Cardiff and Vale College has held an online Graduation Ceremony for the 70 students that have completed the programme this year.
The programme, run in CAVC by Career Ready Manager Tracy Bird, is part of a UK-wide charity linking employers with schools and colleges to open up the world of work to young people aged 16 to 19. Learners at CAVC can apply to join the programme to run alongside their course and receive mentoring, masterclasses, workplace visits and internships.
Alongside the graduation and speeches from former Career Ready students and current mentors, an awards ceremony was held. A Levels student Cai Pugh won Career Ready student of the Year.
“I was surprised when I heard that I won the Student of the Year Award - I thought that with around 60 other students on the programme that the odds weren’t in my favour,” he said. “However, I’m glad that all of the hard work I’ve put in to better myself this year has been recognised by the College through winning this award!”
Cai, who plans to enrol on a Solicitor’s Apprenticeship in London next year, has been impressed by the opportunities Career Ready at CAVC has to offer. While on the programme his mentor, Joe Fizz Asset Finance Ltd owner Wayne Evans, encouraged Cai to write a book and A Beginners Guide to Python Programming: The Ultimate Guide Covering the Basic Principles of Python Programming .has since been published.
“The Career Ready programme is an asset to the College,” he said. “The structure of the programme is designed towards the students’ wants and needs, so you can always make an open suggestion and ask a bunch of questions.
“This year I applied to almost every internship opportunity available and I drastically developed my knowledge and skillset.”
The 17-year-old from Cardiff was also impressed with the exclusive internships, sessions and events held within companies offered to Career Ready students.
“I would definitely recommend to anyone who is currently in the College, or joining the College next academic year, to join the Career Ready programme and give it a good shot!” Cai said.
Other winners were Montana-Marie Morris-Gallimore, who won the LAB Award, Think Build winner Ian Edwards, Mentor of the Year Donagh Kenny and HMRC won Employer of the Year.
Mark Smith, Chief Operating Officer at Career Ready, said: “I would like to take a moment to congratulate all the young people at Cardiff and Vale College for graduating from the Career Ready programme in what has been the most extraordinary year. You have done brilliantly well and you have got marvellous futures to look forward to.
“That is in no small part because of the role that the staff and the colleagues at Cardiff and Vale College have played in delivering the programme this year – it’s been incredible.”
CAVC Career ready Manager Tracy Bird said: “I am honoured and proud to celebrate the success of our Career Ready learners. These students embraced the opportunity to build a successful career path.
“Each one of them has been supported by mentors’ masterclasses, workplace visits and internships. We have a significant role to play in enabling young people to deliver their potential and for us to deliver a skilled workforce.
“With help of our volunteers and supporters we have achieved this, not only producing a skilled team of Career Ready learners but also successful ones. Career Ready students of today are our future.”