Students from Cardiff and Vale College embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to America.

journeying through California's high-tech Silicon Valley and the iconic city of San Francisco.

The group of 20 Level 3 Business and Computing learners visited Silicon Valley and San Francisco, and for some, this was their very first time aboard an aeroplane.

The adventure lasted 17 days, funded by the Turing Project and supported by IT company Trusted Data Solutions for branded clothing.

They attended a Stanford University seminar on lithium shortages and artificial intelligence, meeting alumni who opened their minds to the possibility of studying abroad.

Head of business, computing and e-sports at the college, Fiona Tierney, said: "Each of them has grown in confidence and taken something different from it, from time management to networking – all transferrable skills," she said.

In San Jose, the students visited the Computer History Museum and the Intel Museum, and even attended an ice hockey match.

In San Francisco, they visited the city’s Fisherman’s Wharf and Lombard Street.

They watched a baseball game featuring the San Francisco Giants, visited Alcatraz, and met with Rebecca Harvey from Online Harms and Trust and Safety at the British Consulate, further illustrating potential career paths in tech or civil service.

Reflecting on the trip at the consulate, Computing with Cyber Security learner, Rosaria Bowes, said: "I found it most beneficial when speaking to Rebecca at the British Consulate, I was able to gain knowledge of how to enter work within the government for cyber security and what opportunities it could give me."

Cardiff and Vale College principal, Sharon James-Evans said: "I’m so pleased the learners enjoyed themselves while gaining a first-hand insight into the world of work at the very top end of high-tech business."