Ynysybwl girl lands Apprenticeship with one of UK’s largest recruitment companies

A youngster from a small village in Pontypridd has gained an Apprenticeship with one of the UK’s leading recruitment and training agencies, Acorn.

Taylor-Dee Jacka, 20, recently started working as an Apprentice Administrator at Acorn’s Cardiff branch where she will work towards a Vocational Qualification in Business Administration.

Taylor-Dee passed her A Levels at Ysgol Gyfun Rhydfelen in 2009 and went on to complete a Foundation Art & Design Course with the University of Glamorgan. Keen to enter the working environment, she took a job as a bar tender where she worked for six months increasing her customer service skills.

Taylor-Dee said: “I really enjoyed the art and design course and working in the bar, but I realised that I wanted to be challenged and work towards a more rewarding career. I found out about Acorn’s Apprenticeship Scheme on the Careers Wales website in February this year.

The Apprenticeship qualification will see Taylor-Dee learn the essential skills required in the office environment from creating reports and using up-to-date IT systems to managing customer relations, which will eventually result in the possibility of working for Acorn permanently.

Taylor Dee continued: “The various elements of the Apprenticeship all relate to business and have helped improve my knowledge of how the industry works. It’s good that you don’t have to sit in a classroom all day. You’re actually doing the job you’re training to do, which, to me, is the best form of experience.”

Sarah John, Director of Acorn’s Training Division said: “Vocational Qualifications are an extremely effective way of learning, particularly for those who prefer learning through work rather than the traditional form of education. The Vocational Qualification demonstrates you can do a job to national standards and give you the up-to-date skills employers are looking for. It’s a very powerful way of getting your dream job.”

Acorn has placed a number of Apprentices in recent months across the UK in sectors including business administration, retail, insurance and manufacturing.