I studied a business management degree at UWTSD for three years and for many years I have always been interested in human resources (HR). 

I found the business management course offered many opportunities for career growth and in my second year, I learnt more about HR. 

In my last year, the university held a careers fair where I was able to meet the recruitment team from Dyfed Powys Police. I spoke with the team and explained that I was interested in HR and asked if I was suitable to apply. They advised me to keep an eye out on their website as I was qualified to apply for a HR position. 

After waiting a few weeks for new posts to appear on the DDP careers board, I found a vacancy for a HR apprentice. This was suitable for me as not only would I achieve my dream job, but I was also able to achieve another qualification which is the CIPD level five. 

Although this was needed to work in HR, for me this was priority as I wanted to gain a better understanding and build on my skills and knowledge. This would also benefit me if I wanted to achieve a higher position within the force by studying a level seven CIPD. 

This aligned with my career goals as I’m able to work on a variety of HR aspects and I’m now the only member of staff within the team that can cover all departments within HR. This also allows me to apply for a higher-grade vacancy within the team as I’m the only member of staff with CIPD level five.

I have gained skills and knowledge around employment law which was important when working on HR administration team within the force. 

Dealing with special leave and following policy is important and being new to this, I found this extremely helpful and to understand how employment tribunals works and how to manage conflict. 

I was also able to learn so much around recruitment as this is another area I work in. I was also able to learn what ethics meant and how to use this is in work. I learnt how to treat everyone the same and to give equal opportunities to candidates. I learnt how to accept the differences within the team and how important it is to give those an opportunity to speak and listen to those who need to voice an opinion.

I’ve learnt so many things within this course that I was able to take with me into my day-to-day career.

The only challenge for me was being a single parent, managing a full-time career and studying at the same time. 

Kirsty Thomas, CIPD Human Resource Management (Level 5)

I decided to choose an apprenticeship route as I could work while undertaking my studies. 

I am currently a calf-rearing manager and the courses I am currently undertaking suits my work commitment and also helps develop my industry knowledge to move forward in my career.

While completing my animal welfare unit, I gained knowledge and understanding on calf health and identifying different strands of ill-health such as pneumonia. Also, I learnt a lot about animal welfare legislation and the role that Defra plays, which affects all aspects of my job.

The travel distance is a challenge as it takes 90 minutes to travel to college - to overcome this I have to organise myself and plan ahead to ensure I have enough time.

Charlotte Johnson, Agriculture (Level 3)

I spent 19 years in the civil service prior to joining Premier as a quantity surveyor (QS).

I found the job had become monotonous and the days were becoming longer. 

So, I decided that I wanted a career in something I would really enjoy and with the right support, I decided to take the plunge to leave a company I had worked for since leaving school.

I spoke to a close friend who advised that Premier Forecourts and Construction were looking for a trainee QS. He spoke well of the company and the role, so with a passion for numbers and the willingness to learn, I decided to apply for the trainee QS role. Fortunately, I had many transferable skills from my time in the civil service that have helped with my role.

I have always enjoyed construction and numbers. I renovated my home and enjoyed the element of managing the cost of work. I enjoy the challenge of accurately estimating project costs and managing budgets to ensure projects are completed on time and within budget. 

I saw the apprenticeship as a valuable opportunity to gain hands-on experience and practical skills in a field that I am passionate about, ultimately helping me progress in my career as a QS. Additionally, I saw the apprenticeship as a stepping stone towards my goal of becoming a QS. By gaining practical experience, I knew that I would be better equipped to understand the whole lifecycle of the industry. Overall, the apprenticeship aligned perfectly with my latter career goals by providing me with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in the industry and ultimately achieve a role that I enjoy.

During my apprenticeship I have gained several valuable skills and knowledge that have greatly
impacted my work. Some of the most important ones include: 

Cost estimation: I have learned how to accurately estimate the costs of construction projects by analysing various factors such as materials, labour, equipment/plant, subcontractors and overhead expenses. 

Contract management: I have gained a deep understanding of contract documents, terms,
and conditions. This knowledge has enabled me to effectively manage contracts, negotiate
terms, and resolve disputes in a timely and efficient manner.

Quantity take-off: I have become proficient in conducting quantity take-offs, which involves
measuring and quantifying materials needed for a project. This skill has helped me accurately
assess project requirements and ensure that no materials are wasted, saving time and money
for the client.

Risk management: I have learned how to identify and assess potential risks in construction
projects and develop strategies to mitigate them. This skill has allowed me to proactively
address risks before they escalate and impact on the project schedule or budget.

Communication skills: As a quantity surveyor, I regularly interact with clients, contractors, and
other stakeholders. Through my apprenticeship, I have sharpened my communication skills,
both verbal and written, which has improved my ability to effectively convey technical
information and collaborate with others to achieve project goals.

Networking: Working in the industry that I do, I have built relationships with a wide range of
stakeholders, this includes my colleagues, clients, subcontractors, university staff, Cyfle staff
and many more. I use this network to help with my career growth, professional development,
business opportunities and to further build relations. The staff at premier have been invaluable to my progression and I can’t thank them enough for the opportunity and support they have given
me. 

During my apprenticeship as a quantity surveyor, I faced several challenges. To start with I had a lack of practical experience. As a beginner, I had limited hands-on experience in conducting site visits, measurements, and cost estimates. To overcome this challenge, I actively sought opportunities to shadow experienced professionals, ask questions, and participate in real-life projects that helped me gain valuable practical experience. 

Early on I tried to attend as many meetings as possible to gain insight into the way Premier work and  being a parent while balancing work tasks, studying for exams and meeting deadlines has been challenging. 

The support of my family, friends and colleagues has been invaluable during the apprenticeship. I started off in Premier assisting my line manager with the day-to-day operations of installing EV chargers throughout the UK, to now pricing and running my own EV installs, shop fits and forecourt renovations which also means I had to work with a wider range of clients. I have recently been tasked with more complex sites, that always include petroleum installs. 

For the next 12months as well as running the EV projects I will be setting myself the goal of becoming an SME in the pipework projects we complete. To do this I am hoping to attend more pipework sites to gain more on-site experience, I will also be spending time with Premier’s experienced staff members for further teaching and learning around the subject in the coming year.

Overall, overcoming these challenges requires dedication, continuous learning, and not being afraid to seek guidance when required.

Cerith Edwards, Construction Quantity Survey (Level 5)

I began at level three and have recently progressed onto level five. 

Primarily, funding was a significant factor in my decision as it’s challenging to achieve my goals without accumulating debt, so the apprenticeship pathway has been invaluable. 

Working in law is essential to truly understand it. It’s not something you can fully grasp by simply reading books. 

You need hands-on experience in a legal environment to develop the necessary skills and knowledge. This apprenticeship provides me with the opportunity to gain that practical experience while progressing towards my career aspirations.

Time management is the biggest challenge, balancing the workload, revision, and other commitments requires careful planning. You have to manage your calendar effectively and adapt quickly to changing priorities. Learning to maximise your time early on, is crucial, as it’s a skill that will benefit you throughout your career, whether you choose to stay in law or pursue a different path.

Time management is both the best skill you can develop and the biggest challenge to overcome. At times, you may feel pulled in different directions by education and work, with one often demanding more attention than the other. When challenges arise, it’s about finding ways to tackle them effectively.

 It’s crucial to stay accountable for your own learning. Peer support has also been a challenge, but Lydia, my training advisor has been instrumental in overcoming this by organising regular meetings where we can come together to share best practices and provide feedback.

Taking exams virtually adds to the difficulty, especially as this is a relatively new course, but these experiences have helped me build resilience and adaptability.

Bethany Grant,Paralegal - Legal Services (Level 5)

Jac Ap Dafydd Jones is a mechanical apprentice at Llanelec Precision Engineering and an engineering student at Coleg Sir Gâr where he’s combining four days of employment with one day of studying an accredited qualification. 

Llanelec Precision Engineering specialises in precision CNC machining of running gear for the world’s military vehicles and Jac was lucky enough to prove his skills in a work experience placement which then led to an apprenticeship.

Jac’s interest in engineering started when he was in school where he took a GCSE in the subject as he enjoyed making items such as a toolmaker’s clamp.

He didn’t initially start an apprenticeship when he started college but it was in the back of his mind as he studied his first year of mechanical engineering full-time. 

Jac Ap Dafydd Jones, 17, from Llandybie, said: “College was going well and as a result, I did some work experience with Llanelec Precision Engineering where I could demonstrate the skills I was learning at college.

“The company sat me down and we had a chat and they seemed pleased with what I’d done and asked me if I’d consider an apprenticeship with them which was a great opportunity for me.

“At the moment, I’m working with the quality team, learning how to problem solve issues relating to mechanical parts and because this is a hybrid apprenticeship, I’ll be getting experience in other departments as well, such as machining and maintenance.

“I think this is a really forward-thinking way of working as I benefit from the experience and the company benefits from having staff with experience across the whole company.”

Jac’s preference in following an apprenticeship programme allows him to gain continual practical experience in a professional employer setting where he gets paid and is encouraged to study an accredited engineering qualification at college.

He says the years of practical experience he is accumulating sets him apart from those coming straight out of university just starting out their career. 

Jac Ap Dafydd Jones added: “The management in work is great as they want to progress and improve the company and always involve themselves at ground-level, taking an interest in our work. 

“They even mentioned my involvement in competing at the WorldSkills UK national finals to one of their prestigious military organisation customers which made me feel proud.”

Jac was recently selected to compete in the CAD category of the WorldSkills UK national finals in Manchester.

At this UK-wide competition, participants were asked to design 10 3D parts including a main assembly and two sub-assemblies. “This experience taught me a lot and helped me understand more aspects of technical drawing,” said Jac. “It was hard as you were constantly in deep concentration, trying to problem solve and find missing dimensions trying to block out media cameras and what was going around you.”

Jac also had the opportunity of training in Scotland where he learned sheet metal design and put his skills to the test designing a rotary engine with turbine fans and internal pistons. 

He praises his Coleg Sir Gâr tutor Karl Hilton and says he is very encouraging and has recently entered Jac into a Skills Competition Wales additive manufacturing competition.

Jac hopes to continue his employment and progress to study a HNC in mechanical engineering.