Apprenticeship Awards Cymru 2022 winners to be announced next week
Twenty-three finalists from across Wales have just over a week to wait until the winners of this year’s prestigious Apprenticeship Awards Cymru 2022 are announced at a virtual ceremony on November 10.
Highlight of the year for apprentices, employers and work-based learning providers and practitioners, the awards are organised by the Welsh Government and supported by the National Training Federation for Wales (NTfW) and headline sponsor Openreach.
The awards highlight the outstanding achievements, during unprecedented times, of employers, apprentices and work-based learning practitioners. Twenty-three finalists will contest nine award categories.
Foundation Apprentice of the Year contenders are: Olivia Headley-Grant, from Barry, who works for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and whose training provider is Cardiff and Vale College; Malgorzata Bienko, who works for School Lane Preschool in Llandudno and whose training provider is Arfon Dwyfor Training and Boglárka-Tunde Incze from Llanrug, Caernarfon, who works for Gofal Bro Cyf and Marie Curie and whose training provider is Itec Skills and Employment.
The Apprentice of the Year finalists include James Matthewman, deputy head greenkeeper at Maesteg Golf Club whose training provider is Bridgend College; Kiera Dwyer, from Rhydyfelin, Pontypridd who works for Sheppards Pharmacy, part of the Avicenna group, in Abercynon and whose training provider is Health Education and Improvement Wales, supported by ALS Training and Dion Evans, who works for Alwyn Evans Ltd in his home village of Talgarreg, Llandysul and whose training providers are Coleg Ceredigion and Coleg Sir Gâr.
Competing for the Higher Apprentice of the Year Award are Jayne Williams, from Newport, who works for HM Courts and Tribunals Service and whose training provider is ACT; Michelle Gaskell from Abergavenny, who works for the Forensic Capability Network and whose training provider is ALS Training and Albert Brennan from Cefn-y-Bedd, Wrexham who works for Airbus in Broughton and whose training provider is Swansea University.
Small and Medium Employer of the Year finalists are Welsh language day nursery Si Lwli, Whitchurch, Cardiff whose training provider is Educ8 Training; Willow Daycare, Carmarthen whose training provider is TSW Training; FSG Tool and Die, Llantrisant whose training provider is TSW Training and Newtown High School whose training provider is Portal Training, Cardiff.
Large and Macro Employer of the Year finalists are Kepak Group, Merthyr Tydfil whose training provider is Cambrian Training Company; Celsa Steel UK, Cardiff whose training provider is TSW Training; Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, Pontypridd who training provider is Educ8 Training and Persimmon Homes West Wales whose training provider is Bridgend College.
Competing for the coveted Work-based Learning Practitioner of the Year Award, which recognises those crucially involved in delivering apprenticeships, are Victoria Morris from Educ8 Training, Ystrad Mynach, Hayley Walters from Itec Training Solutions, Cardiff and Angelina Mitchell from ACT, Cardiff
Tomorrow’s Talent finalists are Chrystalla Moreton from Fairwater, Cardiff who works for Celsa Steel UK and whose training provider is TSW Training; Anya O’Callaghan from Spirit Hair Team, Ystrad Mynach whose training provider is Educ8 Training and Evan Coombs from Blaenavon, who works for PCI Pharma Services and Aspire Blaenau Gwent and whose training providers are Coleg y Cymoedd and Gower College Swansea.
This award 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.’
The Apprenticeship Programme is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund. For more information about recruiting an apprentice, visit: https://gov.wales/apprenticeships-genius-decision or call 03000 603000.
Picture caption:
Olivia Headley-Grant from Barry, a Foundation Apprentice of the Year finalist.