Christine Thomas has worked for Newport City Council’s waste management department for 27 years, progressing from a junior clerk to her current role as an enforcement and trade manager.

Due to her success, she has been shortlisted for a Vocational Qualification Award for Wales. She is one of three finalists competing for the VQ Higher Learner of the Year Award.

She will discover if she has won the award at a ceremony to be held at St David’s Hotel, Cardiff on June 6, the eve of VQ Day on June 7.

The VQ Awards, which celebrate those who use technical, practical and vocational qualifications to achieve success, are organised by the Welsh Government, National Training Federation for Wales, ColegauCymru / CollegesWales and Qualifications Wales.

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

It is only in recent years that 44-year-old Christine has revelled in training, developing her skills through a Systems and Operational Management apprenticeship before quickly moving on to a newly created higher apprenticeship (Level 4 Diploma) which she has recently completed.

Now, in a male dominated workplace, Christine’s enthusiasm for training has seen several of her colleagues sign up for apprenticeships and she has taken on the role of course assessor.

Training provider Safe and Secure Training, of St Mellons, Cardiff, has been delighted with Christine’s progress.

Iwan Evans, of Safe and Secure Training, said: “Christine has encouraged eight other staff members at the civic amenities site to take up apprenticeships and she now mentors her team through advice, direction and support.”

Christine, from Newport, said: “The waste and recycling industry is constantly evolving with new procedures and I wanted to update my leadership and management skills to ensure the staff I lead would be trained to as high a level as possible.

“As an assessor, I can now mentor my staff to ensure that they become more highly qualified and ultimately help make sure that Newport City Council has an improved recycling rate.”