Cymoedd learners sparking off successful careers

Two Coleg y Cymoedd Electrical apprentices travelled to Coleg Gwent to compete in the Sparks Magazine Learner of the Year Welsh Regional Heat, against learners from Coleg Gwent, Gower College, Cardiff and Vale College and JTL in Birmingham.

The event is run by Sparks Magazine and sponsored by Schneider Electric along with Electric Center, The IET, Napit, Ideal Industries, Prysmian and VW Commercial Vehicles. The competition holds six regional competitions across England and Wales in search of the best up and coming industry talent from Level 2 and 3 electrical students.

Representing the college, were George Phelps, 22 from Pontypridd and Paige Morris, 23 from Caerphilly; both Electrical Installation apprentices, studying on the EAL Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Electrical Installation at Cymoedd’s Ystrad Mynach campus.

The competition required the learners to undertake a live practical installation whilst working to strict time constraints, quite a challenge but also an opportunity for them to showcase their skills. Both learners competed to an extremely high standard, with Paige winning the heat and the title of ‘Sparks Magazine Learner of the Year Welsh Regional Heat’.

Winning this heat has secured a place at the Grand Final where she will compete against the other regional winners at the Schneider Electric Innovation Hub in Coventry on April 27^th & 28^th.

Speaking after the competition, Paige said, “It was a great experience to take part in the Wales Regional Heat for the Sparks Learner of The Year Award. I am looking forward to competing in the Grand Final and representing Coleg y Cymoedd. I would like to thank my lecturers and NVQ assessor for the support over the last 3 years of my studies and during this competition.

Congratulating Paige and George, Ryan O Neill, NVQ Assessor added “Both learners gave an excellent account of themselves, they are very capable learners and have bright futures ahead of them.

The Electrical department are delighted that Paige won the overall heat, she should rightly feel proud that she won this competition, she is a credit to the college and her employers at Starlight Electrical. She should be very optimistic looking ahead to the Grand Final in Coventry”.

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