Apprenticeships paving the way for permanent role after students impress managers

Four young people have been offered apprenticeships within Swansea Bay after impressing health board managers with their skills and work ethic.

They were previously Independent Living Skills students from Gower College Swansea who have additional learning needs and who completed a long-term work experience with Support Services.

And such was their commitment supervisors, along with the head of Support Services Joanne Jones, queried recruitment opportunities.

Working with colleagues in the Widening Access, Equality & Careers and Central Recruitment teams in Swansea Bay, an apprenticeship pathway was identified which recognised the placements they had already completed, and how much the Health Board valued their commitment and skills.

After four weeks in placement, the team – Rhys Cole, Taylor Bater, Matthew Taylor and Rhys Gwyther-Evans -  are working on a rotation to cover the three main areas of Support Services – domestics, portering and catering – with a view to settling in one area in the new year to complete their qualification and move into a permanent post.

Learning and Development Project Manager Ruth Evans said: “In the Support Services team, we used to be involved in Project SEARCH. This is a national organisation that supports students with additional learning needs, by providing work experience placements in different areas.

“We restarted after the pandemic with Gower College Swansea, and had four students were given work experience placements within Support Services at Singleton and Morriston hospitals.

“The managers were so impressed with what they were doing on a daily basis, they wanted to explore the opportunity of how we could move them into employment and any vacancies within those areas.”

The four teens are enrolled on the health board’s Apprentice Academy, while they undertake a facilities management level 2 qualification course at Gower College Swansea.

The apprenticeship provides them with extra support for their additional learning needs, with a view to taking up a permanent position when they complete the course, subject to vacancies.  

Alan Thorne, of the portering management team, said: “Our apprentice Rhys Cole was absolutely fantastic. He stepped up to the mark and took on a mail round and completed it professionally.

“He was polite, courteous and well presented. If he ever wants to come back with us then he would be welcome.”

Neris Wood from the domestics team, added: “Both Taylor Bater and Matthew Taylor have both fitted in well within the Domestic team.

“I have had nothing but positive feedback. When I had a conversation with Taylor and Matthew, they seemed to be interested in what the job entails and have settled in well.”

Dorothy Chafey of the catering team said: “Rhys has settled down well in the department.  His timekeeping and attendance have been very good.  He is gaining confidence in each area and shows willingness to learn.  He has completed his rota in catering at present and is currently with the portering team. 

“He has worked in both Coffee shops, dining room, dish wash, stores and in the Central Production Unit.  He particularly enjoyed his time in the CPU, working in the packing and distribution area. Rhys’s inquiry about complying to HACCP guidelines highlights a desire to understand the processes and systems in place and has shown a positive impression of adhering to standards.”

Katy Goss, Head of Widening Access, Equality and Careers, added: “As an anchor institution for our communities we are proud to shine a light on the positive impact apprenticeships make to individuals, the organisation and wider economy through enabling all to fulfil their potential.

“We are also proud to have recognised a socially responsible recruitment process as a result of collaboration between Support Services, Widening Access, Equality & Careers, and the Central Recruitment Team, which has provided us with a solution to capture the enthusiasm, commitment and skills these four individuals have brought into our workforce via their initial work experience placements.”

The apprenticeship pathway was also hailed by Gower College Swansea tutor Anne Fellowes.

She said: “This is an amazing opportunity for this group to develop skills necessary to gain a permanent position within the health board. 

“Even after a few sessions, it’s easy to see how their confidence has grown.”