Anglesey Chef is named North Wales Apprentice of the Year

He was selected from an elite group of 10 ‘Apprentices of the Year’ who were, for the first time, chosen to represent their industry or trade by a public online poll.

Sion was named ‘Overall Apprentice of the Year 2021’ by a panel of work-based learning experts from Arfon Dwyfor Training (ADT), Grŵp Llandrillo Menai and North Wales Training.

The North Wales Apprenticeship Awards are sponsored by Babcock International Group, the multinational defence supplier who have an Aeronautical Engineering Apprenticeship Programme at RAF Valley run in partnership with Grŵp Llandrillo Menai.

Speaking about the award Sion said:

“My original plan in life was to become a musician but it’s hard to earn a living, so I got myself a job washing dishes. When I was washing pots, I could see the chefs doing what they were doing and I became really interested, it made me want to become a chef as well.

“The apprenticeship helped me gain a lot of confidence, my plan now is to move on to the Level 3 Apprenticeship in Professional Cookery, work hard, progress and learn as much as I can.

“My dream is to eventually have my own restaurant which I’ll call ‘Sylvia’s’ after my nain who inspired me to follow my dreams and become a chef.”

Sion is no stranger to winning awards, in 2019 he won the annual ‘Seafish’ seafood competition which usually takes place annually during Seafood Week.

Sion recently joined the team at Ty’n Rhos Country House Hotel at Saron near Caernarfon. His new boss Laura Murphy, Owner Manager commented:

“We are delighted for Sion, this award is a lovely boost at this point in his career. He is new to Ty’n Rhos and we hope to see him grow and develop his skills here. We are a country house with a fine dining restaurant, so he’ll be learning and perfecting classic French and modern cooking styles.”

Paul Bevan Executive Director - Commercial Development at Busnes@LlandrilloMenai was on the expert panel that selected Sion as ‘Overall Apprentice of the Year’, he commented:

“Deciding who would be our apprentice of the year from amongst the amazing candidates was incredibly difficult – they all are worthy winners.

“As judges we were looking for someone who really embodies the attributes of an apprentice. Sion is not only a young professional in his field he is also continuing to develop his skills and to promote apprenticeships to others. Sion should be especially proud as he was also voted Apprentice of the Year in Hospitality as well as winning the Apprentice of the Year - Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.

“The academic year 2019-2020 has been challenging for our apprentices, particularly those like Sion who work in the Hospitality sector. When we decided to hold our apprenticeship awards online, we had no idea that we would get over 6,500 public votes - we are delighted with the response.”

If you or a member of you family would like to find out more about Apprenticeships call 08445 460460 or visit www.gllm.ac.uk/apprenticeships.

Roedd yn un o'r deg prentis ardderchog a enillodd wobrau 'Prentis y Flwyddyn' mewn gwahanol feysydd neu ddiwydiannau, yn dilyn arolwg cyhoeddus ar-lein.

Daeth panel o arbenigwyr dysgu seiliedig ar waith o Hyfforddiant Arfon Dwyfor (ADT), Grŵp Llandrillo Menai a Hyfforddiant Gogledd Cymru (NWT) ynghyd, a dewiswyd Siôn fel enillydd gwobr 'Prif Brentis y Flwyddyn 2021'.

Noddir Gwobrau Prentisiaethau Gogledd Cymru gan Babcock International Group, cyflenwr rhyngwladol sy'n rhedeg rhaglen Brentisiaeth Peirianneg Awyrennaeth yn RAF y Fali mewn partneriaeth â Grŵp Llandrillo Menai.

Wrth sôn am y wobr, dywedodd Siôn:

"Fy uchelgais cyntaf oedd bod yn gerddor ond mae'n anodd ennill bywoliaeth o hynny, felly mi ges i swydd yn golchi llestri," Pan oeddwn i'n golchi llestri roeddwn i'n gallu gweld y cogyddion wrth eu gwaith ac mi ddechreuais i gael diddordeb yn eu gwaith, a meddwl hoffwn i fod yn gogydd hefyd.

Rydw i wedi magu llawer o hyder ar y brentisiaeth, a'r bwriad rŵan ydy mynd ymlaen i ddilyn cwrs Prentisiaeth Lefel 3 mewn Coginio Proffesiynol, i weithio'n galed, datblygu a dysgu cymaint ag y galla i.

Rhyw ddydd, mi hoffwn i fod yn berchen ar fy mwyty fy hun, a Sylvia fydd enw'r bwyty ar ôl fy nain a wnaeth f'ysbrydoli i ddilyn fy mreuddwydion a hyfforddi i fod yn gogydd."

Mae Siôn wedi hen arfer ag ennill gwobrau, yn 2019 enillodd gystadleuaeth flynyddol bwyd môr 'Seafish' a gynhelir yn ystod 'Wythnos Bwyd Môr'.

Ymunodd Siôn â thîm Ty'n Rhos Country House Hotel yn Saron ger Caernarfon yn ddiweddar. Dywedodd ei gyflogwr newydd a Rheolwr Berchennog y Gwesty, Laura Murphy:

"Rydym yn falch iawn dros Siôn, mae'r wobr hon yn hwb arbennig iddo ac i'w yrfa. Mae o'n aelod newydd o dîm Ty'n Rhos, ac rydym yn edrych ymlaen at ei weld yn datblygu ac yn dysgu sgiliau newydd yma. Rydym yn westy gwledig gyda thŷ bwyta o safon uchel, felly bydd yn dysgu ac yn perffeithio arddulliau coginio clasurol Ffrengig, ac arddulliau cyfoes."

Meddai Paul Bevan, Uwch Gyfarwyddwr – Datblygiadau Masnachol Busnes@LlandrilloMenai, aelod o'r panel o arbenigwyr a ddewisodd Siôn fel 'Prif Brentis y Flwyddyn':

"Roedd dewis prentis y flwyddyn eleni o blith yr holl ymgeiswyr arbennig yn anodd iawn - roedd pob un ohonyn nhw'n haeddu ennill.

"Roedden ni fel beirniaid yn chwilio am unigolyn oedd yn ymgorffori nodweddion prentis da. Mae Siôn yn berson ifanc proffesiynol yn ei faes, ac mae'n parhau i ddatblygu ei sgiliau ac i hyrwyddo prentisiaethau i bobl eraill. Dylai Siôn fod yn arbennig o falch o'i gyflawniad oherwydd yn ogystal â gwobr 'Prentis y Flwyddyn - Y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol', enillodd wobr 'Prentis y Flwyddyn - Lletygarwch' hefyd.

"Mae blwyddyn academaidd 2019-2020 wedi bod yn heriol iawn i'n prentisiaid, yn enwedig i rai fel Siôn sydd yn gweithio yn y sector Lletygarwch. Pan benderfynon ni gynnal Gwobrau Prentisiaethau eleni ar-lein - doedd neb yn credu y bydden ni'n derbyn dros 6,500 pleidlais - rydym wrth ein boddau gyda'r ymateb.

Neu os hoffech chi neu aelod o'r teulu ganfod rhagor am Brentisiaethau ffoniwch 08455 460 460 neu ewch i www.gllm.ac.uk/apprenticeships.