A 32-year-old Apprenticeship Awards winner is encouraging pupils at his former secondary school to consider apprenticeships as a route to their chosen career.

Ever since his father took part in a ‘bring a dad to school day’, Sam Jones, who is originally from Abergavenny, has wanted to follow in his footsteps and become a gas engineer, helping to keep the public safe.

Now Sam, who won Foundation Apprentice of the Year at the Apprenticeship Awards Cymru 2017 last October, hopes his story will inspire pupils at King Henry VII Comprehensive School in Abergavenny and show that apprenticeships can be key to career success.

Sam said, “My Dad had worked as a gas engineer for as long as I remember and I knew that I wanted to be one too.

Before starting his apprenticeship, Sam was in full time employment for 13 years but never gave up on his dream of working in the gas industry. His gas engineering apprenticeship covers repairing gas leaks, connecting homes to the gas network and upgrading old metal gas pipes to new plastic ones.

Sam continue, “Starting an apprenticeship in my thirties meant changing my lifestyle. But I knew I had made the right decision to achieve my goal.

“After leaving school and starting employment, I found myself working long and unsociable hours in a job I didn’t enjoy. I was disillusioned and felt my career had stalled before it had even started. There seemed little opportunity to progress my skills and knowledge and I soon became bored. It was then that I began looking for a role that would really push me and help me gain greater confidence.

“The apprenticeship with Wales & West Utilities is hard work but certainly very rewarding and I couldn’t ask for a more supportive environment in which to learn. Working in a fast paced, challenging and ever-evolving industry, I am proud to work with a company that demands the very best standards – delivering outstanding service and keeping south Wales cooking on gas!”

Sarah Hopkins, Wales & West Utilities People & Engagement Director added, “We are all very proud of Sam’s commitment, his award win and the fact he’s going back to his school to inspire the future generations. Apprentices are vital to our business and working with them we can make sure that we keep specialist skills in our business for the benefit of the communities we serve.

“We have a reputation for providing outstanding levels of gas safety, reliability and customer service to the 7.5m people we serve – and we’re counting on Sam and his fellow apprentices to help us maintain this in the future.”

Minister for Welsh Language and Lifelong Learning, Eluned Morgan, said, “Sam is a perfect example of how apprenticeships can transform lives, helping people change careers as well as helping them into careers. Apprenticeships highlight the importance of gaining practical, on the job experience that provides people with the skills and qualifications they need to build a rewarding career.

“Apprenticeships play an important role in increasing Wales’ overall skill set and driving economic growth, making sure that the nation remains competitive on the world stage. Apprenticeships are a worthwhile investment for employers who can train their workforce in the specialist skills they need to sustain and grow their businesses.

“National Apprenticeship Week is an important celebration of the fantastic opportunities apprenticeships offer to individuals as well as businesses across Wales. “For individuals, apprenticeships can be a route to an exciting and fulfilling future career. Through apprenticeships, companies are helping to keep vital skills and industries alive and drive economic growth in Wales.

“Although we celebrate National Apprenticeship Week every spring, the Welsh Government’s Apprenticeship Programme runs throughout the year to highlight the opportunities and support available for both apprentices and the employers who take them on.”

The Apprenticeship Programme in Wales is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.

For more information about becoming an apprentice, please visit www.careerswales.com or call 0800 0284844, log on to www.facebook.com/apprenticeshipscymru or follow @apprenticewales on Twitter.