NPTC Group of Colleges and Swansea Bay University Health Board’s Apprenticeship Academy has been shortlisted for this year’s Apprenticeship Awards Cymru – the annual celebration of outstanding achievement in training and apprenticeships.
Shortlisted in the Macro Employer of the Year (5,000 plus) category, the partnership has been recognised for its commitment to employing and training individuals through its apprenticeship programmes after demonstrating innovating and dynamic approaches to the delivery of the programmes and embedded apprenticeships into the health boards training plan and ethos.
The partnership currently has apprentice administrators, health care support workers on the wards and in theatres, assistants in laboratories and in areas such as Learning & Development, Outpatient Booking Offices, Estates and Facilities and Therapies Department. The majority are undertaking apprenticeships in business and administration and clinical health care support (such as pathology) but are looking to broaden the apprenticeship qualifications to offer to pharmacy, hospitality and ICT in the future.
Jointly organised by the Welsh Government and the National Training Federation for Wales (NTfW), with Openreach as its premier sponsor for this year, the awards showcase the successes of the best learners, employers, tutors and assessors in Wales who have excelled in contributing to the development of the Welsh Government’s traineeship and apprenticeship programmes.
Thirty-four finalists in a dozen categories are in the running for the prestigious awards which will be presented at a high-profile ceremony at the new International Convention Centre Wales in Newport on October 24.
Alec Thomas, Manager for the work-based Learning team, Pathways Training at NPTC Group of Colleges was delighted with the news, he said:
“We are delighted to be shortlisted, The success of the scheme has been phenomenal with the standard of applicants and the progression into permanent roles for recruits is simply fantastic. As a forward-thinking College, we understand the need to recruit apprentices with the skill and attitude to progress in their chosen careers which directly aligns with a lot of businesses, especially Swansea Bay University Health boards, need to create a long- term skilled workforce.’’
Swansea Bay’s Learning and Development Project Manager, Ruth Gates, said:
“All the staff working for the Apprentice Academy are thrilled to have been shortlisted for this award and are looking forward to the ceremony.
“We all work hard to develop and promote the apprenticeship opportunities for local people to start their careers within the health board and for existing staff to improve their skills and knowledge to meet the ever-changing needs of the organisation, gain promotion and evolve.”
Minister for the Economy and Transport, Ken Skates, congratulated NPTC Group of Colleges and Swansea University Health Board and thanked all the learners, employers, tutors and assessors who had applied for this year’s awards.
“Our Welsh Government’s apprenticeships and traineeship programmes are helping increasing numbers of people to gain the skills and experience that we know businesses across all sectors of the economy in Wales really need.’’
