Gemma Charnock – Vice Principal: Corporate and Group Company Secretary – NPTC Group of Colleges.
NPTC Group of Colleges is proud to announce the successful launch of the Career Leap pilot, a groundbreaking employability and work‑experience platform designed to connect learners, employers, and support organisations across Mid Wales.
Speaking at the launch, the Vice Principal expressed immense pride in the project’s progress and regional impact:
“Career Leap represents a significant step forward in how we support individuals into meaningful work opportunities and strengthen the talent pipeline across Mid Wales. The achievements of this pilot reflect outstanding collaboration, innovation, and commitment from all involved.”
Pilot Achieves All Expected Outputs
During the pilot phase, Career Leap successfully delivered:
- A fully functioning website
- A comprehensive management portal
- A streamlined mobile learner app
The project also achieved exceptional engagement, with over 60 employers participating to help shape and test the platform, demonstrating strong regional support and a shared commitment to improving employability pathways.
A Collaborative Regional Effort
Career Leap has been developed in close partnership with organisations including:
- DWP
- Careers Wales
- Ysgol Calon Cymru
- NPTC Group of Colleges as the lead.
These collaborations ensured that Career Leap responds directly to the needs of employers, learners, and those supporting individuals back into the workforce.
Special Thanks to the Project Team
The Vice Principal extended heartfelt thanks to the dedicated team whose hard work and expertise brought the pilot to fruition:
- Dannielle Thomas – Project Lead Officer
- Liam Jones – Project Lead Developer
- Laura Morgan – Project Administrator
- Robert Harris – Career Leap Business Engagement Advisor
- Karen Harris Vernon – Career Leap Business Engagement Advisor
This exceptional group was led by Project Lead Jayne Jones Head of Business Development at NPTC Group of Colleges, whose vision and leadership have guided Career Leap from concept to successful delivery.
Phase 2 Underway
Career Leap has officially entered Phase 2, which is already in progress and scheduled for completion by 28 February 2026. This phase includes:
- Final development and testing of new features
- Employer and coordinator app enhancements
- Advanced AI‑supported tools
- Expanded regional readiness and onboarding
Following Phase 2 completion, the full system will be tested with the new features, enabling widespread adoption across Wales.
A Platform with Purpose
Career Leap has been designed to:
- Reduce barriers to employment
- Provide fair, bilingual access to opportunities
- Make placement management simpler for employers
- Support coordinators with clearer visibility and reporting
- Enhance employability skills and pathways for learners
Importantly, the platform is free to use for all end users.
A Promise for Mid Wales
The launch of the Career Leap pilot marks the beginning of a wider mission to strengthen local workforce development, support employers, and ensure every learner, regardless of background or circumstance, has access to meaningful employment pathways.
“Career Leap is not just a platform,” the Vice Principal concluded. “It is a partnership and a promise, a promise to create clearer routes into work, empower our communities, and build a more connected and ambitious Wales.”
What’s coming next
As we look ahead to the next stage of Career Leap’s journey, we will now be working closely with our partners to secure the funding needed to support the sustainable expansion of the app’s reach across Wales. This collaboration will help ensure that even more learners, employers, and communities benefit from the opportunities Career Leap is designed to create.