I have been working for Coleg Sir Gar for 7 years, initially as an Assessor and Associate Lecturer which has flown by! Having completed the PGCE and BA in Social Care, I am now a Lecturer and Job Coach on Pathway 4 'Stepping into Employment’ Programme and I absolutely love it.

On Pathway 4, I work closely with Ceinwen, the ESA, the NHS and Elite SEA to support the Interns with additional needs to gain skills, knowledge and confidence in the workplace. This is the first year of the course and we have a group in Prince Phillip Hospital working in different wards and departments. We hope more departments will come on board next year to give the young people valuable work experience opportunities. 

It has been wonderful seeing the transformation in them. Most have received travel training and have learnt to use the buses independently. One learner has now taken to walking from College or the placement to home instead of having a lift, which has been a huge achievement, not only for him, but for Mum to allow him to do so. In the placement, they are applying everything they are learning from the Agored Certificate in Work Related Education (Entry Level 1) qualification, such as health and safety, communication and teamwork, to the workplace. 

We also work on CV’s, interview skills and application forms. The Interns have written presentations and presented these to their families, the NHS, Elite and Coleg Sir Gar. They described their journeys and what they have gained from the whole experience. This was quite an emotional moment for the families as they had a real insight into their Internships. All of them are keen to continue volunteering or apply for jobs once the course ends, which illustrates progression and how much people with additional needs can contribute into the workplace.

I honestly feel my job is very rewarding, especially when you see their confidence soaring and realise they are capable of achieving so much.

My name is Nikki, I am one of the Sport lecturers at Graig and one of the coaches within the Netball Academy. This is my first full year teaching after completing my Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and I am loving every minute of the role. Our team is great, they are very supportive and encouraging - it feels like a big family. One of the most enjoyable aspects of being a teacher is seeing the progress of the students and is a really rewarding part of the job. I thoroughly enjoy coaching the Netball Academy; it’s been great working with the players and seeing a huge development in the team. They have finished overall 2nd in the Welsh League which is a great achievement! Working for Coleg Sir Gâr as a whole is a fantastic opportunity; staff from other departments are so friendly and supportive of one another. It’s a privilege working here when we all have the same goal of inspiring the students and enabling progression. 

I joined Coleg Sir Gar & Coleg Ceredigion as the Talent Acquisition Manager in 2021. Within my role, I manage all talent and recruitment operations across our seven campuses, this allows me to share my passion for education and HR together to make a positive difference to staff, learners, and the wider communities of Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion. I am extremely passionate about HR and enjoy finding new ways of working to support, develop and reward our staff across the organisation.

I am a proud member of the Equality and Diversity Committee and believe strongly in creating a welcoming and inclusive place to work for our staff, stakeholders, and the surrounding communities. Visit our Equality and Diversity page to read more about our committment to EDI.

Since joining The College, I have been fully supported and encouraged to continue my own professional development, it is a great feeling knowing that The College are investing and supporting my future here, whilst staying up to date with the latest trends, technologies, and knowledge in the world of education and HR. 

One of my favourite things about working at The College is having the opportunity to work across all seven of our campuses, this allows me to work with staff from various departments, roles and specialisms. Having such great staff across the organisation means that I am always welcomed and feel a great sense of belonging, no matter which campus I am working at.

I am part of the Coleg Sir Gâr network team; my main role is to assist others when they need help, mainly with IT problems but not just limited to IT. If there is something that can be done, I will try my best to do it and if not, direct people towards assistance. My customers range from teachers and staff as well as students. I assist with any issues that can occur when using IT; this includes access to and logging on to our system, advice on how to use basic computer and software functions to slightly more complex issues with the system.

I distribute new equipment where needed, set up IT spaces for learners and help staff to move offices. I am partially responsible for looking after devices and getting them onto the system, helping ensure they are connected and working as expected. I also help the IT team manage any new faults that are discovered and contribute knowledge towards fixing issues.  

I enjoy working at Coleg Sir Gâr because I get to be a part of a big team, where everyone is trying their best. It's not often you meet like-minded people and Coleg Sir Gâr feels like a collective of like-minded, forward thinking individuals. Everyone is friendly, helpful and considerate. 

As a company, they are environmentally friendly and care about the future. They care about the future generations of learners and strive to provide the best.

I joined the college as a Dance lecturer in 2007. Since then I have worked in a number of departments as a course leader, section head and interim faculty manager. Within my current role I am responsible for Marketing and Admissions, ensuring each and every learner starts their college journey in a positive and well supported manner. I am also responsible for Enterprise, Employability and Inspiring Skills. Each of these initiatives support learners to develop the skill set to identify progression pathways that support success in their future careers. I also play a part in nurturing partnership with the colleges key stakeholder, including our local partner schools and community groups. An exciting part of my work is securing funding to support international staff and learner mobility, providing inclusive and equitable opportunities to travel the world. I am extremely fortunate to work with an outstanding team that innovates, supports and delivers this work. 

 

I am proud to be part of a college that puts the learners at the centre of its work. The college environment is warm, friendly and supportive and there is always someone willing to listen and help, if needed. I genuinely feel that the college is invested in me as an employee, and feel well supported in my current role and future aspirations.  The college has supported my continual professional development, which has afforded me such amazing professional opportunities.

Reflecting on my own experience in education, I appreciate the impact that teachers and education have on the lives of young people and adults. As a teacher, my greatest aim is to be a role model to inspire and encourage those in education to thrive and to reach their full potential.

As Head of Curriculum for Creative and Applied Industries, I play a pivotal role in shaping and leading the direction of the curriculum,  I support both students and staff academic and personal growth, while fostering an environment that builds confidence and resilience in facing challenges. 

The supportive team environment and personal development opportunities at the College has further enhanced my growth and abilities, allowing me to positively impact the next generation enabling me to stay updated with the latest advancements in the field. These experiences have ignited my curiosity, boosted my confidence, and equipped me with the tools needed to excel in my role.