Centre’s success sees skills soaring

Centre’s success sees skills soaring

Schoolchildren in Llanelli have relished the opportunity of getting stuck into a trade with demand for more places at Coleg Sir Gâr’s Vocational Skills Centre in Llanelli.

Since the official opening last November, nearly 80 pupils have studied vocational skills in construction at the centre which is run in partnership with the college and the Carmarthenshire 14-19 Network and based at TAD Builders Ltd in Furnace. Children are learning skills in trades ranging from plumbing and carpentry to painting and tiling with the number attending the centre increasing to 180 this month.

“There is demand for more places from pupils in all of the schools in the area,” said chair of the 14-19 Network Cluster and head teacher at St John Lloyd Catholic Comprehensive, Paul White. “The feedback from the children is very positive. They are enjoying working in an industry setting because they are making contacts, working with apprentices and gaining valuable experience in a real work setting.”

14 year-old Benito Martinelli of St John Lloyd Comprehensive said: “I’ve had lots of experience working with trade materials and have really enjoyed the plumbing side.” 15 year-old Cameron Bryant added: “It’s a great place to come and if we’re good enough it’s good to know about the apprenticeships we could do.”

Managing director at TAD Builders Ltd, Anthony Jones volunteers his time as a member of the 14-19 Joint Governance Committee. He said: “We’re so glad this first year has been a success and proves what partnership working can achieve.”

Pic: St John Lloyd pupils Cameron Bryant and Benito Martinelli with (back row from left), TAD Builders Ltd managing director Anthony Jones, Paul White, chair of the 14-19 Network Cluster and head teacher at St John Lloyd Comprehensive School and Barry Liles, Coleg Sir Gâr principal and CEO pictured at the Vocational Skills Centre in Furnace, Llanelli