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Sports Centre staff nominated for ‘Apprentice of the Year’

Congratulations to our Sports Centre Apprentice, Jas Shaw, for being nominated ‘Apprentice of the Year’ and completing her apprenticeship course with distinction. Further to completing the course, Jas has been hired as a full-time Sports Centre Assistant and Swim Teacher at Bryanston.

L-R: Jas Shaw, Emily Nineham, Drew Beaver

Jas’ role has now shifted from a learning capacity and Jas is taking on more responsibilities within the team, with swimming being a main focus in her new role.

Sports Centre Manager Ben Weldon commented: “Jas has been a huge asset to the team since joining us fresh-faced and keen to learn, back in 2019. Jas is an integral part of the line-up here and has shown a particular talent as a swim teacher. In addition to completing the Leisure Team Member apprenticeship in partnership with Locomotivation, Jas has developed and grown as an individual. From her arrival here as an inexperienced trainee into a self-confident, professional member of the team, the transformation has been vast.

“All of it has been made even more impressive considering the pandemic and the impact that has had on the school, the sports centre, and her training courses. It threw up numerous challenges that we could never have predicted but Jas took it all in her stride. She has built a great relationship with staff and pupils alike and is a great fit here at Bryanston.”

In her new role, Jas offers support to Blandford Schools’ Network swimming, teaching for Shillingstone and Archbishop Wake youngsters. Jas also teaches pupils at Bryanston Knighton House on a Friday, alongside delivering swimming lessons to the public with colleagues Drew and Emily.

Ben Weldon added: “This term has also seen Jas launch a Badminton ECA, helping with girls’ strength training sessions, games swimming coaching, concussion testing in the gym, all alongside the behind-the-scenes work at the Sports Centre, from chemical handling, to pool water testing, to machine maintenance.”

On top of all of this, Jas was put forward for ‘Apprentice of the Year’ in the Dorset Apprenticeship Awards by her apprenticeship trainer and assessor, following her Distinction grade and how much she impressed them during her final assessment. The Dorset Apprenticeship Awards are a celebration of the best apprentices in Dorset and will culminate in an awards dinner in Bournemouth in May.

Jas commented: “My apprenticeship offered me the chance to gain experience in the real world and I loved working at my own pace. I felt accepted and treated very much as one of the team since day one. I am very happy to be joining the Bryanston team full-time as a Sports Centre Assistant.”