Bilingual Apprenticeship Ambassador Crafting a Carpentry Career

Welsh speaking Ben Pittaway is crafting a promising career for himself in the construction industry with an Apprenticeship in Carpentry.

Ben, 21, from Port Talbot, gained experience as a plasterer after leaving school but soon decided he was better suited to carpentry and was taken on by D. C. Carpentry and Joinery in the town more than two years ago.

Welsh Apprenticeship Ambassador Ben Pittaway enjoys his job as an apprentice carpenter.

He is now working towards a bilingual Level 3 Apprenticeship in Site Carpentry through City & Guilds, delivered by Pathways Training at NPTC Group of Colleges in Swansea.

Due to his passion for apprenticeships and the Welsh language, he has been appointed an Apprenticeship Ambassador by Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol and the National Training Federation of Wales (NTfW).

Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol leads the development of Welsh medium and bilingual education and training in the post-compulsory sector in Wales and the NTfW represents work-based learning providers across Wales.

Ben said, 

“I love every minute of being an apprentice carpenter. I like the freedom of working somewhere different every day, meeting different people and being able to put passion into my work.

“I previously worked as a plasterer for 18 months and realised it wasn’t for me. I still have a lot to learn but I’m looking forward to a good career.”

Ben has passed a course to qualify to install fire doors under supervision and hopes to continue adding new skills.

Welsh Apprenticeship Ambassador Ben Pittaway with Darren Cockings, managing director of DC Carpentry.

Speaking about his pride in becoming an Apprenticeship Ambassador, he said:

“Speaking Welsh is important to me because it’s our national language. I support learners having the opportunity to do bilingual and Welsh medium apprenticeships. Assessments with my assessor Wyn Williams are bilingual.

“My advice to anyone who is considering a bilingual apprenticeship is to go for it because it’s the best way to learn everything about the job that you will be doing and earning at the same time.”

Mr Williams, a carpentry lecturer at NPTC Group of Colleges in  Swansea, said Ben had begun learning on a multi-trades course before opting for carpentry as a career.

He added,

“Ben is a hard worker, picks up skills quickly and is coming on leaps and bounds.”

Darren Cockings, managing director of D. C. Carpentry and Joinery, said:

“Ben is young, enthusiastic and progressing well in his trade. He does a variety of work ranging including installing fire doors, bathrooms and kitchens.

“He is one of the few Welsh speakers that we employ but we would welcome more as it is advantageous to the business, with many of our clients encouraging bilingualism in the workplace.”

Lisa Mytton, the NTfW’s strategic director, said,

“Many workplaces are becoming more bilingual, so completing an apprenticeship bilingually or in Welsh can increase an individual’s confidence to work in both languages and their employability.

“Our Apprenticeship Ambassadors are excellent role models for apprenticeships, highlighting the benefits of learning and working bilingually in the workplace.”

Elin Williams, from the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, said:

“This is the third year running that we have appointed ambassadors for the apprenticeship sector, and we think this is a vital tool in showing people that it is possible to continue with your bilingual learning through the apprenticeship route.

“With the Welsh Governments target to reach one million Welsh speakers by 2050, it has never been more important to develop your bilingual skills and increase your employability prospects.”

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

To find out more about apprenticeship opportunities go to Careers Wales https://careerswales.gov.wales/apprenticeships or telephone 0800 028 4844.

Mae Ben Pittaway yn gwneud Prentisiaeth ddwyieithog mewn Gwaith Coed gyda’r nod o gael gyrfa yn y diwydiant adeiladu.

Cafodd Ben, 21, o Bort Talbot, brofiad fel plastrwr ar ôl gadael yr ysgol ond penderfynodd ar ôl ychydig y byddai gwaith coed yn ei siwtio’n well a dechreuodd weithio i gwmni D. C. Carpentry and Joinery yn y dref dros ddwy flynedd yn ôl.

Erbyn hyn, mae’n gweithio tuag at Brentisiaeth ddwyieithog Lefel 3 mewn Gwaith Coed ar Safle gyda City & Guilds, wedi’i chyflenwi gan Pathways Training, Grŵp Colegau NPTC yn Abertawe.

Gan ei fod mor frwd dros brentisiaethau a’r iaith Gymraeg, mae wedi’i benodi’n Llysgennad Prentisiaethau gan y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol a Ffederasiwn Hyfforddiant Cenedlaethol Cymru (NTfW).

Y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol sy’n arwain datblygiad addysg a hyfforddiant Cymraeg a dwyieithog yn y sector ôl-orfodol yng Nghymru ac mae’r NTfW yn cynrychioli darparwyr dysgu seiliedig ar waith ledled Cymru.

Dywedodd Ben,

“Rwy wrth fy modd yn y gwaith o fod yn brentis saer coed. Rwy’n hoffi’r rhyddid o weithio yn rhywle gwahanol bob dydd, cwrdd â phobl wahanol a chael y cyfle i roi angerdd yn fy ngwaith.

“Fues i’n gwneud gwaith plastrwr am 18 mis ond sylweddolais nad dyna ro’n i am ei wneud. Mae gen i lawer i’w ddysgu o hyd ond rwy’n edrych ymlaen at yrfa dda.”

Mae Ben wedi pasio cwrs i fod yn gymwys i osod drysau tân o dan oruchwyliaeth ac mae’n gobeithio dal i ddysgu sgiliau newydd.

Mae’n ymfalchïo ei fod wedi’i ddewis yn Llysgennad Prentisiaethau ac meddai:

“Mae siarad Cymraeg yn bwysig i mi achos y Gymraeg yw’n hiaith genedlaethol ni. Rwy o blaid rhoi’r cyfle i ddysgwyr wneud prentisiaethau Cymraeg a dwyieithog. Mae fy asesydd, Wyn Williams, yn cynnal yr asesiadau yn ddwyieithog.

“Os oes rhywun yn ystyried gwneud prentisiaeth ddwyieithog, fy nghyngor i yw iddyn nhw fynd amdani. Dyna’r ffordd orau o ddysgu popeth am y gwaith y byddwch yn ei wneud ac ennill cyflog ar yr un pryd.”

Dywedodd Mr Williams, sy’n ddarlithydd gwaith coed yng Ngrŵp Colegau NPTC yn Abertawe, bod Ben wedi dechrau dysgu ar gwrs aml-grefft cyn dewis anelu am yrfa mewn gwaith coed.

Dywedodd,

“Mae Ben yn gweithio’n galed, mae’n dysgu sgiliau’n gyflym ac mae’n cymryd camau breision ymlaen.”

Dywedodd Darren Cockings, rheolwr gyfarwyddwr D. C. Carpentry and Joinery:

“Mae Ben yn ifanc, yn frwdfrydig ac mae’n symud ymlaen yn dda â’i grefft. Mae’n gwneud gwaith amrywiol yn cynnwys gosod drysau tân, ystafelloedd ymolchi a cheginau.

“Mae’n un o’r ychydig bobl sy’n siarad Cymraeg yn y busnes ond bydden ni’n croesawu rhagor achos mae’n lles i’r busnes ac mae llawer o’n cleientiaid yn awyddus i weithio’n ddwyieithog.”

Gwaith Ryan Evans, hyrwyddwr dwyieithrwydd NTfW, yw helpu darparwyr hyfforddiant ledled Cymru i gynnig rhagor o brentisiaethau trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg neu’n ddwyieithog.

Dywedodd,

“Mae llawer o weithleoedd yn dod yn fwy dwyieithog ac felly gall gwneud prentisiaeth trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg neu’n ddwyieithog roi hwb i hyder y prentis i weithio yn y ddwy iaith ac felly ei helpu i gael gwaith.”

“Mae ein Llysgenhadon Prentisiaethau yn esiampl dda i brentisiaid, gan ddangos manteision dysgu a gweithio’n ddwyieithog.”

Dywedodd Elin Williams, o’r Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol:

“Dyma’r drydedd flwyddyn o’r bron i ni benodi llysgenhadon ar gyfer y sector prentisiaethau. Credwn ei bod yn ffordd ardderchog o ddangos i bobl y gallwch barhau i ddysgu’n ddwyieithog trwy wneud prentisiaeth.

“Mae nod Llywodraeth Cymru o sicrhau miliwn o siaradwyr Cymraeg erbyn 2050 yn golygu na fu erioed yn bwysicach i chi ddatblygu sgiliau dwyieithog er mwyn gwella’ch cyfleoedd ym myd gwaith.”

Caiff y Rhaglen Brentisiaethau yng Nghymru ei hariannu gan Lywodraeth Cymru gyda chymorth Cronfa Gymdeithasol Ewrop (ESF).

Os hoffech wybod mwy am gyfleoedd ar gyfer prentisiaethau, ewch i Gyrfa Cymru https://gyrfacymru.llyw.cymru/prentisiaethau neu ffoniwch 0800 028 4844.