Apprentices from Coleg Cambria delivered exceptional performances at this year’s MAKE UK Regional Manufacturing Awards for Wales.
The prestigious event, hosted by MAKE UK – the national body representing the UK manufacturing sector – celebrates excellence in engineering, innovation, and business performance.
This year’s Welsh regional awards highlighted outstanding talent from across the country, with winners now advancing to the MAKE UK National Finals in London this January.
Five apprentices from Coleg Cambria stood out among competitors, representing some of Wales’s most respected employers:
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Business Apprentice Rising Star – Winner: Matthew Hoyland, Airbus Operations
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Business Apprentice Final Year – Winner: Robert Pollard, Airbus Operations
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Business Apprentice Final Year – Runner-Up: Jodie Sellers, Airbus Operations
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Engineering Apprentice Rising Star – Winner: Joe Downes, Teledyne Qioptiq
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Engineering Apprentice Final Year – Winner: Jodie Manning, Airbus Operations
These achievements underscore the strong partnerships between Coleg Cambria and leading employers such as Airbus Operations and Teledyne Qioptiq, both of which continue to invest in developing their future workforce through high-quality apprenticeship programmes.
Janis Richards, Regional Director for MAKE UK in Wales, said: “We’re proud to celebrate the outstanding apprentices from Coleg Cambria whose talent and determination have shone through at this year’s awards.
“They represent the future of Welsh manufacturing, and their achievements underline the vital partnership between education, industry and local communities in strengthening Wales’s skills pipeline.”
Coleg Cambria’s continued success reinforces its reputation as one of the UK’s leading providers of engineering and technical education. The college collaborates closely with employers across Wales and beyond to ensure learners gain the practical skills, innovative mindset, and industry experience required in today’s manufacturing sector.
Nick Tyson, Vice Principal for Digital, Engineering and Construction at Coleg Cambria, praised the apprentices and said: “We are immensely proud of our apprentices and their achievements at the MAKE UK Awards. Their success is a reflection of their dedication, the guidance of our staff, and the strong partnerships we have with employers such as Airbus and Teledyne Qioptiq.
“Apprenticeships are vital to the future of the manufacturing sector, ensuring we continue to grow a skilled, innovative workforce that keeps Wales at the forefront of global industry.
“At Cambria, we’re committed to working hand in hand with businesses to develop the talent that drives progress.”
For more news and information from Coleg Cambria, visit www.cambria.ac.uk
For more on the Awards, visit Wales Winners 2025 | Make UK.