A new forum to help West Wales women in technology will be set up, thanks to a meeting with young women plumbers, their tutors and employer at the National Assembly for Wales.Their local AM JOYCE WATSON invited the students, their tutors and employer to share their experiences with Education Minister JANE HUTT. They toured the Assembly and had lunch with the minister and Mrs Watson.
The event was such a success that Joyce Watson agreed to set up a Women and Technology e-forum for Mid and West Wales, building on the work of Pembrokeshire College, ahead of the next academic year.
Pembrokeshire College plumbing apprentice AMIE GROVER is the winner of Joyce Watson AM's Second Chance Student bursary. Amie was joined by Moira Morgan, Head of Student Services and Jackie Mathias, Registrar of Technology of Pembrokeshire College.
ROSE PHILIPS of Swansea is a plumbing apprentice on day release to Coleg Sir Gar, Carmarthenshire, and she was joined by Richard Hicks, her tutor and David Rees, Maintenance Manager at Sainsbury Building Services Engineers, who trained Rose on her apprenticeship. She has just completed her level three examinations and is about to sit her CORGI gas qualification. She was her college’s Student of the Year last year. Mrs Watson met Rose Phillips during her visit to Leonard Cheshire’s new Disability Care Home with Nursing in Johnstown, Carmarthen.
JOYCE WATSON AM said:
"It was great to get together students, the minister, industry and tutors from two of our colleges to discuss how best to face future challenges. We have started to build up a network, and I will take this forward in a Women and Technology e-forum for Mid and West Wales, to pool knowledge and experience.
“Both these young women are real role models. During difficult economic times they have risen to the challenge and I expect great things from them both.”
JANE HUTT said: “It was fantastic to meet Amy and Rosemary, who have secured excellent practical skills through their apprenticeship training in what has been considered a male orientated occupation. I hope they are an inspiration to others who want to follow their path.
“In Wales we have taken a lead on promoting and celebrating the achievements of students studying vocational qualifications. This year’s Vocational Qualification (VQ) Day on 24 June acknowledges the value of vocational learning routes which helps individuals achieve their career goals while developing a skilled workforce that will strengthen our economy.”
Amie Grover of Fishguard, who is training to be a plumber at Pembrokeshire College, was this year's winner of the annual Joyce Watson bursary for second chance students. Single mum Amie, who has three boys under seven, left school at 16, with 11 GCSEs including five As, and worked at a supermarket before her children were born.
Mid and West Wales AM Joyce Watson launched the bursary scheme in 2007 for students who have returned to learning to study at Pembrokeshire College this year. The bursary, which Joyce self-funds, was open to anyone who had started a course at the college and was over 21. Joyce was inspired to fund the bursary by her own experience of returning to learning at the college while bringing up a young family.
Visit www.joycewatson.co.uk to find out more about Joyce Watson’s work or to contact her.
PHOTO CAPTION:
Young plumbers and their tutors meet minister: (back row, l to r) - Richard Hicks, David Rees, Rose Philips; (front row, l to r) - Jackie Mathias, Moira Morgan, Joyce Watson AM, Jane Hutt AM, Amie Grover
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