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.’

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.’

Lee, who lives in North Hykeham, is delighted with the training he received at Business Advice Direct’s learndirect centre in Lincoln and thrilled to have achieved his ITQ, the equivalent of an NVQ in computer studies.

‘It’s been very helpful and worthwhile and has already made my life easier,’ he said. ‘We have quite a complicated system of working out our time sheets and now I am able to create my own database at home and work out my hours. My line manager, who supported my training and liaised with the NVQ assessor Claire Brelsford, is pleased that I took the course. It is always a good idea to gain new qualifications and boost your CV if possible and I am already planning to look into further courses to take. It was certainly a pleasant surprise to discover that I could get free training!’

Fiona Wright, Head of Funded Learning at Business Advice Direct, said NVQ training has a host of benefits for employees and employers.

‘Our NVQ training is free for eligible employees, and involves only two days out of the workplace,’ she said. ‘The rest of the training is undertaken in one hour a day while at work – making it not only convenient and but also eminently affordable!’

The learning centre won the learndirect Learning Centre of the Year Award, which recognises learndirect learning centres who have demonstrated outstanding performance in order to provide excellent customer care and tutor support for their learners.

The centre was nominated for the rapport staff have with their learners and the fun and friendly environment they create. They have enrolled over 1,100 learners this year and because of exceptional pass rate performance, have received additional funding each quarter. Their dedication is also shown by their quick recovery following the flooding in Lincoln last summer, with the centre re-opening as soon as the forced closure was lifted.

On winning the award, Fiona Wright, head of funded learning for Business Advice Direct said: “We are very happy the centre has won the award. Everybody has contributed and they are a great team to work with. The fact that the centre staff have stayed in their centre today to support their learners rather than attend the awards shows how dedicated they are.”

Business Advice Direct in Lincoln will now go on to represent the East Midlands at the National Awards Ceremony to be held in London in October.

Dereth Wood, Ufi operations director said:“The East Midlands Regional winners have demonstrated an inspirational commitment to developing the skills and qualifications of those they tutor. As a great encouragement to centres across England, Business Advice Direct Lincoln truly deserves recognition. I wish them the best of luck at the national ceremony in October.”

Stephen Crowne, chief executive at Becta, sponsors of the award, added:“Becta is delighted to sponsor the learndirect Centre of the Year Award. Becta recognises the importance of the role that centres and their staff play in ensuring learners are becoming more digitally minded, engaged and equipped with the practical skills they need in the workplace. The calibre of nominees has been very high again this year and Business Advice Direct – Lincoln fully deserve to be rewarded for their success in providing outstanding customer care and tutor support to their learners.”

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.

He said: ’I have always been interested in catering but didn’t know if I could get into it, because I had always worked in factories before. I realised I had to change my thinking about what I want to do and having the Food Hygiene Certificate definitely helped me get the job at the hospital – and I am very pleased. When I realised the construction industry was not for me I decided to take every course available to cover all my bases really and it has proved to be a good idea!’

Tutor Monika Mitoraj, who nominated Dean for the award, said: ‘‘We are thrilled that Dean, after all his hard work, has found a job that he will enjoy. He has been determined to train for a new career and took advantage of all the help available to him and it has resulted in a great personal success for him.’

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.’

‘Tony is truly a people person and the learners love working with him,’ said BAD’s Head of Funded Learning Fiona Wright. ‘In return Tony really appreciates the BAD family atmosphere and the friendliness and support from management.’

Tony took advantage of training opportunities while at work and having achieved the Level 3 Subject Specialist Support has also recently achieved his Level 5 University Diploma for Teaching Mathematics.

Most of Tony’s learners are unemployed, some are homeless and some are ex-offenders. They are used to feeling down trodden and disrespected, but Tony ensures this does not happen in the centre. He treats all learners as equals and feels that this gains their trust and respect.

He said: “I get a buzz out of feeling that I can help make a difference to their lives.”

Learner John Wilson is convinced he wouldn’t have passed his L2 Numeracy without Tony’s help – and Tony is even giving John free guitar lessons in his own time.
Tony also takes pride in the achievements of his learners such as Georgina Ford, who was also Highly Commended at the award ceremony held at the National Space Centre in Leicester.

Prejudice against her trans-gender status made it difficult for Georgina to retain employment – but determined to overcome this disadvantage she attended the Derby centre to upgrade her qualifications and boost her job hunting prospects.

Just three and a half months later, she left the centre with L2 Literacy, L2 Numeracy qualifications and a full ECDL – an excellent case of hard work bearing results.

Supported by Tony, Georgina settled in well at Derby and not only became an excellent learner, but also a valuable and trusted mentor to other learners.

After leaving BAD Derby she went on to achieve Level 3 Expert/Advanced IT course at another training centre and now helps at a local College with IT administration and IT support and is also instructing learners in IT.

Tony said: ‘Georgina is a perfect example of how learndirect is a leader in equality and diversity and of how much a person can achieve in such a short space of time with dedication.’

In a ceremony at the National Space Centre in Leicester last week, delighted staff received a trophy, a certificate and £250 – and now head to the national finals in London in October.

The centre was nominated by Fiona Wright, Head of Funded Learning at Business Advice Direct, because of its enormous success and outstanding staff.

Tutor Dave Grasham, who works at the centre alongside fellow tutors Tim Grant and Pat Taylor, said they were delighted to have been recognised at last!

‘We try to have a laugh with the learners as well as improve their skills and they seem to enjoy attending the centre,’ said Dave. ‘We are so committed to the task that despite being flooded out last summer we managed to get the centre up and running again after a few days. We are all delighted to have won the award and can’t wait for the finals now.’

BAD Lincoln has enrolled an incredible 1133 learners so far this year and because of its exceptional performance has received additional funding each quarter.

Fiona commented: ‘Learners love going to the Lincoln centre because the staff are so good and fun to be with – that’s the secret! Everyone at Business Advice Direct is very proud of them and rooting for them in the finals.’

Sabiha, who works at Business Advice Direct Northern Moor, based in St Michael’s & All Angels Church on Orton Road, scooped the Centre Staff Award at the regional finals of the learndirect Achievement Awards.

She received a trophy, a certificate and £100 ‘experience day’ voucher from North West television presenter Annabel Tiffin, at a ceremony at The Lowry Theatre in Salford Quays. Sabiha (Sabs), who is expecting her first child and lives in Cheadle Hulme, will now attend the national finals in London in October.

‘I’m absolutely thrilled,’ she said ‘I didn’t expect to win, but I’m so pleased. I really enjoy helping the learners. It’s what Business Advice Direct is all about.’

Learner Kathryn Evans nominated Sabs because of the tremendous amount of help she had provided – including extra support with literacy.

‘Sabs helped me with the course and gave me so much encouragement,’ said Kathryn. ‘She gave me a lot more confidence and made me feel better – she has been wonderful.’

And Tooba Khadem, a student born in Iran, for whom English is a second language, said:

‘With Sabs there was lots of help and support that I needed.’

Head of Funded Learning at Business Advice Direct, Fiona Wright, said she was over the moon at Sabs’ success.

‘‘Sabs is one of our most experienced tutors and is always available to offer extra tuition to her learners, particularly in Literacy and Numeracy,’ she said. ‘Everyone at Business Advice Direct is very proud of her and rooting for her in the finals.’

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.’

Jackie, who has an 18month old son, is proud of the skills she has learned which are helping her in her job.

‘I’ve gained lots of new skills, such as dealing with complaints!’ she said. ‘When customers have problems I can address them and the customer correctly.’

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.’

Emma went on to achieve the ECDL, a number of level 2 qualifications and the ITQ which is a Level 2 NVQ in IT.

Armed with her new qualifications, Emma wasted no time in landing a fantastic job as apprentice administrator with Soundlincs, a charity which provides music workshops for schools and youth clubs.

‘This is my first job and I love it and the fact that it is a charity is great!’ said Emma. ‘My employer is really impressed and pleased with my qualifications and Business Advice Direct definitely helped me to get the job. Now I have recommended learndirect to my friends and told them to find out more!’

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.’

And her manager Stuart Rycroft is also delighted with the results of the training.

‘The CS NVQ has allowed Hannah to document a lot of her experiences in her every day work and ensure she understands and learns from them as much as possible,’ he said. ‘She found the course more enjoyable because it was broken down into modules, which helped provide more manageable amounts of work at a time, and it was also a fantastic help that it was all available to work and edit online because it was easy to access.’