Budding chef wins Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol Award for dedication to using the Welsh language
Level 3 Professional Cookery apprentice, Jack Quinney, won the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol Award for his dedication to the Welsh language in his workplace, his studies, and for helping his assessor in building Welsh language skills.
Jack is five months into his Level 3 NVQ, before which he completed an 18 month Level 2 NVQ in Professional Cookery. He has also been the Apprentice Ambassador for the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol for the past two years. This year, Jack won the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol Award at the North Wales Apprenticeship Award ceremony earlier in February, sponsored by the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, for his dedication to using the Welsh language and promoting bilingualism in the workplace, ‘Sheeps & Leeks’ in Caernarfon, and in his studies.
Haf Everiss, Further Education and Apprentice Officer from the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, said:
“Jack is in his second year of being an apprenticeship ambassador for the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, and has put a lot of effort into developing his Welsh skills and continues to succeed in promoting bilingualism in the college and in the workplace. Congratulations and we wish him the best of luck in his career”.
Jack also added:
“I am extremely proud to receive the award. Using my Welsh skills in the workplace is very important to me, and I have plenty of opportunity to practice by talking to my colleagues and my assessor. I would encourage everyone doing an apprenticeship to take any opportunity to use their Welsh skills; they won't regret it”.
Jack is extremely passionate about Wales and speaking the Welsh language, and decided to complete his studies bilingually to further develop his Welsh skills. In doing so, he not only improved his own Welsh skills, but helped his assessor, Tony Fitzmaurice to practice and gain more confidence in conversing in Welsh. Both Jack’s practical and theory work are delivered and completed bilingually, and he continues to succeed in promoting bilingualism in his workplace and in college.
Tony Fitzmaurice, Jack’s assessor said:
“I have known Jack now for a few years and from the first minute I knew that he would be a really good student. He was always asking questions, eager to stretch and challenge himself and an all round top young chef’.
His passion only increased as he progressed through his Level 2 NVQ in Professional Cookery. Jack is destined for big things and it was no surprise to me when he was selected to be a Welsh Language Ambassador for the Grwp, it also worked to my benefit.
I, myself am originally from Anglesey, however, left North Wales to join the Army when I was 17, so I didn't use the Welsh language and I had skill-fade.
With Jack being an ambassador and myself eager to be able to communicate in Welsh again, we would carry out the assessments bilingually to benefit us both.
I am now more than comfortable conversing in Welsh and try to deliver the qualifications bilingually as much as possible and this is partly down to Jack.
Jack is the model student and I can't wait to see his future, where I strongly believe he will be running his own fine dining restaurant and hiring apprentices of his own”.
