Everyone at AB Glass was delighted to be associated with Gower College Swansea’s Annual Awards – and sponsor the GCS Training Student of the Year Award.
Encouraging young talent has always been at the heart of AB Glass so being associated with something that does much to inspire young people to go on and make their mark in industry was a fantastic opportunity.
This year, because of COVID-19 and the lockdown, the awards looked very different to previous years when they had been held at the Liberty Stadium. The Virtual Awards took the form of a video hosted on the College website and featured contributions from regular MC Kev Johns MBE and the College’s Lockdown Choir, who sang a moving rendition of the classic Lean on Me.
The event comprised of 24 separate awards categories from across the College’s wide range of provision including full time, part time, apprenticeships, employability programmes and Higher Education courses.
The winner of the GCS Training Student of the Year Award was Deborah Xerri. Trainer Lucy Bird said that Debbie had gone from strength to strength during her training, truly excels in the workplace where she is most comfortable and is something of an unsung hero.
She said she makes a “tremendous difference to people’s lives without realising the impact she has”. She cares about all those she works with and goes way beyond her job description on a regular basis. Lucy said she hopes the award helps her recognise how far she has come.
Alan Brayley, our managing director, said: “It is fantastic to be a part of an event like this – even if it is in the virtual sense. Congratulations to Deborah on winning the GCS Training Student of the Year Award. We wish her every success in her future career.”
Mark Jones, Principal of Gower College Swansea, said: “We were determined to celebrate the achievements of our students in the best way we could this year. Once again, the stories we heard were truly inspirational – individuals who have had to deal with the most challenging of circumstances to achieve success.
“Many of our winners juggle their studies with busy family lives, jobs and caring responsibilities and all are excellent role models. Although we couldn’t be together this year, we felt it was really important to honour their achievements and celebrate their talent, tenacity and dedication.”