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