Finalists have been announced for the annual Apprenticeship, Employment and Skills Awards organised by one of Wales’ top training companies.
Recognising employers and learners who have excelled in apprenticeship, skills and employment training programmes delivered by Cambrian Training Company, the awards were due to have been held at the Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd on July 28.
However, due to rising cases of Covid-19, the company decided to postpone the event to a future date.
The finalists are: Outstanding Individual of The Year: Joseph Hembrough, fishmonger / manager at The Menai Seafood Company, Port Penrhyn, Bangor and 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 and Alastair Robert Jones, a chef for Compass Group (ESS) at RRC Crickhowell.
Apprentice of the Year: Ciri-Ann John, a videographer with North Wales Media, Flint, Stuart Wooles, a catering manager for Compass Group (ESS) at RRC Crickhowell and Graham Martin Jones, a waste and recycling operative at Rhayader for Powys County Council.
Higher Apprentice of the Year: Sara-Mai Reyes Escoto, marketing manager with North Wales Media, Flint and John Franks, team manager at Bryson Recycling, Mochdre, Conwy.
Employer of the Year: North Wales Media, Claremont Court Care Home, Malpas, Newport, Warner Leisure, Bodelwyddan Castle Hotel, near Rhyl, Kepak St Merryn Merthyr, Merthyr Tydfil, Compass Group 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.
With offices in Welshpool, Holyhead, Colwyn Bay, Llanelli and Llanelwedd, Cambrian Training Company delivers work-based apprenticeships across Wales.
Katy Godsell, Cambrian Training Company’s marketing manager, said the company was delighted with the number of applications submitted this year despite the challenging circumstances over the past 18 months.
“The quality of the applications was so high that it was difficult to choose the finalists,” she added. “We are disappointed that we have had to postpone the event but feel it is the best and safest thing to do at this time.
“We look forward to hosting the awards at a later date to showcase the dedication and commitment by individuals and companies to the apprenticeship programme here in Wales.”
The Apprenticeship Programme in Wales is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.
