Spotlight on NPTC
In a series of features that shine a light on our wonderful sponsors, we sat down with the NPTC group to find out more about who they are and what they do...
Q. We are delighted that NPTC Group is sponsoring the Young Tourism Person of the Year Award. What drew you to these awards?
We are delighted to be sponsoring this award and understand just how important the tourism industry is to the area and Wales in general. NPTC Group of Colleges is proud to serve the people of Mid Wales and offers education and training at its Brecon Beacons College and Newtown College, It has a proud and long history of delivering education and training in almost every conceivable area including travel, tourism and hospitality. We have lots of successful students who have gone on to have great careers in many areas of the industry both at home and overseas, in hotels and first class venues and conference centres; restaurants: sport stadiums and much more. We know it’s a very competitive industry and we like to think we prepare students for the world of work and this award allows us to recognise the effort and great work ethic of the person who has been selected for the award of Young Tourism Person of the Year.
We are delighted to be sponsoring this award and understand just how important the tourism industry is to the area and Wales in general. NPTC Group of Colleges is proud to serve the people of Mid Wales and offers education and training at its Brecon Beacons College and Newtown College, It has a proud and long history of delivering education and training in almost every conceivable area including travel, tourism and hospitality. We have lots of successful students who have gone on to have great careers in many areas of the industry both at home and overseas, in hotels and first class venues and conference centres; restaurants: sport stadiums and much more. We know it’s a very competitive industry and we like to think we prepare students for the world of work and this award allows us to recognise the effort and great work ethic of the person who has been selected for the award of Young Tourism Person of the Year.
Q. Tell us a bit about the NPTC Group for anyone that might not be familiar...
NPTC Group of Colleges is one of the largest groups of colleges and education providers in Wales and covers a third of the landmass of the country. It has nine campuses and provides almost every conceivable vocational area of education and training, including an outstanding 6th Form Academy based at Neath College and Apprenticeship programme.
It’s results speak for themselves and for the 13th year in succession the overall pass rate for A Levels has remained at an amazing 99 percent. Students achieved a remarkable 100 per cent pass rate in 34 A Level subjects, and 45 per cent achieved A* to B grades with a further 74 per cent gaining A* to C grades.
In additional 90 students achieved triple distinctions grades in the Extended National Diploma qualifications, with 28 students achieving the highest possible grade profile of D*D*D*.
More than 266 students passed their Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification Skills Challenge Certificate with an exceptional pass rate of 94%.
Hundreds of students also passed their higher qualifications including Degrees and Diplomas after studying with NPTC Group of Colleges who offer HE programmes in conjunction with top universities.
Besides all the education and upskilling the College provides, it is also one of the largest employers in Neath Port Talbot and Powys.
The College also leads Skills Academy Wales (SAW), a partnership of several very experienced training providers who deliver between them a multi-million pound work-based learning contract, one of the largest public sector contracts in Wales. The Group also owns and runs an international language school in Hampshire, LSI Portsmouth. The school has been independently assessed as ‘the UKs number one performing language school’.
The Group operates on four large Colleges in Wales (Neath College; Afan College; Brecon Beacons College; Newtown College) and a further five smaller campuses, Pontardawe College; Llandarcy Academy of Sport; Llandrindod Wells Campus; Maesteg Construction Centre; Swansea Construction Centre. It also operates a number of successful subsidiary companies in England and Wales. It is about to open the first and only Lee Stafford Academy of Hairdressing, Barbering and Applied Therapies in Wales too.
The College has maintained outstanding academic, and vocational success, as well as many sporting and cultural achievements. In work-based learning, its apprentices have won competitions and medals at all levels including WorldSkills.
The College has won many accolades over the years too: Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) Silver Award; Association of Colleges (AoC) Beacon Awards for Teaching and Excellence in Business Administrations; AoC Beacon Award for Engaging with Learners who are Not in Employment, Education and Training (NEET); AoC Beacon Award (commended) British Council International Award; Buttle UK Quality Mark for supporting students who are in care.
The College also delivers successful programmes and training opportunities for businesses through its Business Development Unit to help support and upskill the workforce of Wales.
Q. When did the NPTC Group start and how has it evolved over the years?
NPTC Group, formerly Neath Port Talbot College and Coleg Powys merged on 1 August 2013. With more than 100 years of experience between them, both former colleges continue to thrive as one. With the merger comes strength and opportunity. It is now one of the largest Further Education (FE) providers in Wales It covers 30 per cent of the country's land mass. The College offers an exciting and varied programme of full- and part-time courses including higher qualifications, degrees and diplomas. It believes that qualifications and training are the key to many career paths and with one of the widest ranges of subject choices on offer and training opportunities, NPTC Group will open the door to a successful and rewarding education and career.
The Group also delivers a wide range of bespoke training for industry and business all over Wales and England. The College also works effectively with employers to deliver apprenticeships and work-based learning through Pathways.
The Group also runs two theatres: Hafren, the premier theatre, conference and meeting venue in Newtown, Mid Wales; and Nidum Theatre in Neath. Both theatres are used for learner provision as well as for commercial and private use.
The Neath and Newtown Campuses also have their own training restaurants, Blasus and Themes, which are open to the public who can enjoy top cuisine prepared and served by students and staff. The College also has training hair and beauty salons which are open to the public for treatments as well as a state-of-the-art gym at its Llandarcy Campus.
On the Newtown Campus, you will find Fronlas Farm which has purpose-built classrooms and workshops.
NPTC Group, formerly Neath Port Talbot College and Coleg Powys merged on 1 August 2013. With more than 100 years of experience between them, both former colleges continue to thrive as one. With the merger comes strength and opportunity. It is now one of the largest Further Education (FE) providers in Wales It covers 30 per cent of the country's land mass. The College offers an exciting and varied programme of full- and part-time courses including higher qualifications, degrees and diplomas. It believes that qualifications and training are the key to many career paths and with one of the widest ranges of subject choices on offer and training opportunities, NPTC Group will open the door to a successful and rewarding education and career.
The Group also delivers a wide range of bespoke training for industry and business all over Wales and England. The College also works effectively with employers to deliver apprenticeships and work-based learning through Pathways.
The Group also runs two theatres: Hafren, the premier theatre, conference and meeting venue in Newtown, Mid Wales; and Nidum Theatre in Neath. Both theatres are used for learner provision as well as for commercial and private use.
The Neath and Newtown Campuses also have their own training restaurants, Blasus and Themes, which are open to the public who can enjoy top cuisine prepared and served by students and staff. The College also has training hair and beauty salons which are open to the public for treatments as well as a state-of-the-art gym at its Llandarcy Campus.
On the Newtown Campus, you will find Fronlas Farm which has purpose-built classrooms and workshops.
Q. What words of encouragement would you give to young people considering a career in tourism and hospitality / studying with NPTC?
Endless opportunities: tourism is a worldwide industry, and the skills you learn at NPTC Group of colleges are easily transferable. A career in tourism can literally open up the world for you, especially if you want to combine work with travel.
It’s creative: as well as being a people-oriented industry, a great variety of tourism jobs require you to think on your feet and be creative. People who work in tourism have a crucial part to play, making sure that visitors have a fantastic experience and then go back home to spread the word.
Scope: there’s such a wide range of jobs in the industry so there is never any need for you to get stuck in one niche. Tourism courses have given NPTC past students access to a career as a Tourist Guide, Tour Manager, Adventure Sports Activity Manager, Travel Consultant, Event and Conference Manager, Air Cabin Crew or Airport Ground staff, Holiday Rep – the list is endless!
Learn why ‘the customer is always right’: jobs in tourism are all about providing friendly, efficient and attentive customer service. You’ll need good communication skills, the ability to work well with people and enjoy a challenge.
It’s not 9-5: it involves a great deal of variety, not only in terms of the hours you can work but also in the kind of work you do.
You will be out and about: on our fun and energetic Travel and Tourism course you’ll be planning, arranging and going on course trips and more; exploring the wide range of activity tourism that The UK has to offer. Growth areas include golf, business tourism, sailing, mountain biking, cruises and adventure tourism.
It’s a dynamic industry: travel and tourism is one of the most dynamic and competitive industries in the world. To stay ahead of the competition, new ideas and skills are constantly being developed across every area of the industry, from innovative mobile applications to creative hotel room design and imaginative tour itineraries.
It’s a growing industry: Wales travel and tourism industry is growing! Nowadays, Wales welcomes tourists from around the globe and tourism is a vital component of Wales economy worth around £11 billion annually according to recent reports.
It’s a chance to show off Wales. Providing opportunities to showcase Wales on the world stage, showcasing Welsh culture, food, natural environment, activities, cities, traditions and heritage are all vital ingredients to the success of the tourism industry.
NPTC Group of Colleges is a great place to start a highly successful and rewarding career in Travel and Tourism.
Apply now! The globe is our lecture theatre!
Endless opportunities: tourism is a worldwide industry, and the skills you learn at NPTC Group of colleges are easily transferable. A career in tourism can literally open up the world for you, especially if you want to combine work with travel.
It’s creative: as well as being a people-oriented industry, a great variety of tourism jobs require you to think on your feet and be creative. People who work in tourism have a crucial part to play, making sure that visitors have a fantastic experience and then go back home to spread the word.
Scope: there’s such a wide range of jobs in the industry so there is never any need for you to get stuck in one niche. Tourism courses have given NPTC past students access to a career as a Tourist Guide, Tour Manager, Adventure Sports Activity Manager, Travel Consultant, Event and Conference Manager, Air Cabin Crew or Airport Ground staff, Holiday Rep – the list is endless!
Learn why ‘the customer is always right’: jobs in tourism are all about providing friendly, efficient and attentive customer service. You’ll need good communication skills, the ability to work well with people and enjoy a challenge.
It’s not 9-5: it involves a great deal of variety, not only in terms of the hours you can work but also in the kind of work you do.
You will be out and about: on our fun and energetic Travel and Tourism course you’ll be planning, arranging and going on course trips and more; exploring the wide range of activity tourism that The UK has to offer. Growth areas include golf, business tourism, sailing, mountain biking, cruises and adventure tourism.
It’s a dynamic industry: travel and tourism is one of the most dynamic and competitive industries in the world. To stay ahead of the competition, new ideas and skills are constantly being developed across every area of the industry, from innovative mobile applications to creative hotel room design and imaginative tour itineraries.
It’s a growing industry: Wales travel and tourism industry is growing! Nowadays, Wales welcomes tourists from around the globe and tourism is a vital component of Wales economy worth around £11 billion annually according to recent reports.
It’s a chance to show off Wales. Providing opportunities to showcase Wales on the world stage, showcasing Welsh culture, food, natural environment, activities, cities, traditions and heritage are all vital ingredients to the success of the tourism industry.
NPTC Group of Colleges is a great place to start a highly successful and rewarding career in Travel and Tourism.
Apply now! The globe is our lecture theatre!
For all student enquiries contact our Admissions Department on the following:
Neath and Afan Colleges: 01639 648000
Brecon Beacons College: 01686 614400
Newtown College: 01686 614200
We also provide training and upskilling for businesses and their employees – Contact our Business Development Department for further information on 0800 013 254
Neath and Afan Colleges: 01639 648000
Brecon Beacons College: 01686 614400
Newtown College: 01686 614200
We also provide training and upskilling for businesses and their employees – Contact our Business Development Department for further information on 0800 013 254
