The GO Wales 10-Year Anniversary Awards will take place on 22 May at Sketty Hall in Swansea, celebrating a decade of success in connecting graduates with meaningful employment across Wales.
Funded by the Welsh Government and the European Social Fund, GO Wales has helped thousands of graduates gain vital experience and find career opportunities.
The awards, hosted in partnership with the South Wales Chamber of Commerce, will feature keynote addresses from leading Welsh professionals, including Anna Bastek, Co-founder of Wolfestone, and Christina Rankin-Moore from Wales Air Ambulance.
Bastek, a former participant in the GO Wales programme, has gone on to co-found a multi-million-pound language services business that now employs over 40 staff.
Since its inception, Wolfestone has supported the programme by offering 18 work placements and hiring 17 GO Wales graduates, 10 of whom are still employed at the company.
As a strong advocate of the scheme, Bastek was quick to confirm her involvement in the anniversary event.
“The GO Wales scheme is excellent for both graduates and employers. It gives young people a chance to gain commercial experience, explore career paths, and prove themselves in a real workplace. For employers, it’s a cost-effective, low-risk way to recruit and develop talent.”
Reflecting on her own experience, she added:
“GO Wales helped kick-start my career and gave me the commercial grounding I needed. Many of my friends in England didn’t have access to a similar scheme and struggled to gain experience. This programme has opened doors for so many graduates and supported businesses in discovering new talent.”
At the awards, Bastek will share her journey from GO Wales participant to business leader and offer practical tips for employers interested in making the most of the initiative.
Award entries are now open across several categories, including Best Employer, Outstanding Personal Achievement, and a Judges’ Prize. Businesses across Wales are encouraged to enter and join in celebrating a programme that has shaped the futures of countless Welsh graduates.
