recognition after being shortlisted for the Higher Apprentice of the Year Award at next month’s Apprenticeship Awards Cymru, the annual celebration of outstanding achievement in training and apprenticeships.

Thirty-four finalists in a dozen categories are in the running for the prestigious Apprenticeship Awards Cymru, which will be presented at a high-profile ceremony at the new International Convention Centre Wales, Newport, on October 24.

The awards showcase the successes of the best learners, employers, tutors and assessors in Wales who have excelled in contributing to the development of the Welsh Government’s Traineeship and Apprenticeship programmes.

Jointly organised by the Welsh Government and the National Training Federation for Wales (NTfW), the Apprenticeship Awards Cymru has Openreach, the UK’s digital network business, as its premier sponsor this year. The Apprenticeship Programme is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.

“Losing my husband is devastating and I’ve found it hard to just to come to work sometimes,” said Lee, 59, who lives in Rhayader. “But knowing that he was hugely supportive of my learning and pleased that I was pushing myself to gain qualifications has kept me going through the hardest times and given me a new focus and purpose in life.”

As Powys County Council’s Senior Quality and Environmental Standards Officer, she works closely with the county’s waste and recycling team as well as Ceredigion’s waste transfer team, ensuring that all services run smoothly and operate lawfully and safely.

She completed the Higher Apprenticeship (Level 4) in Systems and Operations Management through learning provider Cambrian Training, having previously achieved ILM Level 5 Leadership and Development, IOSH Managing Safely and CITB SMTS qualifications.

She was also Lead Auditor in achieving the ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and BS OHSAS 18001 standards.

“My higher apprenticeship has hugely improved my confidence and self-belief and increased my industry knowledge of recycling to allow me to carry out my role with greater assurance and confidence,” added Lee, who is keen to progress her learning.

“I am a huge ambassador for apprenticeships and believe they can transform your knowledge, ability, skills and view on life.”

Ian Harris, Powys County Council’s recently retired Operations Manager for Recycling and Waste Collection Services, who worked with Lee whilst she was training, praised her “remarkable achievement” in completing her qualification nine months early.

Minister for the Economy and Transport, Ken Skates, congratulated Lee and all the other shortlisted finalists.

“Our Welsh Government’s Apprenticeship and Traineeship programmes are helping increasing numbers of people to gain the skills and experience that we know businesses across all sectors of the economy in Wales really need,” he said.

“The Apprenticeship Awards Cymru provides an excellent opportunity to celebrate and showcase the achievements of everyone involved in those programmes from our star apprentices and employers, to learning providers and trainees.”

Learn more about Higher Apprenticeships here.

Cambrian Training Staff, one of Wales’ leading training providers, have run, walked and cycled 1,225 miles since the start of the year to raise money for Cancer Research.

The award-winning company, which has offices in Welshpool, Llanelli, Builth Wells, Holyhead and Colwyn Bay, has exceeded its target of covering 1,000 miles but has yet to visit all 22 counties of Wales as planned.

Fundraising currently stands at £1,064.25 and anybody wishing to help the Cambrian Training Staff reach its target of £1,500 for Cancer Research can donate online at: fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/team-cambrian-challenge-2019

The fund is set for a major boost when a team of 10 from Cambrian Training Staff  and friends, tackle the Cardiff Half Marathon on Sunday, October 6.

The Cambrian Training Staff team includes chief operating officer Faith O’Brien, marketing manager Katy Godsell, management information analyst Alex Hogg, marketing assistant Kim Williams, operational unit support officer Donna Heath, personal assistant to the board Sarah Wilde, data administrator Hollie Bumford, Essential Skills tutor Tracey Dawson, headteacher of Caereinion High School Philip Jones and Compass Group’s apprenticeships quality and compliance manager Barry Rotherham.

The Cambrian Training Staff team has been training hard and has completed a mixture of road, trail and fell races as well as training runs that are now up to the 10-mile mark.

Training officer Sarah Jones boosted the fundraising this summer by completing the Across Wales Walk, while Donna Heath ran the Heart of Wales Ultra Marathon. The remaining hard miles have been covered by staff from across the company on training runs and races.

The Cambrian Training Staff emphasise that there is still time for apprentices and employers, with which the company works across Wales, to join in the fundraising challenge. Counties still to be visited include Merthyr, Monmouthshire, Swansea, Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly and Bridgend.

It’s the second year running that the company has adopted Cancer Research as its charity, having raised £855 in 2018.

“We have calculated that we need to cover 45.5 miles in each Welsh county to reach our target during 2019,” said Katy Godsell. “We would like to include all the counties to illustrate that Cambrian Training staff deliver apprenticeships across the whole of Wales.

“We are raising money for this fantastic charity because cancer has touched so many of our lives. Together we want to beat cancer.”

Cambrian Training staff specialise in the delivery of apprenticeships and employability opportunities across a range of industries pan-Wales. The Apprenticeship Programme in Wales is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.

To learn more about Cambrian Training visit cambriantraining.com

Feature image: Staff from Cambrian Training running the Cardiff Half Marathon. Pictured left to right, Sarah Wilde, Katy Godsell, Alex Hogg and Donna Heath. Front, Phil Jones.

Star learners, employers, tutors and assessors from across Wales have been shortlisted for this year’s Apprenticeship Awards Cymru, the annual celebration of outstanding achievement in training and apprenticeships.

Thirty-four finalists in a dozen categories are in the running for the prestigious awards which will be presented at a high-profile ceremony at the new International Convention Centre Wales in Newport on October 24.

The awards showcase the successes of the best learners, employers, tutors and assessors in Wales who have excelled in contributing to the development of the Welsh Government’s traineeship and apprenticeship programmes.

Jointly organised by the Welsh Government and the National Training Federation for Wales (NTfW), the Apprenticeship Awards Cymru has Openreach, the UK’s digital network business, as its premier sponsor this year.

The Apprenticeship Programme is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.

Minister for the Economy and Transport, Ken Skates, congratulated the finalists and thanked all the learners, employers, tutors and assessors who had applied for this year’s awards.

“Our Welsh Government’s apprenticeships and traineeship programmes are helping increasing numbers of people to gain the skills and experience that we know businesses across all sectors of the economy in Wales really need.

“The Apprenticeship Awards Cymru provides an excellent opportunity to celebrate and showcase the achievements of everyone involved in those programmes from our star apprentices and employers, to learning providers and trainees.

“It is particularly pleasing to see three finalists in the new Tomorrow’s Talent category which the personal progress of a stand out current apprentice and their early impact on business performance.

“The awards ceremony at the International Convention Centre Wales on October 24 promises to be an exciting event.”

Congratulating the finalists Connie Dixon, Partnership Director for Openreach in Wales, said:

“The future prosperity of the Welsh economy depends on our young people getting the appropriate skills, support and training in the workplace.”

“Apprenticeships play a vital role in helping us to meet that goal and are also a fantastic route into the workplace. At Openreach we place a great value on recruiting new apprentices every year into a wide range of roles and appreciate the significant contribution they bring to the business – in terms of new skills, new experiences and new ideas.

“We’re delighted to be associated with this year’s awards and good luck to all the finalists.”

The Tomorrow’s Talent category gives employers the opportunity to nominate a current apprentice who has ‘demonstrated significant personal progress’ and has made ‘a tangible and positive impact on the employer’s organisational performance.’

Finalists in this category are Esta Lewis from Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council, a learner with Cardiff & Vale College, Cheradine Jones from Pobl Group, Swansea, a learner with Gower College Swansea and Joe Peskett from the Office of National Statistics, Newport, a learner with ALS Training.

The Employability category has awards for Traineeship Learner of the Year for Engagement and Level 1. The finalists are: Molly Jones from Penarth, a learner with The People Business-Wales Ltd; Matthew Lloyd Jones from Buckley, a Coleg Cambria learner; Carrie-Ann Anthony from Aberdare, a learner with PeoplePlus Cymru; Kane Laver McMahon from Barry, a learner with The People Business-Wales Ltd and Marcio Paixo and Shannon Harding, both from Merthyr Tydfil and learners with PeoplePlus Cymru.

Apprentices are recognised with awards for three different levels of achievement.

Foundation Apprentice of the Year finalists: Andrew Bennett, from Bryson Recycling, Abergele, a learner with Cambrian Training; Phoebe McLavy from Coleg Sir Gâr, Carmarthen and Gavin Williams from Rubens Male Grooming salon, LlanfairPG, a learner with Busnes@LlandrilloMenai.

Apprentice of the Year finalists: Rebekah Chatfield from Brød The Danish Bakery Ltd, Pontcanna, Cardiff, a learner with Cambrian Training; Shane Ash from Tata Steel Strip Products UK, Llanwern, Newport, a learner with Coleg Gwent and University of South Wales and Katie Parry, from KT’s Salon Ladies & Gents, Bangor, a learner with Busnes@LlandrilloMenai..

Higher Apprentice of the Year finalists: Melanie Davis from Conwy Communities for Work, a learner with Busnes@LlandrilloMenai; Jamie Stenhoff from Airbus, Broughton, a learner with Coleg Cambria and Lee Price from Rhayader, Powys County Council’s senior quality and environmental standards officer, a learner with Cambrian Training.

Successful employers will be competing for four awards. Small Employer of the Year (up to 49 employees): Freight Logistics Solutions, Pontypool, whose training provider is Torfaen Training and Brød (The Danish Bakery Ltd), Pontcanna, Cardiff and Gwesty’r Harbourmaster Hotel, Aberaeron, both of whose training provider is Cambrian Training.

Medium Employer of the Year (50 to 249): Radnor Hills, Knighton, whose training provider is Cambrian Training; Ensinger, Tonyrefail, whose training provider is TSW Training and ITV Cymru Wales, Cardiff, whose training provider is Sgil Cymru.

Large Employer of the Year (250 to 4,999): Legal and General Investment Management, Cardiff, whose training provider is TSW Training and Aspire Blaenau Gwent, Ebbw Vale and British Airways Maintenance Cardiff, Rhoose, both of whose training provider is Coleg y Cymoedd.

Macro Employer of the Year (5,000 plus): Swansea Bay University Health Board, Morriston, whose training providers are NPTC Group of Colleges and Gower College Swansea, and Lloyds Banking Group, Newport, whose training provider is Cardiff and Vale College.

Work-based learning practitioner excellence is rewarded with two accolades. Work-based Learning Assessor of the Year: Lara Baldwin from Cardiff who works for ACT Limited; Hayley Lewis from Haverfordwest, who works for TSW Training and Melissa O’Connor from Cardiff, who works for Portal Training. Work-based Learning Tutor of the Year: Lynn Matthews from Gorseinon who works for PeoplePlus Cymru and Rachel Lewis from Bridgend who works for Bridgend College.

Visit: www.cambriantraining.com and gov.wales/apprenticeship-awards-cymru

Young people leaving school, college or university across Wales this summer are being advised to check out an exciting range of job vacancies being advertised to job hunters by an award-winning training provider.

Cambrian Training, one of the Wales’ leading work-based learning providers, has around 40 Jobs Growth Wales (JGW) and apprenticeship vacancies on offer on its website, with more being added daily.

To apply for the job opportunities, visit www.cambriantraining.com/wp/en/jobs/ or use the social media hash tag #cambrianjobsearch .

Cambrian Training provides work-based apprenticeships in a range of sectors and supports businesses across Wales.

With thousands of young people now entering the jobs market after completing their studies at school, college or university, it’s a prime time of the year for employers across Wales to recruit talented new staff.

One young person who has found his ideal job through a JGW opportunity is Edward Junaidean, 19. He has progressed to become a craft cuisine foundation apprentice at the Castle Inn, Newport, Pembrokeshire.

“I have always wanted to be a chef,” he said. “I had an interview for a college course but decided that learning on the job was better suited to me, with the added bonus of being paid.

“The Jobs Growth Wales opportunity has worked out well for me because I have progressed to an apprenticeship and head chef Alison Richards is very supportive. It’s a brilliant place to work and I want to continue progressing and get qualifications.

“My advice to young people looking for a job is to keep their options open and seriously consider Jobs Growth Wales opportunities.”

Former culinary lecturer Alison, joint owner of the Castle Inn with her husband, Glyn, said: “Ed works hard, is keen to learn new things and is growing in confidence and maturity every day in his role.

“He is encouraged to come up with ideas and to try new things because that’s an important part of the learning process.

“I think Jobs Growth Wales is excellent because we found Ed through it. We now want to take on another young person on the programme who can also progress to an apprenticeship and grow with the business.”

The Welsh Government’s JGW programme, which is supported by the European Social Fund, is designed to provide young, work-ready people with a valuable opportunity to kick start their career.

The programme also aims to encourage growing businesses across Wales to create sustainable job opportunities for unemployed and job ready young people between the ages of 16-24 years. Most JGW recruits progress to an apprenticeship at the end of their six-month work placement.

New recruits are paid at least the national minimum wage for a minimum of 25 hours a week and the programme reimburses half of their wage cost for the first six months.

To raise awareness of these job opportunities, Cambrian Training lists all vacancies on its website, all social media channels and the Jobs Growth Wales section of the Careers Wales website.

Cambrian Training, which has offices in Welshpool, Llanelli, Builth Wells, Holyhead and Colwyn Bay, is developing positive links with schools across Wales to make students aware of the wide-ranging apprenticeship opportunities available to them.

The company is seeking to increase its school links this year by offering to run vocational activities and to provide careers advice, so that students and their parents are aware of all the opportunities and learning pathways available to them.

Employers interested in creating a job opportunity must complete an Expression Of Interest form at businesswales.gov.wales/skillsgateway/jobs-growth-wales-form . For more information, contact Cambrian Training at email:

 info@cambriantraining.com or phone 01938 555893.

Welshpool-based Cambrian Training, one of the Wales’ leading work-based learning providers, is urging employers who are creating new job opportunities to consider applying for support from the Jobs Growth Wales (JGW) before the programme ends.

The programme aims to help growing businesses across Wales to create sustainable job opportunities for unemployed and job ready young people between the ages of 16-24 years old.

New recruits will be paid at least the national minimum wage for a minimum of 25 hours a week and the programme reimburses half of their wage cost for the first six months.

The JGW programme runs until March 2020, however Cambrian Training is encouraging employers to apply for support as soon as possible.

The programme, which is supported by the European Social Fund, is designed to provide a young, work-ready people with a valuable opportunity to kick start their career.

To receive support, a business must create a real job and not a six-month work placement or temporary cover and must have traded for more than six months in the private or third sector in Wales.

Cambrian Training supports businesses based in Anglesey, Conwy, Gwynedd, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Wrexham, Powys, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Monmouthshire, Carmarthenshire, Swansea, Cardiff and Neath Port Talbot.

The company provides work-based apprenticeships in hospitality, food and drink manufacturing, sustainable resource management, business and administration, team leading and management, AAT accounting, financial planning services, customer service and retail skills, equine care and health, social care and early years.

One business that had benefited from JGW is the award-winning Happy Horse Retirement Home at Crai, near Brecon. Five young people have progressed with the business, the first private retirement home for horses in Great Britain, in the last five years, including Marc Pugh, who is now manager.

Marc has progressed from JGW to a Foundation Apprenticeship, British Horse Society Level 4 qualification and is now seeking a BHS Stable Manager’s qualification. In addition, he won the Jobs Growth Wales Outstanding Achiever Award at the Apprenticeship Awards Cymru in 2016.

“Marc is the best advertisement there is for Jobs Growth Wales,” said Nicky van Dijk, director of the business. “The programme works for us because it’s a great help financially to take on a young person who can try out a job to see if they enjoy it.

“It’s a risk for any employer to take on an unqualified person but five of the young people we have taken on through Jobs Growth Wales have stayed on to do apprenticeships and some now run their own businesses.”

Employers interested in creating a job opportunity must complete an Expression Of Interest form at businesswales.gov.wales/skillsgateway/jobs-growth-wales-form . For more information, contact Cambrian Training at email: info@cambriantraining.com or phone 01938 555893.

To make the recruitment process easier for employers, Cambrian Training lists all vacancies on their website, the Jobs Growth Wales section of the Careers Wales website and promotes them on its social media channels.

The company currently has 30 vacancies listed on its own website. To apply for the job opportunities, visit http://www.cambriantraining.com/wp/en/jobs/ .