Aspire, Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council's shared apprenticeship programme, marked the milestone with a celebratory event at the General Offices in Ebbw Vale. Since it began the scheme has supported more than 200 apprentices in Blaenau Gwent and more than 150 in Merthyr Tydfil through a sister programme in just seven years. Councillor John Morgan, the council's cabinet member for economy and place, said: "Aspire has been a cornerstone of our commitment to skills development and creating employment here in Blaenau Gwent. The initiative actively recruits from all secondary schools and local colleges in the county borough, ensuring wide access to opportunities. Former Apprentice of the Year Declan Hughes said the scheme had "laid the foundations" for his engineering career.