Congratulations!
Posted on March 26th, 2008
March 2008
“I have just received our (University for Industry – Ufi) final audit results for the recent substantive test (February 2008) and wanted to be one of the first to congratulate you (Business Advice Direct) and your staff on your excellent audit results in Yorkshire and Humberside.
To have a 100% clean audit result is a great achievement and I am so pleased that everyone’s hard work and effort re all things audit has resulted in such a positive outcome for you.
Please can you pass our congratulations on to all your team – it’s brilliant news.”
Kind regards
Charlotte Furbisher
Regional Performance Director – Y&H
New skills used as company template!
Posted on March 26th, 2008
Single mum Vicky Cash has boosted her work prospects at the AA in Cheadle by gaining an NVQ in Customer Service.
And now her skills are being used to train new recruits!
Vicky, who is 29, works full time at the AA in Cheadle, where she started as an administration assistant in the statistics department.
She progressed at work to the warranty department which involved taking phone calls and dealing with customer queries, and Vicky felt that some extra training would enable her to do her job even better.
‘I found out about NVQs online and asked whether I would be able to do this and the company agreed,’ said Vicky, who studied at Stockport learndirect centre which is provided by Business Advice Direct. ‘The course usually involves two days at a learndirect centre, but I managed to complete the work in one day and then the rest of the training is done at work and at home.’
Since gaining the NVQ Vicky has been praised at work and feels more confident in her role. (more…)
Just the tonic for customer service
Posted on March 17th, 2008
Treating patients as customers is all in a day’s work at Brinnington Health Centre in Stockport.
Manager Paul Ansbro, responding to changes in general medical practice culture, encourages non clinical staff to undertake continuous professional development and is delighted that receptionist Sharon Williams recently gained an NVQ in Customer Service.
‘This is a time when medical practice is moving into new areas and customer service is very important,’ he said. ‘General practice has not always seen patients as customers and it is a new thing for receptionists to see them that way.
Sharon, who works full time at the health centre, was also keen to achieve a relevant qualification and improve her ability to do her job. She studied for two days at Stockport learndirect centre, which is provided by Business Advice Direct, and the rest of her learning was undertaken at work with the full support of her employer.
‘The course made me think more about my role and more aware of what patients need,’ she said. ‘It has been very helpful in my day to day work and enabled me to improve the way I undertake certain aspects of the job.’
She added: ‘It was really good to get a qualification and I was lucky because my manager was very supportive and actively encouraged me to train while at work. I feel that it has been very worthwhile.’ (more…)
Leaping into a brighter future
Posted on March 13th, 2008
Twelve lone parents from Sheffield have gained skills at their local learndirect centre to help them find work during the last six months – thanks to a chance meeting on a bus!
Jane Ward, formerly a lone parent herself, works for The Lone Parent Engagement & Activity Programme (L.E.A.P.) and while travelling on a bus she overheard learndirect tutor Richard Bayly talking about his work.
‘He was advising a lady who wanted to upgrade her skills and I was eavesdropping!’ said Jane. ‘I asked him where he worked and went to see him and find out how they operate at the Sheffield centre, which is provided by Business Advice Direct, and now whenever I can I direct people to learndirect in Sheffield.’
Launched in September last year, LEAP helps lone parents of any age or sex to overcome barriers which prevent them from moving on and becoming ready to be employed. Jane knows how hard this can be for single parents who feel isolated and vulnerable as they struggle to cope with childcare and daily pressures on their own.
‘The barriers can be housing prices and debt, but also learning problems, having no qualifications or just needing to get their brains working again – and this is when I send them to learndirect,’ said Jane. ‘Many lone parents have left school with no qualifications – regardless of their age – and many have no friends. Going to the learndirect centre gives them the confidence to communicate with other people.’ (more…)
Dream comes true for star pupil
Posted on March 13th, 2008
Five years after arriving in the UK and working as an au pair, 24-year-old Pavlina Kratochvilova from the Czech republic has started training for her dream job – with the help of learndirect!
Pavlina, who is taking an Advanced Diploma in Adult Nursing at Sheffield Hallam University, said: ‘This is a dream come true for me.’
Although she enjoyed working with children, Pavlina felt she needed a change and found employment in a hospital – first as a ward assistant and then as a support worker.
‘The new role gave me more responsibility and it was while I was working closely with patients and nurses that I realised nursing was what I really wanted to do,’ she said. ‘I applied for the course at the university but, although I had ‘A’ levels from the Czech Republic, I was told I needed to gain a maths qualification in this country if I was to be able to join the course.’
When Pavlina arrived at Sheffield learndirect centre, which is provided by Business Advice Direct, she was a woman in a hurry. She needed to get the qualification under her belt within a short time in order to take up her conditional place at university. The staff at BAD Sheffield helped to speed her through the course which she passed and she finally started her university course in January. (more…)
Stress-free training
Posted on March 12th, 2008
Two teenage children, crazy cats and an even madder dog would keep most mums busy enough, but Sam Cave from Clay Cross near Chesterfield has joined Derby’s learndirect centre as a tutor – and still finds time to study for a university diploma!
Her ability to cope can probably be put down to her routine of practicing meditation, which she says has resulted in ‘a stress-free me’!
Sam will join established tutor Tony Goodman at the thriving Derby centre’s new venue at St. Peter’s House, Gower Street, which is provided by Derbyshire-based Business Advice Direct, one of the most successful learndirect centre providers in the country. (more…)
Blueprint for a new career
Posted on March 6th, 2008
We are delighted to welcome Vic Arstall to the company as a trainee tutor!
Vic, who has been a printer by trade since leaving school, came to BAD Stockport in order to retrain for a new career – and found one nearer to home than he expected!
Studying one day a week he has achieved L2 in Numeracy and Literacy and is part way through completing ECDL within a year.
He felt so at home at the Stockport centre that he applied for a job and is absolutely thrilled to have been accepted.
‘I can’t really express in words how I feel to have been offered a job with BAD,’ he said. ‘I’m over the moon!’
(more…)
