Lori Nicholas, a 19-year-old apprentice at the National Assembly for Wales, returned to her roots this week to inspire students at Blackwood Comprehensive School to follow in her footsteps.
Lori is part of a team of 'Apprenticeship Ambassadors' working with the Welsh Government's Department for Education and Skills to tour the country encouraging young people to follow the apprenticeship pathway and take up one of a huge variety of roles available across Wales.
Lori, from Bargoed, who was unsure of which direction to take after completing her GCSES, has now completed an NVQ in Business and Administration with Cardiff and Vale College and as part of her apprenticeship is working at the National Assembly in the communications department.
Lori visited Blackwood Comprehensive School this week to talk to pupils about how choosing the vocational route has helped her gain the qualifications and skills she needs to pursue a career in communications and marketing.
She told the pupils how, after attending college for a few months, she decided that the A-level route was not for her and sought out advice from her careers advisor about taking a more vocational pathway.
She said: "Before I left school, I was unsure of the options available and of what I wanted to do as a career, although I knew I was good at English and I enjoyed dealing with people. It was a complete to surprise to me when I learnt that there were apprenticeships available in business and media, as I had always thought they were limited to practical vocations, such as engineering.
"In February 2013, I was pleased when I managed to secure a position as an apprentice at the National Assembly, although I was slightly daunted by the fact that I didn't really know anything about politics. Now I'm really interested in the goings-on at the Senedd and it's amazing how much you can pick up by just being immersed in that environment.
"Since starting my apprenticeship I feel like I have learnt so much and I have picked up so many skills along the way. My role includes helping with social media, drafting press releases, updating the website and overseeing events, so it's really varied and I'm working on something different every day.
"With employers asking more and more for practical experience from applicants, I think that apprenticeships are invaluable as they enable you to learn the specific skills you need to fulfil your role. Learning in a working environment also helps you to improve the everyday skills young people take for granted before entering the workplace, such as answering the phone and writing emails."
From butchery to baking, engineering to electrical or hospitality to HR there is a huge range of apprenticeship frameworks available for young people across Wales.
Lori added "I really enjoyed meeting the students at Blackwood Comprehensive School.
"They have some big decisions ahead about their future over the next year so I hope that my talk has inspired them to look into the variety of apprenticeships available to them and consider following a vocational route."
Lori was joined by her training provider, Susan Marks and Lydia Harris from Cardiff & Vale College, and her employer Rhodri Wyn Jones, Kelly Harris and Selina Moyo from the National Assembly.
The apprenticeship ambassadors are visiting schools in Cardiff, Merthyr, Newbridge, Treorchy, Mold Carmarthen, Swansea and Welshpool over the next month.
The apprenticeship programme is funded by the Welsh Government with the support of the European Social Fund.
For more information about becoming an apprentice, please visit www.careerswales.com or call 0800 0284844. Also find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/apprenticeshipscymru and on Twitter @apprenticewales
