New skills.. new qualifications… new team spirit!
Posted on November 20th, 2008
Boosting the skills of staff led to a number of unexpected benefits for Northants housing association Wellingborough Homes.
The company commissioned Business Advice Direct to provide NVQ training in Customer Service to 10 call centre and receptionist staff and discovered that as well as improving the skills of their staff, the training also resulted in impromptu team building and highlighted other areas where extra staff training would be useful.
Now the company has already arranged further training for managers and staff with Business Advice Direct.
Irene Carter, line manager for the call centre staff at Wellingborough Homes, was delighted that 10 employees gained NVQs and she is now planning to take a team leader qualification herself.
‘I am highly delighted with both the training provided by Business Advice Direct and how it was delivered – I couldn’t have wished for anything more,’ said Irene. ‘The staff supported each other throughout the training programme, which was great for team building, and are now working together much more.
‘They started putting what they had learned into practice straight away and it is apparent that they are using the new skills on a daily basis in their work roles,’ she said. ‘I was also extremely pleased with the communication between us and Business Advice Direct throughout the programme. The NVQ Assessor Claire Brelsford kept me informed all the way so that I knew what the staff were doing all the time.’
Now Wellingborough Homes has enrolled more staff onto NVQ programmes with Business Advice Direct in January and – as a direct result of the training programme - is planning to add advice on Conflict Management to company processes. (more…)
New career after retraining
Posted on November 14th, 2008
A brave Leicester woman, who fought cancer twice and had to give up her career as a chef, has retrained and found a job she loves after studying at her local learndirect centre.
Karen Fletcher, aged 38, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer when she was just 24 - and four years later developed a brain tumour.
‘The brain tumour could return at any time,’ explained Karen, ‘and it was just too dangerous for me to work in a kitchen - which involved carrying heavy saucepans full of hot sauces - so I decided to gain new skills and find different work.’ (more…)
Speeding down the information super highway!
Posted on August 28th, 2008
Lincoln Ambulance Technician Lee Wilson is even faster these days thanks to gaining a computer qualification!
Dashing to emergencies and saving lives may make ambulance personnel seem unlikely candidates for computer training, but it is essential these days.
Forty-six year old Lee, who has worked for East Midlands Ambulance Service for the past 15 years, realised he needed to brush up on his skills.
‘I knew that learning more about using the computer would make life easier for me,’ he said. ‘These days we are contacted by email and a range of training is provided on computer as well.’ (more…)
Cooking on gas – thanks to learndirect!
Posted on July 3rd, 2008
Unemployed factory worker Dean Hall has launched a new career in catering – and won an award as well, thanks to learndirect!
Forty year old Dean, from West Street, Leicester, won the Progression Award at the East Midlands learndirect Achievement Awards and now goes on to the national finals in London.
Dean was an unemployed factory worker when he spotted vacancies for construction workers at his local job centre. He went to Business Advice Direct’s Leicester learndirect centre to gain a qualification for the industry – but realised he was not cut out for construction work.
Instead he decided to take every course he could and went on to achieve literacy, numeracy, food hygiene and computer qualifications which have landed him a job as a catering assistant at Leicester Royal Infirmary. (more…)
Double Derby success at learndirect Achievement Awards
Posted on July 1st, 2008
A tutor and learner at Derby’s learndirect centre have been Highly Commended in the East Midlands learndirect Achievement Awards.
Tony Goodman, a friendly and popular tutor at the centre provided by Business Advice Direct (BAD), goes out of his way to help the learners, was delighted to receive his award.
‘I love the work I do and it is great to be recognised for it as well,’ he said. ‘It is a very rewarding job, and it is great to help people to achieve their dreams.’ (more…)
Mum turns her life around thanks to NVQ
Posted on May 23rd, 2008
After a difficult childhood, a spell in a detention centre and leaving school without any qualifications, the future could have looked bleak for 40 year old Jackie Salisbury from Hazel Grove.
But Jackie, who works as a supervisor and receptionist at Travelodge in Adlington, has recently turned her life around by gaining a Customer Service NVQ2.
‘I decided to take the NVQ because I left school at 15 with no qualifications and I wanted to gain some,’ said Jackie. ‘I wish I had stayed on at school but hindsight is a wonderful thing!’
Now Jackie says her employers are pleased with her for gaining the qualification, her confidence has soared and she finds can do her job much better than before.
After studying at Stockport learndirect centre, which is provided by Business Advice Direct, Jackie continued to study while at work and she enjoyed the course so much that she has now started further learning to gain an NVQ2 in Team Leading.
‘The NVQ has turned my life around,’ she said. ‘It has made me more confident and I feel more secure in my job. Confidence is the big thing and now instead of filling out my CV and having to say that I have no qualifications, I have quite a high qualification and that means a lot to me. It has given me more self-worth and people seem to look at you in a different way when you have qualifications.’ (more…)
Qualifications - music to employer’s ears!
Posted on May 16th, 2008
Arthritis sufferer Emma Wells is thriving in her new job – thanks to learndirect!
Emma, who is 23 and lives in Lincoln, left school with a few GCSEs but her illness prevented her from continuing her education at college.
‘Once I was feeling better and the arthritis was under control I realised I would need more qualifications if I was to find work – but I didn’t feel comfortable about going back to college at that stage,’ she said.
Instead Emma went along to her local learndirect centre which is provided by Business Advice Direct.
‘The centre was so relaxed and I feel I achieved a lot more by doing my studying that way,’ she said. ‘The centre staff were very helpful and the courses they offered were really useful.’ (more…)
Communication is the key
Posted on May 2nd, 2008
Better communication skills and increased confidence have made work more enjoyable for newly-married Hannah Holland from Saxilby in Lincoln.
Hannah has just gained an NVQ in Customer Service thanks to Lincoln learndirect centre which is provided by Business Advice Direct – after her boss encouraged her to gain the qualification.
‘The training has been really beneficial for me and has given me more confidence in my role especially when answering the phone,’ said Hannah, who works as a receptionist for international fertiliser manufacturer Nutrel Products. ‘I thought the course was very good and the assessor Claire Brelsford visited me at work and communicated well and kept me up to date.’ (more…)
Qualifications are good for you – and your employer!
Posted on May 1st, 2008
Leicester mum Susan O’Driscoll was encouraged by her employer to study for an NVQ - and is now basking in the joys of gaining extra qualifications.
‘Every qualification you get really gives you a boost. It’s good for you and gives you more confidence,’ she said.
Susan, who works as Practice Manager and Dental Nurse at Kibworth Dental Practice in Leicester, said her boss, dentist Raj Pancholi, suggested that she take the qualification because he was sure she would do well.
‘He felt I was good with the patients and said it would be another feather in my cap!’ she explained. (more…)
Never too late to learn!
Posted on April 30th, 2008
A confidence and skills boost courtesy of learndirect is helping a Worcester mum find work following redundancy.
Tina Lane used to work for the Commission for Social Care Inspection until the company relocated to Birmingham and Tina was unable to accommodate the move.
‘I was made redundant at the start of April and I had known for some time that it was a possibility,’ Tina explained. ‘I took the NVQ in Customer Care because I am good at it, it is my forte, but I have nothing on paper. I knew that the NVQ, which is nationally recognised, would help me apply for another job.’ (more…)
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Boosting the skills of staff led to a number of unexpected benefits for Northants housing association Wellingborough Homes.
