Ambitious Elizabeth Forkuoh, who is blazing a trail in the hospitality industry, has described the “amazing” moment she discovered she had won a Vocational Qualification (VQ) Awards for Wales.
Elizabeth, 20, from Llanelli won the VQ Learner of the Year Intermediate Level Award at a ceremony held at St David’s Hotel and Spa, Cardiff on Tuesday, the eve of VQ Day. The awards are organised by the Welsh Government, the National Training Federation for Wales (NTfW) and ColegauCymru / CollegesWales.
The award is another honour to add to her growing list, which already includes gold medals from the Skills Competitions Wales and at WorldSkills UK in Birmingham. Since then she has won many more national competitions, securing a coveted place on the WorldSkills Squad UK and hopes to compete in WorldSkills Abu Dhabi in 2017.
“Winning this award is amazing and takes me back to WorldSkills UK in Birmingham,” said Elizabeth, who works part-time at the Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli and studies at Coleg Sir Gâr in Carmarthen. “This award means a lot to me because I wasn’t expecting it and I am very happy that everyone I had invited managed to come tonight and share this with me.
“I am now focusing on WorldSkills Squad UK. I am training really hard and hope to be part of the team for Abu Dhabi.”
Among those celebrating the award with Elizabeth was Assembly Member Joyce Watson.
Moving to Llanelli when she was 15 and already fluent in Italian and Twi, Elizabeth has since learned English and gained an A* in GCSE French, as well as started to learn Welsh. She is studying a Level three NVQ Diploma in Hospitality Supervision and Leadership at Coleg Sir Gâr in Carmarthen.
“I decided to focus on hospitality when I started college,” said Elizabeth. “I enjoy working in the kitchen but I find front of house more interesting. I like meeting people and it’s really helped me to improve my languages.”
Although ambitious, Elizabeth has decided to defer her degree in hotel management until 2018, hoping to compete internationally first. “I want to get as much experience as I can, but ultimately I would like to come back to Wales and open an Italian restaurant,” she added.
Lesley Morgan, senior manager at Stradey Park Hotel, said: “Elizabeth’s enthusiasm for customer care and service is outstanding. Her knowledge and interest in food and wine is vast and she always wants to learn about new dishes and ideas that the kitchen may have. I believe Elizabeth will achieve great things.”
Elizabeth was one of 10 finalists shortlisted for the VQ Awards, which celebrate the achievements of both learners and employers across Wales. There were four contenders form the VQ Intermediate Learner of the Year Award category, which recognises individuals who clearly demonstrate progression and excellence in vocational studies and have made considerable achievements in their field thanks to vocational qualifications.
Minister of Skills and Science Julie James congratulated the 10 finalists and praised everyone who had been nominated for the VQ Awards this year. “Vocational skills have a huge impact on the Welsh economy and we value the gold standard of vocational learning being delivered to people right across Wales,” she said.
“Both VQ Day and the VQ Awards provide the perfect opportunity for us to celebrate not only the high standard of technical, practical and vocational learning being delivered in Wales, but also the many personal successes and achievements of our learners.
“High quality VQs are essential to provide individuals and businesses with the skills, experience, motivation and inspiration they need to get ahead. Ultimately it is only with appropriately skilled and trained people that we can drive forward the Welsh economy.
“Many of our VQ Award finalists this year have demonstrated that they are marked out as future leaders or ambitious entrepreneurs and have an eye on making sound business decisions and increasing productivity.”
Now in their ninth year, the awards coincided with VQ Day on June 8, a celebration of the benefits and value of high quality technical, practical and vocational learning to individuals and to the economy. There were also awards for VQ Learner of the Year Higher Level and VQ Employer of the Year.
VQ Learner of the Year Intermediate Level Award winner
Elizabeth Forkuoh with CollegesWales chair Judith Evans,
NTfW interim chair Sarah John, the Welsh Government’s
director of skills, higher education and lifelong learning Huw
Morris, watched by awards compere Sian Lloyd.
Picture caption:
Top: VQ Learner of the Year Intermediate Level Award winner Elizabeth Forkuoh.
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