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.’
Karen started training at Leicester learndirect centre, which is provided by Business Advice Direct, and took a number of courses which culminated in her achieving the European Computer Driving Licence and ITQ, which is an NVQ in information technology.
Now Karen has landed a plum job with a new company called Maestro Learning Development.
‘I started on a work placement and now I am the office administrator – and I love it!’ she said.
And Karen is delighted with the help she received at the centre and that all her studying has had the desired result.
‘I would recommend the centre to anyone – and already have done!’ she said. ‘The girls there are fantastic; I can’t praise them enough. They are so patient. I still keep in touch and often call in to see them.’
BAD Head of Funded Learning Fiona Wright said: ‘Karen’s success is a tribute to her courage and determination and I am delighted that her hard work has resulted in such a happy outcome. We all wish her the very best for the future.’