Inspirational Chris is passionate about helping learners fulfil their potential

Inspirational Chris Hughes is hoping to go one better in this year’s Apprenticeship Awards Cymru after being a runner up for the Work Based Learning Practitioner Award in 2015.

The 55-year-old Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) tutor from Maesycwmmer, Caerphilly, has worked for award-winning learning provider ACT Training for nearly four years and is a highly valued team member.

He has more than 20 years’ experience in training and development

This began with Iceland Frozen Foods and also gained valuable leadership and management experience with Tesco and Superdrug.

Holder of a Postgraduate Certificate in Education, he has recently achieved his Level 5 Coaching and Mentoring qualification and is now aiming for the ILM Level 7 in Coaching and Mentoring.

Chris has been shortlisted for the Work-based Learning Assessor and Tutor of the Year accolade, with the awards ceremony due to take place at Venue Cymru, Llandudno on October 20.

Jointly organised by the Welsh Government and the National Training Federation for Wales (NTfW), the prestigious awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of individuals, employers and learning providers who have excelled in contributing to the development of the Welsh Government’s Traineeships, Jobs Growth Wales and Apprenticeship programmes.

Funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund, the awards are sponsored by Pearson PLC and supported by media partner, Media Wales.

Chris has written a Management Academy programme for ACT and a Level 5 Coaching and Mentoring programme

Both of which are to be launched imminently and is working closely with Dave Tee, senior lecturer in occupational psychology at The University of South Wales, on aspects of ‘group coaching’.

His primary role is to design and deliver training workshops, mark assignments and provides one-to-one support to 180 learners spread across South Wales. He tailors plans and targets from the learner’s perspective, is flexible to the needs of employers and produces videos to help learners on ACT’s online learning platform. 

Passionate about continual learning, he uses a vast range of teaching styles including iPad activities, Lego and discussion group tasks.

“It is very motivational when learners achieve their Apprenticeships but even more motivational when they adapt their learning and become better leaders and people because of my teaching,” said Chris.

Wales’ Minister for Skills and Science Julie James congratulated Chris and the other 32 shortlisted award finalists. “We are proud to be delivering one of the most successful apprenticeship programmes in Europe with success rates in Wales remaining well above 80 per cent,” she said.

“Developing skilled people is vital for our economy. We have some truly exceptional apprentices here in Wales and the Apprenticeship Awards Cymru provide a perfect platform for us to celebrate their hard work and achievements. Equally important are the learning providers and employers who go the extra mile to support their apprentices.”