How a Modern Apprenticeship Helped Emyr to Change Career

Wednesday, 12 March 2008 18:05

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p>Modern Apprenticeships are just one of the tools that can be used to help people to enhance their skills, their employment prospects and their lives. And a case study from ELWa, the Welsh body responsible for post-16 education and training, has demonstrated the impact it has had on one individual's life.

Emyr Chilcott, a 23 year old man from Abercraf, in South Powys, has shown that changing career path is possible if you are prepared to retrain, and use the opportunities and tools on offer. His dream was to work in a garage when he left school. He did this through the Modern Apprenticeship in motor vehicle body repair.

Modern Apprenticeship Works Out Twice

The Modern Apprenticeship then enabled him to look for a new career with more variety. After he had been working in the local Ford garage's body shop for a few years, he decided that he would like to change careers, and undertook a second Modern Apprenticeship. This one, in wood occupations, would allow him to work for his father Winston, who runs a building firm in the immediate area, as a carpenter.

Following the successful completion of this second Modern Apprenticeship, which he studied at college for one day each week in Llansamlet, he hopes to progress in the sector through gaining a building inspectors qualification. The training on this Modern Apprenticeship was delivered by Powys Trainings Ystradgynlais centre and Neath and Port Talbot College on behalf of ELWa.

Emyr on Changing Tack

Emyr spoke of his eventful few years, saying: "After a few years of working in the body shop, I fancied a change to find a job with more prospects. In my current job I do a bit of everything which is a lot more interesting. I think training is very important to improve your career prospects and I want to carry on and get a building inspectors qualification. Whatever happens in the future, I will still have the vehicle body repair qualification to my name."

Anne Harries, Emyrs training officer at Powys Training, praised his dedication and commitment in achieving a second Modern Apprenticeship. Emyr also urged anyone thinking of changing career to look into what training support might be available. ELWa Modern Apprenticeships are available to individuals of all ages who are employed and want to train, with more than 90 different Modern Apprenticeships offering pathways to employment in Wales.

Jethro Marsh

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