Olivia Kassab, a former pupil of Rhosnesni High School, is completing a Civil EngineeringDegree Apprenticeship after seven years progressing through Coleg Cambria from entry-level. While still at school, she enrolled on a BTEC in Construction and the Built Environment at the college’s Bersham Road site, before progressing to Level 3 and then a Higher National Certificate.
Bingham Rawlings Partnership
Alongside her studies, she secured an apprenticeship with the Wrexham civil and structural engineering consultancy Bingham Rawlings Partnership, where she now works as a permanent engineering technician
“I always wanted to go into this sector, and the college allowed me to start at entry level and work all the way up to a degree apprenticeship,” she said. “The tutors atCambria have been incredible, especially Tammy Barlow. My aim is to become a structural engineer, and I’m excited to see what the next chapter brings.”
The degree pathway, delivered at Bersham Road in partnership with Wrexham University, lets learners combine academic study with paid work. After her final year at the college, Olivia will complete the qualification’s last two years at the university.
New Internship Opens NHS Doors
A new supported internship programme for young people with additional learning needs will launch this September, in a partnership between Coleg Cambria, DFN Project SEARCH and Ysbyty Wrexham Maelor.
Based at the hospital, the one-year programme is designed to bridge the gap between education and the workplace, initially offering places for six interns who hold an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or an Individual Development Plan (IDP). Delivered through thecollege’s Independent Living Skills department, it will see participants rotate through a variety of hospital roles, building skills and confidence with support from mentors and also job coaches.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for our interns to gain real, hands-on experience working within a hospital environment,” said Jo Green, Curriculum Director for ILS at Coleg Cambria Northop. “Internships can build confidence, develop essential employability skills, and also work towards greater independence”.
The programme builds on more than a decade of evidence from existing DFN ProjectSEARCH sites, which have consistently improved employment outcomes for young people with learning disabilities.
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