Learning for Work Theme – Case Studies
Fran Bunce
Fran left school at 16 and by 19 she was pregnant and living in a hostel, with no job
and few qualifications. When her daughter was old enough for nursery, she decided
to return to education, enrolling on a part-time Foundation Degree in Computing. The
course was affordable and gave her the flexibility to fit around childcare.
At first she struggled with the course. Only when she was referred to the college
learning support group was she found to have dyslexia. With extra tuition to improve
her reading and writing, her grades improved and by her third year she was
achieving distinctions.
While working part-time to support herself, Fran also did unpaid work experience at
engineering company Babcock Marine. They were so impressed they offered her a
full-time job at the end of her course. She is now an information systems engineer,
and has since returned to college to give inspiring talks to young students.
“I have learned so much about myself and achieved goals I never thought I could,”
she says.
Paywand Shwan
Paywand arrived in the UK in 1999 as a political refugee from his native Kurdistan,
Iraq. As a child he lost his father and witnessed many other relatives being killed. He
was injured in a chemical weapon attack and in his teens he endured imprisonment
and torture.
On arriving in Britain, his English was extremely limited, but he was determined to
improve it. He studied English for Speakers of Other Languages and gained NVQ
Level 2 and 3 in Business Administration.
He went on to take a Foundation Degree in Management and Leadership, while also
working with refugees and asylum seekers as a volunteer with Birmingham City
Council. He is now a senior officer with the charity Trident Reach, and is a board
member of the Birmingham Kurdish Association and a trustee of the Red Sun
Organisation.
“Since being given political refugee status within the UK, I have started to realise my
dream of helping others and furthering my knowledge and skills,” he says. “This has
been a challenge, but one I have thoroughly enjoyed.”
Gill Pinnock
A Sales Assistant since leaving school at 16, including a career break to raise a
family, Gill never considered promotion until her Manager suddenly quit the store. “I
could have just waited for a replacement,” she said. But having taken NVQ Level 3
and a Management Advanced Apprenticeship in Retail, with the support of Clinton
Cards and national training provider, Protocol Skills, she rose to the challenge and
was successfully promoted to the role.
Now, having recruited nine new employees, Gill promotes vocational training to all
her staff, some of whom have gone on to take qualifications themselves. She insists
the ESF funded learning made all the difference to her life and wants others to share
the opportunities.
“When I was recruiting in store, it helped me to know what people I needed, how to
put them in the right places and how to treat everyone fairly and understand their
individual needs,” she said. “One of the greatest things it has taught me is the
importance of managing myself better – ‘working smarter’ helps me to manage a
team successfully.”
Herbert Goredema
As the lowest-ranking soldier on a Foundation Degree course, Herbert Goredema is
among the highest achievers in the class of 10, which includes top-flight officers in
the Army, RAF and Navy, studying Hospitality and Food Service Management.
A self-confessed technophobe, 34-year-old Corporal Goredema studied entirely
through distance learning using Westminster Kingsway College’s virtual learning
environment. He was praised by Clare Mannall, his nominator and college team
leader, for using his IT skills in very challenging circumstances.
Stationed in Kenya with only 30 minutes Internet access a day, he won special
permission to sit a two-hour finance exam online only to have the system crash
halfway through. Clare said, “Undeterred, Herbie came back the next day and
completed the exam and got excellent marks too. He beat all his colleagues in terms
of grades and showed them you can study full-time and work full-time without getting
behind.” He is now used by the army to encourage other junior ranks to sign up for
Degree studies.
Herbie, who is now hoping to continue on to a Masters Degree, said, “They say
knowledge is power and it’s only true when you have the knowledge. This course
has improved my reading skills, confidence, knowledge and computer skills, to
mention only a few.”
Deborah Stanley – Jones
In January 2009, Debbie was made redundant from her job as an Inventory Support
and Process Manager with Woolworths, in a field-based role, after 31 years’ service.
Debbie saw it as an opportunity to embark on a new career, and enrolled on a sixweek taster course in plumbing at Filton College, which allowed her to find out if this
was the right career choice for her.
After successfully completing the taster course, Debbie progressed to a Level 2
basic plumbing course and qualified in September 2009. She then gained some
hands-on experience to cement what she’d learned in the classroom, and this led to
Debbie setting up her own business, ‘Plumbher’, in January 2010. Debbie is also
studying for an NVQ Level 2 in plumbing with Filton College, alongside running her
business.
“Debbie’s spirit and enthusiasm, coupled with huge motivation, embodies the ethos
of retraining... She has beaten the recession to not only learn her new trade, but to
set up her own company,” said George, Debbie’s nominator.
“There were times when I questioned my own capability, but with help, support and
determination it taught me never to give up!”, reflected Debbie.
City Parks
Eight gardeners with Brighton & Hove City Council’s Parks and Gardens Department
have used newly acquired literacy skills to help their families and fellow workers, and
are now learning ambassadors to the wider community.
With reading skills at Level 1 or below, and no further education since school, all the
gardeners had negative memories of learning and were apprehensive about
returning to a classroom. But a Train to Gain programme run jointly by the council
and the GMB Union has given them a new zest for learning.
“It has boosted my confidence so I can help my six-year-old with his homework,” said
David Coleman. Similarly, Nick Burton said: “I’m reading bedtime stories to my
children (which they love). I have noticed my children are taking a greater interest in
reading and school activities in general.” For John Durrant, the key to success was
mutual support. “We are improving by helping ourselves and each other.”
When the Mayor opened a new learning centre, the three agreed to address the
audience, praising the centre, in what their nominator, Angela Farnham Smith, from
Central Sussex College, called a “courageous” act. “This whole group has worked
endlessly to develop their skills and their enthusiasm is rewarding for any teacher.”
Tesco
Five women shop workers who demanded the right to learn at work have not only
succeeded but also helped create a model union learning initiative that gives
opportunities to thousands of other staff in the retail trade.
When their union, Usdaw, offered help finding basic skills courses at local colleges in
2007, through the Check-out Learning campaign, the five staff at Tesco, Old Swan,
Liverpool, instead negotiated space in the store’s training room and had tutors
brought in to teach them.
“We didn’t think it would work,” said Julia Baldwin, their nominator and union lifelong
learning project worker. “But it did and now we are using it across the sector. It
shows that when you listen to the learners you get the best ideas.” The five managed
to fit in their ESF funded learning around shifts and busy lives and have gained
qualifications ranging from Entry Level numeracy and literacy to basic Spanish, IT
and sign language certificates.
Helen Scahill, one of the five, said: “If I had to go to college I would be nervous
working with new people but I find working with my colleagues they are classmates
and you settle a lot easier.” Numerous other Tesco staff have now followed their
example and signed-up.
Merseylearn
Merseylearn is a groundbreaking partnership between Merseytravel and trade
unions, supporting the development of transport-sector skills. Merseytravel, with
Unionlearn, set up workplace learning centres, employed tutors in Skills for Life and
ICT, and created a network of trained Union Learning Reps.
Merseytravel’s flexible approach allows learners on different shifts to access tutor
support at weekends and overnight: 96 per cent of staff have reached level 2 or
above, 53 per cent level 3 or above. This learning culture reduces sickness and
complaints, boosted morale, increased internal promotions and promoted
Merseytravel’s reputation - as a skills champion, then as the first public sector
organisation to receive Investors in People Champion status.
Merseylearn also works with GoSkills, the transport Sector Skills Council, to upskill
other staff. Taxi and bus qualifications are delivered in partnership with commercial
providers, with over 6,000 drivers gaining recognised qualifications.
The organisation also has a team delivering Next Step information, advice and
guidance to staff and across the sector, improving access to learning and careerdevelopment opportunities and supporting employment.
Andy Phillips
Andy Phillips finally asked for professional help with reading and writing when he
became too embarrassed to keep asking his children to assist with his paperwork.
Since leaving school, at 16, with only the basic grasp of reading and writing, he did
everything to avoid confronting his problem – taking on a larger share of practical
tasks, leaving paperwork to others and avoiding numerous training courses on offer.
But with the advent of IT – not an issue as an apprentice 20 years earlier –
everything went online, demanding emails for stock control, ordering and receipting.
Andy used the BBC RaW exercises on the Eastenders and Skillswise interactive
CDs, said his nominator, Tim Whitaker, Training Manager, On Board Services, P&O
Ferries, for whom Andy is an on-board Sous Chef. “Once he started there was no
stopping him.”
He signed up for the SkillsPlus Adult Learning Centre in Dover and raced through
literacy and IT programmes, finally achieving the City & Guilds Workplace Trainer’s
qualification, which he uses for the benefit of his whole team.
Andy says his main focus now is to encourage others just as he was. “I had a great
friend and boss who helped me, supported me, encouraged me and believed in me –
making me believe in myself.”
Anna Davies
Anna left school with no qualifications and, despite returning to college to gain
GCSEs, completing an Access course and starting a degree, her hopes of becoming
a nurse were dashed when a Criminal Records Bureau check highlighted a
conviction from her teens.
Despite working hard to turn her life around, the mother-of-two still had no
employment history, little experience and a criminal record. She lost all motivation
and confidence. Then, she was introduced to Working Links, where she completed a
skills check and gained CV and interview skills.
Part-funded by the European Social Fund, she went on to gain a range of
qualifications in Care including First Aid, Manual Handling, Health and Safety and
Safeguarding of Vulnerable Adults. She has now turned a corner, gaining a job as a
care support worker. Recently she won ‘employee of the month’ award. “I’m in a job I
love and I’m learning new skills,” she says. “But most of all, my children and family
are proud as I have been able to turn my life around.”
Kirstie Worswick
Kirstie has overcome prejudice to succeed in a male-dominated field. On entering
further education in 2007, she took courses in vehicle body and paint operations,
achieving level 3 in record time. She then started a vehicle paint repair job and
enrolled with Derbyshire Adult Continuing Education to study City & Guilds Welding
courses, progressing from level 1 to level 3 in just 16 months. She won the
Automotive Custom Paint Competition in 2008. Education-hungry Kirstie joined the
University of Derby at Buxton College and gained ABC level 2 Welding, as well as a
Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector qualification. She’s now
completed ABC level 3 Welding and aims to complete the Certificate in Teaching in
the Lifelong Learning Sector, enabling her to teach Welding at Buxton College.
Kirstie’s commitment to learning means she has a career she enjoys: “My life has
been greatly influenced by my training because I now excel in my job and earn a
better wage. I have proved to myself that I can do anything I set my mind to.”
Sarah Fear
Sarah is profoundly deaf and had been unemployed for over 18 years with childcare
responsibilities. As a result, she lost confidence and found it difficult to do even
simple tasks without support.
After approaching Maximus Employment and Training, she was encouraged to think
about voluntary work. They helped her find a voluntary role at Bournemouth Hospital
working alongside the ward clerk. Sarah’s confidence grew as her hard work was
appreciated. Given regular practice with lip reading and speech, she found she could
communicate very well with patients and staff. Her learning was part-funded by the
European Social Fund.
Confident enough to start applying for jobs, she gained temporary work with Marks &
Spencer, and now has a permanent job there. Dealing with customers and staff
increasingly helps her to overcome communication barriers. As well as working parttime, Sarah still volunteers at the hospital. “Getting to where I am today has been a
bit of a journey as I’d lost confidence and didn’t think I’d ever be able to do anything,”
she says. “But with encouragement I’ve come through.”
Bridge Project
The Bridge Project has grown over the past 25 years from a small grassroots charity
to one of the leading education networks that offers women in the North East an
opportunity to develop their potential by offering educational courses that can lead to
a qualification.
As it celebrates its Silver Jubilee this year (2010), managers and staff stick by its
founding philosophy – to empower women by helping them gain confidence,
knowledge and the skills to realise their aspirations.
With centres in Tyne & Wear and County Durham, Bridge offers a listening support
service to help women cope with issues that may prevent them reaching their
potential and to deal with issues around domestic violence, debt problems,
relationship difficulties and drug and alcohol abuse. “We strive to reach those who
are socially excluded and have little access to learning or service provision,” said
Sheila Davidson, the project’s Chief Executive. Since 85% of Bridge staff are “home
grown”, there is clear empathy with the needs of learners, she added.
Bridge has detailed systems for monitoring and raising achievement, she said: “We
have a network of over 7,000 women who we strive to make contact with until they
tell us otherwise.”
Mark Beaton
Sheer determination helped Mark Beaton, aged 44, fight his way back mental and
physical illness, homelessness and unemployment to become an excellent student
while starting his own business as a sports massage therapist. Even as he struggled
to gain new skills and build the self-confidence he had lacked all his life, Mark was
diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome which threatened the manual dexterity he
needed for the practical skills to succeed.
Undeterred, on recovery from an operation, he embarked on the City & Guilds Level
3 Diploma in Body Massage, graduating from Morley College, London, in 2009 with
distinctions in both the theory and practical exams and completed his Sports
Massage Diploma this year (2010). He sought job centre advice to come off benefits
and gain training to set-up his business.
He admits that, 30 years after leaving school, “as a very troubled youngster”,
studying was a tough challenge. But it has given him confidence that had always
eluded him to the point, he says, “Adult education has not only given me the chance
for a career change, at 44, it has given me a total life change.” Julia Wood, his tutor,
now uses him as an exemplar for her current students.
Arron Edwards
Arron was referred to The Cornwall Foundation of Promise – the foundation behind
the training programme at restaurant, fiffteen Cornwall – by the police and youth
offending team.
He was working as a chef, but was getting into trouble with the law, partly due to
anger management and drug issues. He was offered an opportunity at Fifteen
Cornwall to gain kitchen skills and qualifications and, although he struggled to adapt
at first, he went on to gain top grades in the kitchen within his group of trainees, also
gaining an NVQ Level 1. He also went on an anger management programme and
has tackled his drug issues.
Following the part ESF-funded programme, Arron excelled on a work placement at a
hotel on the Isles of Scilly and was offered a paid Chef De Partie position. Arron has
also recently taken up the position of Head Chef at a local restaurant.
Arron believes the programme has helped him become a different person. He said, “I
have learnt many things... I have an understanding of the good things in life now,
and that makes me a positive person that only wants to learn more.”
Saeed Khan
Saeed returned to learning to help him improve his skills and his taxi business,
having left school with no qualifications due to family circumstances. He enrolled on
the NVQ Level 2 Road Passenger Transport Vehicle Driving course at Leicester
College to learn more about subjects, including customer service, supporting
passengers with special needs and road safety. In the same year, he also completed
Level 2 in Literacy and Numeracy, as well as A1 Assessor training to allow him to
assess other taxi drivers on the NQV driving course. He is planning to continue to
learning to become an internal verifier.
Saeed dedicated time to learn, despite working regular taxi night shifts and
supporting his extended family. He now encourages other drivers to learn, telling
them first-hand of the benefits it can bring, “The commitment he shows sets a clear
example to others who are in similar situations with the mindset that adult learning is
impossible,” praised nominator, Ian Lewis. Saeed said, “I understand and recognise
that may drivers find literacy and numeracy a challenge… One of my long term goals
is to support and encourage other drivers to undertake basic skills training and
overcome these barriers.”
Dawn Skelton
The traumatic birth of her daughter in 1993 and post-natal depression that followed
saw Dawn lose her job and her relationship break-down. As a single parent on
benefits, Dawn moved to a new area and fell into a long period of severe depression,
so her sister enrolled them both on an evening course to give Dawn a purpose and
encourage her to meet people.
This was the start of a long and successful learning journey with Dawn gaining
several qualifications since her first in 1996. She was most recently awarded a BA
(Hons) in Education and Training, an A1 Assessor Award and an NVQ Level 4 in
Business Administration at the start of 2010.
“I found studying therapeutic and it gave me a whole new outlook and purpose in
life,” said Dawn. “Learning changed everything for me and my daughter and was the
starting point in regaining my life. I began to look forward to my course; meeting new
people and learning made me feel good.”
Dawn is now employed as a trainer/assessor at Crook Community Learning Centre,
where she was formerly a student, and enjoys encouraging students who have had
similar challenges to her own.
Anthony Palmer
Anthony Palmer has defied serious illness to complete his apprenticeship training
ahead of target, obtaining distinctions throughout his BTEC qualifications.
He started his training with employer Stainless Metalcraft and the College of West
Anglia in September 2007, having achieved seven GCSEs. But in the second year of
his apprenticeship, Anthony was diagnosed with cancer and underwent surgery.
After some time off, he returned to work and training with renewed enthusiasm and
focus. His motivation and achievement had a positive impact on fellow-apprentices.
He achieved NVQ in Performing Engineering Operations level 2, BTEC First
Certificate in Engineering level 2, Employment Responsibilities and Rights, and
Semta Apprenticeship in Engineering Full Award. He went on to achieve NVQ in
Fabrication and Welding level 3, BTEC National Award in Engineering level 3 and
Semta Advanced Apprenticeship in Engineering Full Award.
“This is just the beginning,” he says. “I want to carry on learning more about the
engineering industry, and to learn new skills and gain additional qualifications to
achieve my full potential.”
Elle Boag
Elle was just 32 when she retired on medical grounds after being diagnosed with
multiple sclerosis.
Despite having left school at 15 without qualifications and being in foster care, she
had gone on to gain O-levels, an HND in Fashion and a Diploma in Interior Design.
She had built a career in interior design while bringing up three children.
After adjusting to life with MS, Elle enrolled at Totton College to take A-levels and
then did a degree in Psychology at the University of Southampton. After winning a
prize for her undergraduate dissertation, she won a scholarship to complete an MSc
and PhD.
Today she teaches adult learners and A-level students at Totton College, and
lectures at the University of Southampton and Solent University. She has also
influenced her husband and daughter, both of whom have completed Access to HE
courses. “Enrolling to undertake my A-levels was one of the best decisions I have
ever made in my life. Not only has the experience has been thrilling and rewarding, I
also learned that age is not a barrier to achieving academically,” she says.