Hsin-Jung Lu from Llandrindod worked for many years as a graphic designer, until she felt she needed a change. Passionate about the environment, she made the decision to retrain and pursue a career in conservation.
Following her studies in environmental conservation at a London college, 42-year-old Hsin faced challenges securing paid work in the sector. She turned to volunteering to gain experience, before gaining a traineeship with the Elan Valley Trust.
Hsin was determined to make the most of the opportunity, and sought further support to boost her prospects. Encouraged by her employer, she visited the Working Wales website and made a video appointment with careers adviser Megan Enlli Jones.
Megan helped Hsin discover she was eligible for a Personal Learning Account (PLA) – a programme that enables individuals to study part-time in priority sectors alongside their current employment.
Hsin already had a course in mind. She said: “I knew I wanted to do commercial drone training. In my current role, a lot of areas that we travel to are quite remote, so we have to hike to get there.
“I knew that if I had a drone, I could programme it, fly it there, and capture the imaging we needed first.”
With Megan’s guidance, Hsin found a suitable course with an approved training provider and successfully applied for the PLA. She completed her training and has since been promoted to Assistant Peatland Restoration Officer.
“The benefit for me has been tremendous,” said Hsin. “It’s given me an edge for my career in the future.”
Reflecting on her journey, Hsin added: “I really can’t thank my careers adviser Megan enough. I went into a completely different mindset. The whole process is really easy – especially for people who are shy like me.
“Go on the website, use the live chat and see if you’re eligible. You’ll have a personal adviser who will help follow things up for you.
“If you don’t like what you’re currently doing, try the Working Wales website. Maybe get a different skill. It might change your life!”
Hsin’s success is just one example of how Working Wales, funded by Welsh Government and delivered by Careers Wales, helps people take confident steps toward their futures. During 2024-25 32,621 adults received their support. This was delivered via 92,607 direct interactions with individual customers which included 36,033 in-person interviews, 19,962 telephone interviews and 2,010 video interactions.
Working Wales careers advisers also supported 5,000 young people across Wales, providing each individual with tailored career information advice and guidance.
The service also supported over 2,000 individuals facing redundancy, helping them to identify and plan their next steps.
