ALS learner wins coveted VQ Award

16 May 2019 News Learners

Award-winning training provider ALS Training proudly celebrate their learner Charlotte O’Brien as she is named ‘The VQ Higher Learner of the Year’ at the 2019 VQ Awards.

Now in their 12th year, the coveted VQ Awards celebrate those who use technical, practical and vocational qualifications to achieve success. The award is a symbol of dedication towards a chosen profession. The awards help to celebrate those Welsh learners, trainers and employers who are already going that extra mile when it comes to developing vocational skills and qualifications.

Charlotte was officially named VQ Higher Learner of the Year’ at the Vocational Qualifications (VQ) Awards ceremony, which took place on 20th May, at the historic National Museum in Cardiff.

Charlotte first started her career in the Data Science Campus at the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in Newport, where she successfully completed her pioneering Level 4 Data Analytics Higher Apprenticeship six months ahead of target. Charlotte’s hard work and efforts were recognised by the ONS who offered her a permanent position.

Her passion for maths and economics led her to university, but she quickly decided that vocational study under the guidance of Cardiff-based ALS Training was better suited to her learning needs and she has not looked back. Charlotte now helps present training courses to ONS staff and has become a STEM Ambassador for ONS.

Her own learning path has taken her on a second year Open University degree in Maths and Economics and hopefully a place on the inaugural Degree Apprenticeship in Applied Data Science later this year.

Data Science Campus ONS Academic Manager, Alison Adams, said of Charlotte: “Her journey through the Apprenticeship to gaining a permanent position with ONS has been inspirational. Charlotte is focused and driven with clear career goals. She radiates positivity and has a zest for life.”

Commenting on her win Charlotte added, “I’m so surprised I’ve won this award. It’s so exciting. I joined ONS to try and get back into the maths and economics field and do something that I loved. I thought leaving my degree would mean I wouldn’t get into that field again and doing my Apprenticeship meant that I could, and I guess this award proves that I can.”

Furthermore, a massive well done from ALS to our finalist Jonathan Thomas from DAS Legal UK and current learner Nia Jones from Arup, who also attended the Museum ceremony on Friday. We are proud of the achievements of all these learners who have gone above and beyond in their work. They thoroughly deserve this national recognition.

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