2023 Apprenticeship Awards

Skill, hard work and determination have seen Nia overcome a series of barriers to run her own business whilst also working for the grŵp's hair and beauty work-based learning team at Llangefni.

She completed an Apprenticeship in Barbering (Level 3) way ahead of schedule and is now working towards an assessor’s qualification whilst also employing staff in her own business.

Despite family issues, Nia remains focused on her chosen career and is supporting learners to achieve hairdressing qualifications whilst continuing to work evenings and weekends in her salon.

Naomi did not let the pandemic and the trauma of her brother’s serious motorbike accident stand in the way of her achieving a Foundation Apprenticeship in Barbering (Level 2).

Whilst supporting her family following the accident, which left her brother in a coma and requiring brain surgery, she managed to continue working and attending college and completed her apprenticeship six months early.

Naomi, who has always wanted to be a hairdresser, has now progressed to a Level 2 in Hairdressing and plans to continue learning to offer the best standards possible. She was praised for her dedication, commitment and skill by her employer and assessor.

Kelly began her Apprenticeship in Health and Social Care (Level 2) at the start of the pandemic whilst working as a community carer with Tereen Ltd and constantly looked at ways to improve the quality of care provided to frail and vulnerable service users.

She achieved her Apprenticeship with high marks, which recognised that she had put into practice what she had learnt. Completing the apprenticeship helped her secure a new job with the Welsh Ambulance Service where she is training to be a paramedic.

Describing Kelly as “a very good carer” who received positive feedback from service users and their relatives, Tereen Ltd said: “We were really sad to see her leave to take the next step in her career, but we are confident she will do well in her role with the Welsh Ambulance Service.”