People Awards 2025: Coleg y Cymoedd honours its staff for excellence and dedication

19 May 2025

One of the highlights of the year at Coleg y Cymoedd is the People Awards, a special event that celebrates the achievements and contributions of its staff members. The awards honour the hard work and dedication of the team that makes the college a leading provider of education and training in the region.

This year’s ceremony took place on Thursday, 8th May, at the Ystrad Mynach campus, where the winners were announced and congratulated by their colleagues and managers. The attendees enjoyed live entertainment, inspiring speeches, and messages of appreciation from the college’s senior leadership team and board of governors.

Awards presented during this year’s event reflected the current college community values of ASPIRE – Authentic, Supportive, People Centred, Inclusive, Responsible and Empowered.

The college’s principal, Jonathan Morgan, honoured the outstanding achievements of his colleagues by handing out a total of 17 People Awards. He commended them for their exceptional teaching and innovation skills, which had enabled them to transform the lives of learners across South Wales and prepare them for successful futures.

Coleg y Cymoedd would like to extend their congratulations to them, and to thank all 850 of their employees for their continuing hard work and dedication.

Authentic Values Award

This award will recognise an individual colleague who demonstrates our Authentic value, to “be open, honest and transparent in how we communicate and build relationships”.

Curriculum Winner: Rachel Jarrett

Operations Winner: Meradyth Jones

Supportive Values Award

This award will recognise an individual colleague who demonstrates our Supportive value, to “be a team player by collaborating and encouraging one another to be curious, adaptable, and resilient”.

Curriculum Winner: Jayne Edwards

Operations Winner: Zoe Wellington

People Centred  Values Award

This award will recognise an individual colleague who demonstrates our People- Centred value, to “be people centred, focusing on the wellbeing of learners and ourpeople by developing positive relationships and high levels of engagement”.

Curriculum Winner: Kerry Hartnell

Operations Winner: Anthony Carpanini

Inclusive Values Award

This award will recognise an individual colleague who demonstrates our Inclusive value, to “be inclusive in a caring environment where our learners and our people are listened to, ensuring that they are understood, appreciated and able to participate and contribute meaningfully”.

Curriculum Winner: Sian Keepin

Operations Winner: Sophie Connolly

Responsible Values Award

This award will recognise an individual colleague who demonstrates our Responsible value, to “be ready, act in a responsible manner and be respectful of people, college resources and the environment”.

Curriculum Winner: Fiona Triggs

Operations Winner: Gareth George

Empowered Values Award

This award will recognise an individual colleague who demonstrates our Empowered value, to “be confident to make positive and solution-based decisions. Be ambitious, passionate and committed to become the best we can be”.

Curriculum Winner: Ben Barnett

Operations Winner: Technology Enhanced Learning and Engagement

Team Achievement Award

This award will commend a team whose efforts and achievements have made an outstanding contribution to the college and its various partners, be that colleagues, learners or other stakeholder.

Curriculum Winner: School of Health and Social Care

Operations Winner: Admissions and Futures

Distinguished Employee Award

This award will recognise an individual colleague who demonstrates long-term outstanding performance and achievement in a Business Support or Academic Area showing initiative, innovation or commitment.

Curriculum Winner: Paul Weare

Operations Winner: Lisa Ward

Principal’s Award

The principal award this year acknowledges an individual who has shown exceptional leadership, dedication, and contributions to the college community. This recognition celebrates their remarkable achievements, innovation, and commitment to excellence in their role. The recipient has exemplified high standards of professionalism, collaboration, and service, serving as a role model and creating significant positive impacts within the college environment.

Winner: Ian Rees

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