Apprentice Evan Coombs, Laboratory Technician at PCI Pharma Tredegar, who has been shortlisted in the finals of the prestigious Apprenticeship Awards Cymru 2022. Evan joined the leading pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical global solutions business through the Aspire Blaenau Gwent Shared Apprenticeship Programme.
Evan, 19, from Blaenavon, was a gold medallist in the Laboratory Technician category at the Skills Competition Wales earlier this year and has saved his employer time and money with the data he gathered for a continuous improvement project.
Now Evan has been shortlisted for the Tomorrow’s Talent Award at the Apprenticeship Awards Cymru 2022. Winners will be announced at a virtual awards ceremony on November 10th and the awards highlight the outstanding achievements, during unprecedented times, of employers, apprentices and work-based learning practitioners.
The awards are the highlight of the year for apprentices, employers and work-based learning providers and practitioners. They are organised by the Welsh Government and supported by the National Training Federation for Wales (NTfW).
Evan, who is working towards a Laboratory and Science Technicians Apprenticeship delivered by Coleg y Cymoedd, is employed jointly by PCI Pharma Services and Aspire Blaenau Gwent. He is also studying a Higher National Certificate Level 4 in Applied Chemistry at Gower College Swansea.
Praised for his excellent work, Evan is already working to the standard of an industry Level 1 analyst and works overtime to ensure that lifesaving medication is delivered to the market ahead of time and that financial targets are met by the department where he works.
Danielle Davies, PCI’s stability team leader, said: “I have seen Evan grow in a short period of time to become a fully functioning, capable analyst within the first year of his apprenticeship. His achievements have all been due to his devotion to learning and the will to do well. He has completed each task to 100% of his capabilities and hit all goals and objectives set.”
Despite doing well in his A-Levels, Evan was uncertain about going to university due to threat of further remote learning caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The apprenticeship with Aspire and PCI has allowed him to use his knowledge and skills, gain experience, further his education and develop a career.
Evan said: “I really enjoy my job because it involves doing something different every day and it allows me to put into practice everything that I am learning. My ambition is to keep progressing with PCI.”
Aspires Regional Skills Team Manager, Tara Lane, said: “The competition to reach the finals of this award is extremely high so to be shortlisted is truly an outstanding achievement. The Aspire programme recognises the importance of work experience and Blaenau Gwent CBC fully embraces this approach. I would like to congratulate Evan on his finalist place and wish him all the very best for at the awards night.”
