David enrolled on a technical networking course to train in a key priority sector.
Looking to progress
37-year-old David Davies from Bridgend is one of 16,000 individuals who have enrolled on a Personal Learning Account course in the last academic year.
After four years in his role in the IT industry as a service desk technical analyst, David was looking for a way to improve his skills alongside his other commitments.
He said: “I was keen to further my career in technical networking. When I saw the Cisco CCNA ITN course at Coleg Gwent, I thought it looked brilliant, and an ideal way to progress up the ladder.
“You could attend remotely, which was perfect for me as I was trying to juggle studying alongside a busy home life with two kids. I was offered excellent support from the tutor, who was always happy to help and explain everything in detail.”
Moving up the ladder
Since completing his Personal Learning Account course, David has successfully secured a position as a Third Line Support Engineer at CGI Wales.
David said: “I started my new role back in June 2022 and wouldn’t be where I am without the help of my Personal Learning Account. I gained valuable hands-on experience while also extending my knowledge and understanding of the industry.
"Though you could work remotely, I was also able to attend lectures and workshops to improve my technical and problem-solving abilities and network with like-minded people. It definitely made me more aware of the industry's job potential.”
Next steps
David continued: “I’m excited to see where my Personal Learning Account course takes me next.
I’m still keen to explore my options and continue my learning journey. The support and funding I received early on in my career has made such a huge difference and I’d encourage anyone else wanting to progress in their career to consider a Personal Learning Account.”
Explore Personal Learning Accounts to find out more, or get in touch with Working Wales.
