Coleg Gwent is celebrating National Careers and Apprenticeships Week 2019!

Coleg Gwent is celebrating National Careers and Apprenticeships Week 2019!

To mark National Careers Weekand National Apprenticeships Week(4-8 March), we’ll be showcasing some of our apprentices’ and students’ successes, and how college is helping them achieve their dream career.

National Careers Week Retail Management student Brian Beni (pictured above) is currently studying a foundation degree with us. He’d like to open his own business in Africa, where he’s originally from. “I came from Africa not knowing hardly any English; I had to translate everything but the college has helped me feel confident in speaking, reading and writing. “I’ve done level 2 in IT and levels 2 and 3 in Business before progressing onto this foundation degree. It’s better than going to uni as the classes are smaller so you get to know the tutor better and have more support.” After finishing his degree, Brian will return to Africa. His advice for students? “Be yourself. Always ask questions if you’re not sure.”

Level 3 beauty therapy student, Elle Rogers, is gaining the skills she needs to set up her own business as a mobile beauty therapist. “I just love beauty and makeup, I like making look people look pretty. I want to set up my own business and by studying the Welsh Bacc which involves business development, community and current affairs, it’ll help me set up on my own as a mobile beauty therapist. “My advice for students wishing to study this course? Make sure you feel comfortable with the environment before you enrol; I did my first two years at another college and transferred down here because I preferred it. There’s a new salon at our campus and I found the campus, teachers and classmates really welcoming.”

Chloe Rouse, 20, is a student on our level 3 health and care Career Colleges course, a course that has been designed with employers so students can work in real life industry projects. It’s our second year as the only Career College in Wales, and Chloe is reaping the benefits of this programme. “I was introduced to this Career Colleges course by a tutor, I do a two day placement at the college, working with the ILS students; I love working with them. I also study three days at the college as part of the course – there’s different modules and units to study in health and care. “Studying health and care was always an option for me, I wanted to work with people who have learning difficulties as my sister has them. I want to go straight into a job after this and stay in Wales.” Recently, the Career Colleges Trust undertook research on behalf of Coleg Gwent and more than half of 13-16 year olds in Wales believe the education system is focused on academic grades or league tables over future career opportunities. Read more about the findings .

National Apprenticeship Week Joshua Martin, first studied A level sat sixth form and trained as an accountant and worked as a chef before studying the Level 3 Mechanical Engineering Extended Diploma with us to be an engineer – the career he always wanted. “A levels seemed like the obvious choice after GCSE sand apprenticeships beyond being a mechanic weren’t widely known about. I chose Maths, Chemistry, ICT and Product Design. Having got As at GCSE in these subjects I thought they would be a good choice, especially as they directed me down an engineering career path. Once into my A-levels, the leap in difficulty did prove to be a struggle, to the point that my maths teacher told me I would never make it as an engineer”, said Josh. After completing his A levels, he achieved results that could only get him onto a foundation year at university so he decided to follow the ACCA professional qualification at University of South Wales instead. Quickly realising it wasn’t what he wanted to do, Josh decided to take up a full time chef position that was offered to him during his part time job in hospitality. Working as a chef for a year, he realised his heart was with engineering and applied to study with us. “Over qualified and older than everyone else, I chose to start studying the Level 3 Mechanical Engineering Extended Diploma at Coleg Gwent. By the time I would finish the qualification after two years, my friends would have finished their degrees and I’d still only have a qualification equivalent to the A levels I already had. Nevertheless, I started and at this point I noticed more and more higher/degree apprenticeships were being introduced by big companies and decided that was my aim. I’d be able to start paid work immediately after finishing my qualification and I’d get a full degree for free”, Josh added.

Ryan Bowles is a former Crosskeys Motor Vehicle student. Ryan started his time with Coleg Gwent as a learner on a school links programme, where school learners are given the opportunity to attend college once a week to complete a vocational course. Once Ryan had finished school, he enrolled on a full-time Diploma course at Crosskeys campus. During his time here, he achieved Level 1, 2 and 3 Diplomas in Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair. Last September, Ryan gained a heavy goods vehicle apprenticeship with MAN and within a few months competed in the Heavy Vehicle Wales Skills finals, gaining the bronze medal. It is fantastic to see the achievements Ryan has made since being one of our learners.

International Women’s Day International Women’s Day (Friday 8 March) also lies within National Careers Week and National Apprenticeships Week.To commemorate this national day, we’re sharing the success of our female students and their college journeys so far. More information.