Budding entrepreneur Chloe Lloyd, who has recorded some of the best ever results seen by the business department at Coleg Powys Brecon, has been selected as a ‘Skills Ambassador’ by the Welsh Assembly Government.
 
Chloe, 18, from Garth near Builth Wells, achieved distinctions in every module of her Business BTEC National Certificate and Award course and is now progressing to a degree in business management and IT, which is being delivered by Coleg Powys in Brecon for Lampeter University.
 
She is also aiming to complete an Association of Accounting Technicians qualification at Coleg Powys and has a burning ambition to run her own business.
 
One of her top priorities as an ambassador is to urge people to attend skillscymru, Wales’ largest ever careers and skills event due to be held at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, from September 16-18. Free to attend, skillscymru is part-funded through the European Social Fund and is aimed at anyone from the age of 14 to their 60s. It will feature 100 exhibitors including employers, colleges and training providers and is expected to attract 20,000 visitors.
 
Visitors to the exhibition will be able to take part in a wide range of demonstrations and master classes in other fields including engineering, construction, retail, hospitality, cookery, sport and fitness and much more.
 
Chloe said: “This will be a fantastic opportunity for people to meet with employers and the education sector to learn about the job and training opportunities that are available. It will help people explore career opportunities they may never have even thought of before.”
 
She is still considering her own future options, but she’s likely to create an enterprise connected to her passion for horses. Last year, she took part in a National Schools’ Two Day Event near Leamington Spa and won the Novice dressage section and the overall Novice competition. This year, she progressed to the Open competition and came ninth. Having won the Pony Club Area 10 intermediate eventing competition in Chepstow last month, she is now looking forward to representing Irfon and Tywi Pony Club at the Pony Club Championships in Derbyshire on August 17.
 
Chloe opted for a vocational learning route rather than ‘A’ levels after achieving 11 GCSEs at Builth Wells High School. “It was good to concentrate on one thing and put all my effort into that rather than to juggle lots of subjects,” she explained.
 
“I feel that I am two years closer to achieving my ambition of running my own business. I am a very determined person when I set my mind on something, probably following after my grandad.
 
“My advice to other young learners who have an ambition is don’t give up and don’t let anyone put you off.”
 
As a Skills Ambassador she will she will use her story of dedication to learning to encourage and inspire other people throughout Wales to boost their skills and career prospects.
 
“I am honoured to have been chosen by the Welsh Assembly to be Skills Ambassador,” she said. “It’s nice that all the hard work that I have put in has been recognised.”
 
For more information about skillscymru please contact Prospects Events on tel: 01823 362 800 or visit: www.skillscymru.co.uk or www.sgiliaucymru.co.uk.

The autumn 2010 Adult & Community Education prospectus is now available.  It provides details about the huge range of part-time courses that are running at local community venues across the whole of Powys from September.

The prospectus has been developed by the Powys Adult & Community Partnership – an innovative collaboration of all the key organisations who deliver adult and community learning opportunities throughout the county of Powys.

A wide range of courses are on offer including Counselling, Stained Glass, Italian, Drawing, Sugarcraft, Upholstery, ESOL, First Aid, Latin & Ballroom Dance, Seasonal Cookery and Stone Therapy.

To get your copy of the prospectus download it here, telephone 0845 4086 299 or email enquiries@coleg-powys.ac.uk.

Message from the Principal:

Dear Colleagues,

Please take the time to browse through the document below on the strategic outline for the Modernisation of Education across Powys.  The document presents a series of far sighted and exciting possibilities which could allow all partners to collaborate in providing first class educational opportunities for all learners across the County.

The document is clearly a welcome step in moving forward the County’s Modernisation agenda.

Yours sincerely,

Simon Pirotte
Principal

Powys Strategic Outline Programme (PDF, 139 KB)
Rhaglen Amlinelliad Strategol (PDF, 129 KB)

Lecturer Sarah Eskins from the Newtown site of Coleg Powys completed the Playtex Moonwalk last Saturday and raised nearly £700 for Breast Cancer charities.

Sarah, who teaches Health & Social Care, joined one of her students Debra Lloyd and 15,000 women and men in Hyde Park, London to do the Moonwalk dressed in decorated bras.  Sarah and Debra started walking at midnight and managed to cross the finish line at 8am after eight hours of continuous walking.

Sarah said: “It was hard, it hurt and it was cold but as we crossed the finish line, we did feel an enormous sense of achievement, especially as we stand to raise well over £1000 between us.”

She added: “I have managed to raise nearly £700, mainly thanks to the generosity of Coleg Powys staff and students.”