In partnership with Gower College Swansea, we have launched a new apprenticeship scheme for people who are passionate about making a difference in Wales.
We are thrilled to welcome 3 apprentices to CDPS. During their apprenticeship, they will receive on the job training with us around design, user research and content, as well as gaining a formal qualification from Gower College Swansea.
At CDPS, one of our strategic priorities is to grow digital skills and capability in the public sector, and our partnership with Gower College Swansea is helping us achieve that.
Welcome to the team!
Apprentice 1 - Ruth Garner
1. Tell us an interesting fact about you
I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Film, Television, Drama and Theatre Studies and have obtained a Level 4 Certificate in Professional Digital Marketing.
2. What did you do before joining CDPS?
I worked in a primary school as a 1:1 learning support assistant/teaching assistant, working with 2 children who had additional learning needs.
3. What attracted you to a career in user-centred design?
My previous job has given me an insight into the importance of inclusivity and when effective measures are put into place, it can really make a difference. My previous job role has allowed me to enhance my problem-solving capabilities, develop patience, empathy, communication, interpersonal skills, and experience effective teamwork.
Therefore, I felt that the skills I had acquired from this could be valuable in a new position and apply
to user-centred design. I have been looking to fully embark on a digital communication career for a while and after deciding to study for the Professional Digital Marketing certificate I have been looking thoroughly for the perfect opportunity that could support me in my desire to further my knowledge on the subject.
4. What do you hope to achieve in your new role?
It is evident that, in today’s world, digital communication plays a vital role in bringing people and communities together. With that, I hope I can utilise skills I have developed in previous experiences with skills I am yet to learn on the apprenticeship and hopefully make a difference by contributing to establish digital standards and helping to design inclusive and accessible public services within Wales.
5. What excites you about working to deliver better public services within Wales?
I am excited about this role as I feel it will enable me to make use of my creative side, grant me the opportunity to learn and grow and most importantly allow me to be part of something immensely rewarding and that will help and assist people. I feel that it is also the perfect opportunity to finally achieve my goal of working in digital communication while also supporting innovation in Wales.
Apprentice 2 - Alexandra Wagstaff
1. Tell us an interesting fact about you
I have a degree in Biology with Science and Society from the University of Manchester where alongside my 3 years of study, I finally trained myself to eat spicy food. Now I can enjoy a korma without complaining that it’s too hot…
2. What did you do before joining CDPS?
For 2 years, I worked as a research administrator at Cardiff University’s Centre for Trials Research. Providing administrative support to clinical research taught me a lot about the hard work that goes on behind the scenes when developing new treatments and standards of care.
3. What attracted you to a career in user-centred design?
Whilst working in clinical research, I saw how valuable patient voices were in study design to ensure the focus remains on patient outcomes and welfare. This has given me an acute awareness of the importance of including the beneficiaries of any project in the design process itself. I was attracted to this role because I want to learn to implement this knowledge in a digital context, thereby helping to improve digital public services by allowing user voices to drive service design. This approach helps create more accessible, functional and streamlined digital spaces which appreciate user needs and preferences.
4. What do you hope to achieve in your new role?
I hope to develop my digital and user research skills so that I can help build digital services that benefit people’s everyday lives. Because of my previous role as a research administrator, I have a particular interest in the health sector and how digital services can improve working conditions for healthcare workers, as well as improve healthcare for patients. I would be thrilled to work on a project with the NHS or Digital Health and Care Wales.
5. What excites you about working to deliver better public services within Wales?
We are living in the digital age, and there is so much to be done to make the most of the digital tools we have! CDPS are working hard to improve digital public services in Wales, and I am delighted to become a part of that. Digital public services are far-reaching and can have a huge impact, and it is exciting to think my future contributions could help people all over Wales.
Apprentice 3 - Sarah Floyd
1. Tell us an interesting fact about you
I can deadlift over 80kg and hope to lift 100kg one day.
2. What did you do before joining CDPS?
I’m joining CDPS after 21-year career teaching pupils with additional learning needs. After graduating from Trinity College Carmarthen, I got supply roles in the Learning Support Centre across Swansea. I found the extra challenge of teaching pupils with additional needs rewarding. After a year of supply teaching, I finally got my first full-time class, a group of 5 pupils who made a resounding impact on my life, cementing my belief that I had found my specialism. What I loved most about the role was the variety; every day was different, with new challenges and problems to overcome whilst keeping the pupils needs at the forefront. Providing me with skills I feel I can bring to my role at CDPS.
3. What attracted you to a career in user-centred design?
I was looking at new careers that still allowed me to work with people and help them, which I find rewarding. The user-centred design role piqued my interest. I was excited to learn that many of the skills I have gained in my teaching career could be transferred to this role. Putting users first and making services that fit the needs of those users attracted me, and I’m excited to learn how to do this by working alongside others who share the same values.
4. What do you hope to achieve in your new role?
This role is so different from my previous role in many ways. I’m excited about many aspects, such as returning to college to gain a qualification in user-centred design and learning whilst working alongside my colleagues and sharing good practice.
I hope I can help to create public services for Wales that stand out for their inclusivity for the users.
5. What excites you about working to deliver better public services within Wales?
Creating inclusive public services aligns with my personal beliefs about accessibility and inclusivity. Although I no longer work with children and young people, developing better public services will help create a future in Wales that’s fit for purpose for those youngsters I once taught.
Get in touch
If you're interested in a career change or are a public sector organisation who's interested in taking on an apprentice, get in touch: info@digitalpublicservices.gov.wales