ITEC Partnership Goes from Strength to Strength

23 February 2026

Our partnership with ITEC continues to go from strength to strength, most recently highlighted at the ITEC JGW+ Awards which celebrate the outstanding achievements of learners across Wales.

The event showcased inspiring learner journeys and the transformative impact of high-quality placements and training opportunities.

ITEC supports young people and adults across Wales to develop skills, gain qualifications and progress into employment.

Through programmes focused on employability, customer service, IT and Essential Skills, ITEC works with local employers like the Council to provide meaningful work placements that build confidence and create real career pathways to provide meaningful opportunities for young people locally who otherwise may not be engaged in employment or training.

We were especially proud to see two Vale ITEC apprentices recognised at the ITEC Awards. Johnson Warren was nominated for the Pioneer Award, which celebrates learners who break new ground with creative solutions, while Aleena Anwar was named runner-up for the Future Ready Award, recognising learners who demonstrate initiative, adaptability and a clear commitment to building their future.

Their nominations reflect not only their individual dedication, but also the strength of the partnership work that supported their development.

The Council’s partnership with ITEC began through close collaboration between ITEC’s Employability team and our HR colleagues at the Civic Offices. What started with two young people joining the HR team quickly proved to be a positive and productive experience for everyone involved.

Learners were given genuine responsibility and the opportunity to contribute to live administrative processes, while teams benefited from additional capacity and fresh perspectives.

Following the success of these initial placements, the partnership expanded organically. With support from managers across the Council, opportunities were opened up in Waste and Recycling, Parks and Gardens, Libraries and other frontline services. We now host a handful of ITEC learners across multiple departments, and interest in offering further placements continues to grow.

Current ITEC learner Lilly – who began her journey with the Council’s Lifecycle team and has now been working with colleagues in C1V for three months - shared her experience of working across the council, saying: “The team at the Vale are so supportive and kind. I’m not yet sure what career path I want to follow, but I’ve been able to work across multiple departments, and they have supported me through any anxieties I had.”

She added:“I’m now handling customer service enquiries from the public, something I never imagined I’d have the confidence to do.”

Council mentors work closely with learners to build confidence, understand the workplace and gain practical skills, while ITEC ensures learners are work-ready and continue to achieve recognised qualifications alongside their placements. This collaborative approach with ITEC ensures learners are well matched to roles and supported throughout their journey.

Aleena Anwar’s ITEC journey with the Council is just one of many success stories.

Joining the Vale with no prior workplace experience, Aleena began her placement in HR where she quickly grew in confidence. She supported probation and disciplinary documentation, prepared correspondence, and developed a strong understanding of confidentiality and accurate record-keeping.

She later moved into the Lifecycle team, where she assisted with job postings, Right to Work and DBS checks, and recruitment administration, gaining valuable insight into onboarding and compliance processes while building her organisational skills and confidence in meetings.

Over the course of her placement, Aleena became increasingly proactive and self-assured, even supporting other learners and demonstrating emerging leadership skills. A short period in the C1V call centre broadened her experience of customer service.

Aleena has since secured a Customer Service role with ITEC, where she continues to apply the skills developed during her time with us.

Speaking about her experiences during her placement, Aleena said: “I loved working at the Council. Everyone was supportive and helped me realise my potential, even when I struggled to see it myself. I left school with bad grades, but there were still opportunities to gain work experience and get a job. I always wanted a job, and now I have achieved it. I’m doing something that I’m good at, and I wouldn’t have achieved this without the great colleagues in the Council and at ITEC.”

She also challenged common misconceptions about working in local government: “There’s a myth that the Council is corporate and stuffy, and that you’ll get told off for things. But it was so lovely – the people are inclusive, friendly, and genuinely want to help and support you. Everyone who’s been on placement at the council has had a great experience, and that’s not a coincidence.”

The successes of our ITEC apprentices underline what we see every day across our services – which is when young people are given meaningful opportunities, strong mentoring and the chance to take responsibility, they thrive.