North Wales college named among best in country for staff and corporate care

COLEG CAMBRIA is among the top organisations in the country for staff development and corporate care.

The award-winning north east Wales college is one of just 15 institutions to receive a Platinum Award from Healthy Working Wales.

Cambria will now be held up as a beacon of best practice for its continuing work in supporting and installing policies that promote the wellbeing of its employees.

A community approach toward the environment, healthy eating and exercise – as part of the lauded Active Cambria programme – and rapid progress in building a sustainable and welcoming Deeside Sixth centre were highlighted as notable successes.

Vicki Durr, HR Manager at Coleg Cambria, says the college will continue to strive for improvement for its staff and students, despite reaching the best possible standard.

“We are absolutely thrilled to receive the award and particularly pleased there has been a recognition of the hard work that’s taken place at Deeside Sixth in the two years since it opened,” said Ms Durr.

“This has all happened in a relatively short space of time and as is the way at Cambria, rather than aiming for bronze or silver accreditation we wanted to achieve the gold standard, which we did with our first attempt.

“To have now been upgraded to the Platinum Award is testament to the dedication of our workforce and management team, who have the best interests of both students and employees – and our community – at the top of their agenda.”

The community is at the heart of things at Cambria. Not just day-to-day operations, but the long-term vision.

Having just celebrated five years since the merger of the Deeside and Yale institutions to form the award-winning college, Chief Executive David Jones says the challenge – as always – is to push the bar even higher.

“This is great news and a brilliant benchmark on which we can continue to build,” said Mr Jones.

“To receive an award like this is special, but not surprising as everyone works so hard to be the very best they can be to keep the college at the forefront of education, our community and at the cutting edge of advances in corporate care, including the health and wellbeing of our employees.”

Active Cambria – the college’s Strategy for Sport and Physical Activity 2015-20 – has made great strides since its launch three years ago.

The programme has united staff, students and businesses in the region to promote and support mental and physical well-being, encouraging a positive and healthy working environment at their sites in Wrexham, Northop, Llysfasi and Deeside while serving as best practice for some of the country’s top organisations under three categories – Get Active, Elite Sport and Future Sport.

In partnership with Colegau Cymru, the WRU, Sport Wales, Wrexham AFC and others, Cambria has worked collaboratively to give people opportunities they might not otherwise have had.

“We cover a wide range of areas, from occupational health, exercise and fitness classes and healthy eating, to environment and conservation,” added Ms Durr.

“The Corporate Health Standard is a tool by which we can monitor our success, pinpoint best practice and strive for improvement, which we will continue to do.”

North Wales Fire Service, Welsh Water and Swansea council are listed alongside the college at the platinum level.