Cambrian Training’s Hospitality apprentice, Aaron Jones, Shift Supervisor at the Penycae Inn, kicked off Apprenticeship Week Wales by being interviewed on BBC Radio Wales Breakfast Show on Monday morning. Aaron recently completed his Level 3 Hospitality Supervision & Leadership apprenticeship, and he shared his first-hand experiences and apprenticeship journey with around 62,000 listeners.
On Monday evening, Cambrian Training held our first-ever webinar to promote apprenticeships in the Hospitality sector. The webinar featured the President of the Culinary Association of Wales, Arwyn Watkins OBE; HR Manager at Voco St. David’s Cardiff, Lauren Bailey and the hotel’s Spa Receptionist, Kanchan McKenzie, who is completing her Level 2 Apprenticeship in Customer Services; and Cambrian Training’s Head of Hospitality, Chris Bason.
On Tuesday, Cambrian Training Officers Jobe Davies and Scott Morgan were at the National Apprenticeship and Education Event in Cardiff City Football Club as part of a joint work-based learning apprenticeship stand, featuring Cambrian Training, ACT, Educ8 and ITEC. Jobe and Scott met with many school children from South Wales to tell them about the benefits of apprenticeships and demonstrate mocktail making, one of many front-of-house skills. Hospitality apprentices learn on an apprenticeship programme.
On Tuesday evening Cambrian Training held our second webinar to promote apprenticeships in the Food & Drink Manufacturing sector. The webinar featured Nia Griffith, Engagement Manager at Mentara; HR Manager at Hilltop, Kate Preston and Wyn Griffiths, the company’s Supplier Quality Assurance, who is completing an FDQ Level 3 Diploma for Proficiency in Food Industry Technical Management and Cambrian Training Business Development Officer, Carys Evans.
Cambrian Training Company would like to thank all our webinar participants for their time and for sharing their insights and first-hand experiences either as employers or apprentices in their respective sectors. Cambrian Training Company prides itself on providing apprenticeships across Wales covering sectors from farm to fork that support the Welsh economy, its culture, and rural and city communities. Cambrian Training plans to hold more webinars in 2026 to inform school leavers, young people and career changers about apprenticeships in the sectors Cambrian Training works in.
On Wednesday Cambrian Training apprentices Aaron Jones and Oliver Addis-Fuller, Duty Manager at The Glyn Clydach Hotel who is studying for his Level 3 Hospitality Supervision & Leadership apprenticeship, were on the Cambrian Training Company’s stand at the Apprenticeship Fair in the Senedd. They showcased mocktail making featuring new Cygnet Infinity, non-alcoholic gin, part of the Cygnet Gin collection founded by Welsh singer Katherine Jenkins OBE.
Aaron and Oliver met with members of the Senedd to tell them about their apprenticeship journeys, including Rt Hon Eluned Morgan FS: First Minister of Wales and Jack Sargeant MS: Minister of Culture, Skills & Social Partnership, responsible for apprenticeships in Wales.
On Thursday morning Cambrian Training Officer Alex Woolfenden was at Premier Inn Llandudno Town Centre to help celebrate with over 20 current and past apprentices working at Premier Inns across Wales. The celebratory breakfast was co-organised by Alex and Paul Moore from Premier Inn.
On Friday Cambrian Training featured professional chefs and Cambrian Training Officers Andy Addis-Fuller’s and Jobe Davies’ recent visit to Ysgol Bro Caereinion secondary phase, where they put cookery students in years 9, 10 and 11 through their paces. In the workshop students made classic Welsh dishes: soda bread, cawl and Welsh rarebit. The skills they learnt included how to follow recipes safely and accurately, prepare and bake soda bread dough, develop professional cutting skills and make a roux-based sauce for the Welsh rarebit.
On Saturday the spotlight was on Sustainable Resource Management apprenticeships. Cambrian Training has been working with Denbighshire County Council’s Waste and Recycling Department for many years. Graeme White, Waste & Recycling Operations Manager, and Owen Lokier, Waste and Recycling Relief Team Leader, who is studying for a Level 3 Diploma for Sustainable Recycling Activities (Supervisory), shared their first-hand experiences of the apprenticeship programme as an employer and an apprentice.
The Apprenticeship Week Wales concluded with Cambrian Training’s weekly ‘Shout Out Sunday’ post, celebrating apprentice Luke Williams, who works at the Premier Inn and had successfully completed his Level 4 Hospitality Management apprenticeship.
Over the course of the week, the campaign generated a reach of more than 17,000—triple that of an average week—and helped spark conversations with many more people eager to learn about apprenticeship opportunities. The response throughout the week demonstrated the growing recognition of apprenticeships as a valuable route into skilled employment and reaffirmed the programme’s continuing contribution to workforce development across Wales.
