Adult Learners’ Week 2025 with Itec Skills: Facilitating Lifelong Learning Throughout Wales 

From the 15th to the 21st of September, Adult Learners’ Week will be celebrated throughout Wales. Adult Learners’ Week is a national initiative that promotes lifelong learning; whether in acquiring new skills, building confidence, or opening doors to a new profession. The week is organised by the Learning and Work Institute with sponsorship from the Welsh Government, highlighting the variety of opportunities for people of all ages to keep learning and improving.

At Itec we offer a comprehensive range of apprenticeships and adult learning across Wales. Our work-based learning and commercial training, as well as our Jobs Growth Wales+ programme (JGW+), allow people to acquire qualifications from Level 2 up to Level 5, from business administration and health and social care, leadership and management, warehousing, customer service and more.

Our aim is the same as Adult Learners’ Week: to show that it is possible, flexible, and a life-changer to learn. From new entrants to the workforce to managers entering the field, Itec provides training that not only serves career development but also individual growth.

Learner Stories That Inspire

At the heart of Adult Learners’ Week are the testimonials that show how learning can make a difference. Below are three Itec learners whose stories underscore the power of opportunity, mentorship, and willpower.

Building Confidence Through Mentorship

When Jackson Hill began with Itec Bridgend in November 2023, he was eager to learn employability skills but was short of confidence after a disappointing previous experience in mechanics.

That was all reversed when he met businessman John Robert Endicott, who began business car recovery firm Collect my Wheels, and had been invited in by Itec to speak to students on the JGW+ course. Inspired by John’s speech, Jackson asked for a second opportunity. Thanks to the services of Itec Employability Officer Gareth Williams, he began a work placement at ‘Collect my Wheels’.

In a supportive environment, Jackson flourished, his attendance improved, his skills developed, and his confidence grew. John was so impressed he offered him an apprenticeship: “Some young people just need an arm around them to point them in the right direction.”

Jackson now feels part of a team and is excited for his future: “I like to learn new things and I’m looking forward to the future.”

Itec Team Leader Ruth Sainsbury added: “This shows how the right mentors and environment can change a learner’s life. We’re incredibly proud of this progress.”

Resilience and Growth

For Laura Duncombe, the appeal of an apprenticeship was the chance to earn while learning. Starting with a Level 1 Business Administration qualification, she progressed through Levels 2 and 3, building skills in administration, communication and digital literacy.

Laura found the structure of an apprenticeship suited her way of learning and very quickly developed new skills. Once she had achieved her qualifications she was offered a full-time administrative.

Reflecting on her experience, Laura explained: “My career and personal development have grown astonishingly since completing my apprenticeship with Itec. I’ve become more independent, more knowledgeable, and more confident.”

Laura’s story is a reminder that apprenticeships provide not just technical skills, but also resilience and adaptability in difficult times.

Developing Leadership Through Apprenticeships

We stand by the quality of our services. Ruth Sainsbury, an Area Manager for Itec, is completing an ILM Level 4 Itec Management Apprenticeship to build her leadership skills.

Ruth manages teams in three centres and felt that she wanted to complement her practical experience with broader management skills. Her learning has already paid dividends, allowing her to develop working together between teams and approach complex leadership tasks with confidence.

“There are aspects of managing I hadn’t considered previously, and this apprenticeship has opened my eyes,” Ruth explained. “It’s shown me more about managing people in a better way.”

“I can work in bite-sized chunks, and my assessor is always beneficial. It’s absolutely doable, even with a chaotic life.”

Lifelong Learning

At Itec, we are committed to supporting individuals at every stage of their learning journey. We help learners build confidence, learn new skills, or take the step up to leadership, because we think it is always possible to grow and develop.

This September, use Adult Learners’ Week as a reminder of this one thing: learning never goes out of date. If you’re 18 or 80, there’s always something new to discover about yourself and the world about you.

Get in touch with our team today.