News Story
Jun 2026 / Learners
For many learners Jobs Growth Wales + not only offers a provision to learn new skills and experience, it’s also a chance to gain confidence and find out more about yourself.
That’s certainly true for learner Abby Jones, who joined Jobs Growth Wales + in January of last year, unsure what she wanted to do in the future.
“I went to college for a month to do hairdressing which made me realise that hairdressing is a hobby and not something I want as a career,” Abby explained. “After that I was working full time as a waitress…then I joined ACT.”
When she first enrolled on Jobs Growth Wales+, Abby had one clear objective in mind. “My main goal was to figure out what I wanted to do as a long-term career,” she said. “I expected it to be just like school but ACT was different. I met amazing people which was great.”
Throughout her time at ACT, Abby embraced new opportunities, including an administration placement.
“It helped me realise that I did not want to go into anything like that,” Abby said. “It helped my confidence a bit, meeting new people and working in a new space.”
JGW+ also allowed Abby to hone her essential skills qualifications, helping her improve in English, Maths and Digital Literacy.
“Studying with ACT is a lot better than school,” she explained. “When you don’t understand something, the teacher running the class will make sure everyone understands before they move on which is amazing because with English, I have always struggled a bit.
“Whenever I would finish a class, my tutor would always check that I was enjoying myself and that I understood it all. If I was struggling, they would let the teacher know on my behalf.”
Alongside her studies, Abby gained valuable experience through part-time work in hospitality.
“When I was working my part time job it taught me a lot about what different jobs can be like. It taught me how to greet customers, how to handle bad situations and how to work with unfamiliar people.
“Time management was also a great skill to learn. It helped me make sure I was at work on time and make sure I didn’t overwork myself. My confidence in the workspace after joining ACT was a lot better and helped me to not second guess myself as much.”
One of Abby’s standout experiences was going to Barcelona with fellow ACT learners and staff. It was her first time travelling abroad.
“I had never really went on a holiday before and i have always wanted to travel,” she said. “Because I was with a big group of people, I knew that I would feel safe. I was excited to meet new people and to be able to share the amazing experience with them.”
The trip pushed Abby out of her comfort zone and created lasting memories.
“We took part in sailing and banana boating which was amazing. We also did go-karting which was by far my favourite activity. I also very much enjoyed the evenings where we went out exploring and was able to see what Barcelona looked like.”
Looking ahead, Abby has ambitious plans for her future. Inspired by both her experiences at ACT and one of her favourite TV shows, Criminal Minds, she has made the decision to study psychology with the Open University in September. She is then hoping to progress into a career.
She said: “After I finish my degree I will be doing my Masters degree in Forensic Psychology so I can be a fully qualified Forensic Psychologist and go into it as a full time job.”
Reflecting on her experience within the Jobs Growth Wales + programme, Abby said: “The staff in ACT are amazing and have always treated me with respect and patience, whenever I was struggling or I got confused they would always take their time to help out and make sure I was okay.
“I am very proud that I have gained a lot of confidence throughout my time at ACT from a mix of the Barcelona trip, enrichment projects and trips, as well as meeting new people in centre.”
