Plans are well underway to nurture the skills and talent of local youngsters and boost the local NHS and life sciences workforce.

Over 200 pupils in Year 11 from Bishopston Comprehensive were invited to a recent special careers conference highlighting the variety of jobs in the NHS and life science sector, such as laboratory and scientific testing to help diagnose and treat illnesses.

The first Elevate Conference was held at Swansea University earlier this month and it proved a huge success with the Bishopston pupils.

Gower College Swansea students have attended a special graduation ceremony at the city’s National Waterfront Museum to celebrate the achievement of their higher education and professional qualifications.

Almost 100 students donned their cap and gowns to collect certificates in a range of disciplines including AAT Accounting, Engineering, Hair and Beauty, IT, Children’s Care, Learning and Development, Business, Sport and Leadership and Management.

Gower College Swansea’s Engineering Technology department (Tycoch) has celebrated its most successful Level 3 BTEC cohort to date.

From the graduating class of 2015, seven are heading to top universities around the UK including Swansea, Manchester, Lancashire and Bristol, to study degrees in Chemical, Civil, Mechanical, and Computer Aided Engineering, Architecture and Robotics.

A further 14 students have secured apprenticeships with established companies including Tata Steel, 3M, Quartzelec, Wall Colmonoy, Lyte Ladders and A.I.R Precision.

Gower College Swansea is celebrating an overall 98% pass rate at A Level - which is above the Welsh national average -with 1548 separate exam entries.

Of these passes, 81% were at the higher grades of A*-C and 57% were at grades A*-B, both increases on the results of 2014.

The overall pass rate at AS level was 90%, with 66% of those passes being grades A-C and 42% being grades A or B, again increasing on 2014’s results.

There were 3066 separate exam entries for AS in total.

Jodie Croxall, from Swiss Valley in Llanelli, celebrated achievement this week as she received her PhD in Social Policy from Swansea University.

Jodie, aged 39, received her award at the Summer Degree and Award Congregation for the College of Human and Health Sciences at the City and County of Swansea’s Brangwyn Hall, cheered on by her proud parents Allan and Tina, husband Neil and son Adam.

Access to Law student Felix Green is celebrating after receiving both a conditional offer to study Law at Swansea University and a £1,500 Incentive Scholarship from the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.

A former Ysgol Gyfun Gŵyr pupil, Felix was awarded the scholarship as he intends to study his Law degree through the medium of Welsh.

Former Gower College Swansea student Anna Jenkins has been awarded a prestigious bursary by the National Theatre.

The NT/Dingmans Stage Management Bursary is awarded every year to a newly graduated stage manager and recipients receive a paid placement at the National Theatre.

Around 80 Higher Education students from Gower College Swansea recently attended a graduation event at the National Waterfront Museum.

The students were celebrating achievement in subjects as diverse as accountancy, engineering, leadership and management, sports massage therapies, hair and beauty management, childcare, and health and social care services.

Students taking Further Maths at Gower College Swansea enjoyed a stimulating morning recently when they attended a STEP (Sixth Term Examination Paper) master-class, organised by the college in conjunction with the Further Maths Support Programme Wales, using facilities provided at Swansea University.

These STEP II and STEP III master-classes are open to all Year 13 pupils who are studying Maths and Further Maths and two people had travelled from North Wales to benefit from the programme!

Current students on Gower College Swansea’s Access to Higher Education programme met up with former students, who are now working in their dream jobs, for career advice at the Tycoch campus.

The Access programme is aimed at students aged 18 and above who wish to return to education after a break or are looking for qualifications for a change of career, preparing them for study at university.