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Thirty-year-old Chris Davies works for the Tredomen-based Values in Care – a company which helps people with complex needs.

As part of Chris’ job as a project and behavioural support manager, he has been keen to provide better development opportunities in the sector – something which has seen him nominated for a prestigious award.

Chris, from Wyllie, leads a team working with Educ8 Training, also based in Tredomen, to provide apprenticeship opportunities within the care sector.

He is in the final of the Wales Care Awards 2022, having been nominated for the Commitment to Training and Workforce Development Award.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony at City Hall, Cardiff, on October 21, which will be hosted by radio presenter Wynne Evans.

Chris entered the care industry as an apprentice six years ago and has described his current role as his “dream job”.

He said: “I was never very academic but when I started in care, I was absolutely inspired and fell in love with training and development and now I’m in a dream job and couldn’t ask for better.

Chris continued: “Being nominated for this award is amazing, it really means a lot.

“When I began my role the very first two individuals that we enrolled onto the Level 5 apprenticeship have now become registered managers. Investing in training has brought a massive amount of value to the company and the development of the skills of our teams.

“The support from Educ8 has been great and working in partnership with them has really paid off.

“I’ve had so much support over the years and it’s a pleasure to work with so many good people.”

Ann Nicholas, who works for Educ8 and nominated Chris for the award, said: “Chris and the team have a genuine passion for all of the qualifications that the staff are completing and how they not only benefit the individual, but the positive impact they also have on the individuals they support and the business.”

Mario Kreft MBE, chair of Care Forum Wales, said the aim of the Wales Care Awards was to recognise the dedication of unsung carers from across Wales.

He said: “The social care sector is full of wonderful people because it’s not just a job, it’s a vocation – these are people who go the extra mile for others.

“During the Covid crisis, this fantastic workforce rose magnificently to the challenge, putting their own lives on the line to do everything they possibly could to safeguard the people for whom they provide care.

“Unfortunately, it has taken a global pandemic for many other people to realise how important and how significant our social care workforce is.”