Jack, y Llysgennad Prentisiaethau, wedi gwneud dewis doeth am yrfa fel cogydd

Mae Jack, 22, sy’n gweithio fel commis chef ym mwyty Sheeps and Leeks, Caernarfon, yn credu bod dysgu seiliedig ar waith yn ei siwtio i’r dim.

Mae wedi cwblhau Prentisiaeth Sylfaen Lefel 2 mewn Coginio Proffesiynol trwy City & Guilds, a gafodd ei chyflenwi’n ddwyieithog gan Grŵp Llandrillo Menai yn Llangefni ac wedi dechrau Prentisiaeth Lefel 3. Dechreuodd ei brentisiaeth tra oedd yn gweithio ym mwyty Sage Kitchen, Porthaethwy.

“Pe bawn i’n gwybod yn gynt, fyddwn i ddim wedi gwneud cwrs Lefel A,” meddai Jack. “Mi fyddwn i wedi dewis prentisiaeth. Rydych chi’n cael llawer iawn o brofiad yn eich maes a dyna beth mae cyflogwyr yn chwilio amdano.

“Rydych chi’n ennill cyflog wrth ddysgu hefyd, yn hytrach na mynd i fwy o ddyled bob blwyddyn tra byddwch yn y brifysgol.”

Gan ei fod yn frwd o blaid prentisiaethau Cymraeg a dwyieithog, mae Jack wedi’i benodi’n Llysgennad Prentisiaethau gan y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol a Ffederasiwn Hyfforddiant Cenedlaethol Cymru (NTfW).

Y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol sy’n arwain datblygiad addysg a hyfforddiant Cymraeg a dwyieithog yn y sector ôl-orfodol yng Nghymru ac mae’r NTfW yn cynrychioli darparwyr dysgu seiliedig ar waith ledled Cymru.

“Wrth fod yn Llysgennad, dwi’n cael cyfle i hyrwyddo prentisiaethau Cymraeg a dwyieithog, fi fy hun a’r busnes dwi’n gweithio iddo fo,” meddai Jack. “Dwi’n siarad Cymraeg er pan oeddwn i’n bedair oed a dwi’n meddwl ei bod yn bwysig hybu’r iaith a chadw’r diwylliant yn fyw.

“Mae gallu siarad Cymraeg a Saesneg yn fantais ym myd gwaith yng Nghymru achos mae gennych chi sgìl ychwanegol.

“Tra byddaf i’n Llysgennad, dwi eisiau canmol prentisiaethau wrth bobl rhag ofn nad ydyn nhw wedi’u hystyried fel opsiwn. Mae gen i brofiad o’r llwybr academaidd ac fe welais i nad oedd y brifysgol a gwaith academaidd ar y lefel honno yn fy siwtio i.”

Cymerodd Jack ran mewn sesiwn feddiannu Instagram a drefnwyd gan y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol a’r NTfW yn ystod yr Wythnos Brentisiaethau yng Nghymru. Ynddi, roedd yn sôn am ei waith ac roedd fideo’n ei ddangos yn gwneud risoto madarch a chennin.

“Dwi wedi bod yn coginio gartref er pan oeddwn i’n 11 ond roedd mynd i weithio mewn bwyty yn gam mawr ymlaen,” meddai. “Gan fy mod i’n mwynhau coginio gymaint, dydi o ddim yn teimlo fel gwaith. Dyma’r symudiad gorau y gallwn i fod wedi’i wneud yn fy ngyrfa.

“Fy uchelgais yn y dyfodol yw teithio oherwydd mae galw am gogyddion ym mhob rhan o’r byd.”

Yn ôl Tony Fitzmaurice, asesydd NVQ lletygarwch dysgu seiliedig ar waith yng Ngrŵp Llandrillo Menai, mae Jack yn “batrwm o lysgennad” ar gyfer prentisiaethau dwyieithog.

“Ail iaith yw’r Gymraeg i Jack a minnau,” meddai. “Trwy gydweithio, rydan ni wedi gwella Cymraeg ein gilydd – sy’n beth da iawn. Mae’r ddau ohonon ni’n dysgu’n gilydd a, gan amlaf, rydan ni’n sgwrsio yn Gymraeg yn ystod yr asesiadau.

“Mae ein dysgwyr ni i gyd yn cael cyfle i ddysgu yn Gymraeg, yn Saesneg neu’n ddwyieithog. Mae Jack yn ddysgwr gwych. Mae wrth ei fodd yn coginio ac yn awyddus iawn i gasglu gwybodaeth.”

Dywedodd Lisa Mytton, cyfarwyddwr strategol yr NTfW: “Mae llawer o weithleoedd yn dod yn fwy dwyieithog, ac felly gall gwneud prentisiaeth trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg neu’n ddwyieithog roi hwb i hyder rhywun i weithio yn y ddwy iaith ac felly ei helpu i gael gwaith.”

“Mae ein Llysgenhadon Prentisiaethau yn esiampl wych i brentisiaid, gan ddangos manteision dysgu a gweithio’n ddwyieithog.”

Dywedodd Elin Williams, o’r Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol: “Dyma’r drydedd flwyddyn o’r bron i ni benodi llysgenhadon ar gyfer y sector prentisiaethau. Credwn ei bod yn ffordd ardderchog o ddangos i bobl y gallwch barhau i ddysgu’n ddwyieithog trwy wneud prentisiaeth.

“Mae nod Llywodraeth Cymru o sicrhau miliwn o siaradwyr Cymraeg erbyn 2050 yn golygu na fu erioed yn bwysicach i chi ddatblygu sgiliau dwyieithog er mwyn gwella’ch cyfleoedd ym myd gwaith.”

Caiff y Rhaglen Brentisiaethau yng Nghymru ei hariannu gan Lywodraeth Cymru gyda chymorth Cronfa Gymdeithasol Ewrop (ESF).

Os hoffech wybod mwy am gyfleoedd ar gyfer prentisiaethau, ewch i prentisiaethau neu ffoniwch 08445 460 460.

Jack, 22, who works as a commis chef for Sheeps and Leeks restaurant in Caernarfon, believes he has found his true vocation in work-based learning.

He has completed a Level 2 Foundation Apprenticeship in Professional Cookery through City & Guilds, delivered bilingually by Grŵp Llandrillo Menai in Llangefni and has now started a Level 3 Apprenticeship. He began his apprenticeship whilst working for Menai Bridge restaurant Sage Kitchen

“Had I known what I do now, I would never have done A levels,” said Jack. “I would have chosen an apprenticeship because you get so much experience in your field of work which is what employers are now looking for.

“You also earn while you learn rather than building up a debt every year while you are at university.”

An advocate of Welsh medium and bilingual apprenticeships, Welsh speaking Jack has been appointed an Apprenticeship Ambassador by Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol and the National Training Federation of Wales (NTfW).

Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol leads the development of Welsh medium and bilingual education and training in the post-compulsory sector in Wales and the NTfW represents work-based learning providers across Wales.

“Being appointed an ambassador is an opportunity to promote Welsh medium and bilingual apprenticeships, myself and the business I work for,” said Jack. “I have spoken Welsh since I was four and I think it’s important to promote the language and keep the culture alive.

“Being able to speak both Welsh and English is an advantage when it comes to employment in Wales because you have an extra skill.

“As an ambassador, I want to promote apprenticeships to people who might not have considered them as an option. I have experience of going down the academic route and discovering that university and that level of academia were not for me.”

Jack took part in an Instagram takeover organised by Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol and the NTfW during the annual Apprenticeship Week in Wales. He talked about his job and included a video showing him making a mushroom and leek risotto.

“I have been cooking at home since the age of 11 but joining a restaurant was a huge step up,” he said. “I enjoy cooking so much that it doesn’t really feel like work. It’s definitely the best the career move I could have made.

“In the future, my ambition is to travel because chefs are in demand around the world.”

Tony Fitzmaurice, work-based learning hospitality NVQ assessor at Grŵp Llandrillo Menai, describes Jack as the “model ambassador” for bilingual apprenticeships.

“Welsh for both Jack and I is our second language,” he said. “By working together, we have improved each other’s Welsh which is really good. It’s a mutual learning journey and most of the time we converse in Welsh during assessments.

“All our learners get an opportunity to learn in Welsh, English or bilingually. Jack is a brilliant learner with a passion for cooking and a thirst for information and knowledge.”

Lisa Mytton, the NTfW’s strategic director, said: “Many workplaces are becoming more bilingual, so completing an apprenticeship bilingually or in Welsh can increase an individual’s confidence to work in both languages and their employability.

“Our Apprenticeship Ambassadors are excellent role models for apprenticeships, highlighting the benefits of learning and working bilingually in the workplace.”

Elin Williams, from the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, said: “This is the third year running that we have appointed ambassadors for the apprenticeship sector, and we think this is a vital tool in showing people that it is possible to continue with your bilingual learning through the apprenticeship route.

“With the Welsh Government’s target to reach one million Welsh speakers by 2050, it has never been more important to develop your bilingual skills and increase your employability prospects.”

The Apprenticeship Programme in Wales is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.

To find out more about apprenticeship opportunities go to apprenticeships or telephone 08446 460 460.

Picture captions:

Welsh Apprenticeship Ambassador Jack Quinney with Tony Fitzmaurice, hospitality work-based learning assessor at Grŵp Llandrillo Menai.