From apprentice to CEO: Coleg y Cymoedd’s Principal, Jonathan Morgan’s story

12 February 2025

Jonathan Morgan, Principal and CEO at Coleg y Cymoedd, discusses how his educational pathway was transformed by undertaking an apprenticeship in his teens that ultimately laid the groundwork for his entire professional career as an educator. But not before spending a few years living out his childhood dreams as a pro-footballer playing for Cardiff City Football Club.

“Like many young people, I did not flourish at school. Sitting in a classroom day in day out, learning about subjects that didn’t interest me, while I stared out of the window dreaming about being a professional footballer, I felt I was wasting my time. Needless to say, I must have deeply frustrated my parents and teachers.

“Playing football in every spare minute I had, with no interest in studying, I naturally jumped at the opportunity to leave school just before my sixteenth birthday to play for Cardiff City, the team I had supported since I could remember.

“I couldn’t believe my luck. I was finally out of the classroom and now part of a two-year apprenticeship programme that involved going into college to study one day a week, and the rest of the time I could play football. It seemed like a fair trade. And little did I know at the time, but this apprenticeship would be the making of me, taking me much further than the football career I’d always dreamed of and instilling in me a passion for education and a deep understanding for those on non-traditional learning pathways that have formed the basis of my entire career.

“I studied for two years with Coleg Glan Hafren (now Cardiff and Vale) on day release with Cardiff City, alongside Swansea City and Newport County players. It was a popular option for aspiring footballers, with notable names such as Jason Perry and Chris Coleman having completed the same course.

“The apprenticeship provided me with a Level 2 qualification in Sports and Leisure studies, an important tool in my early career armoury, however it was the life skills that I picked up during my apprenticeship journey that are what truly set me on my way.

“My apprenticeship experience gave me the opportunity to train and study as an adult, with the real-life responsibilities that come with the world of work, while surrounding myself with professionals who became my mentors, colleagues and friends.

“I found that I had to grow up much quicker than my fellow school mates when I left to begin my apprenticeship. I went straight into a professional environment where I was solely responsible for my own success; I trained day in day out, was expected to be punctual and professional, and even had to train on Christmas Day. But it was worth it – my team became a second family to me, and I was treated like an adult by my coaches and college tutors, which made me want to be the best version of myself and strive for success, something that was amplified by the fact that I was being paid – financial freedom is as motivating as it is liberating, especially as a young adult.

“My apprenticeship resulted in a 5-year career as a professional football player, a wonderful period of my life, but one that was sadly cut short when an ankle injury had me hanging up my boots for good. But I kept my chin up, and the qualifications, skills and confidence from my apprenticeship secured me a place studying for a BA in Recreation and Leisure Management at the University of Wales as a mature student, with a handful of O levels and no A levels.

“Gaining a first-class honours degree threw open the doors that my apprenticeship had previously unlocked, leading me to my career in education. I taught as a lecturer, continued to further my education with a Masters in Sport and Leisure and a PGCE, I worked in numerous college sport and leisure departments across Wales and England, and three decades on, landed the role of Principal at Coleg y Cymoedd.

“One of the things I am most proud of at Coleg y Cymoedd is the provision of so many different pathways to help Welsh learners find the education and training routes, like apprenticeships, that best suit them. As someone who has experienced firsthand the difficulties of being a square peg in a round hole, I can empathise with the learners that come through our doors who have similar worries and concerns. As a college we can help them explore all their options, and empower them to pursue their passions, no matter how untraditional the path may seem, just like I did.

“Thankfully business and industry are more on the apprenticeship wavelength than ever before, with apprenticeships increasingly more valued by employers, as practical experience and real-world knowledge become highly prized personal and professional assets.

“Ultimately, it’s the provision of choice that is the real victory for all educators and learners. The luxury of options when it comes to considering your future career goals is something to be prized. And whether your choice is undertaking an apprenticeship, or more traditional academic options like A-levels, depends on numerous factors like career goals, the industry you’re interested in and preferred learning styles.

“However, as someone who was shaped in my most formative years by an apprenticeship, I will always be one of their biggest champions. I’m proud to say that nearly all our apprenticeship learners secure full-time employment after they graduate, with a huge range of employers such as Transport for Wales, GE Aviation and British Airways. And their success is something that will never get old for me.”

Discover apprenticeships at Coleg y Cymoedd