Isle of Wight learner support staff are celebrating their successes after winning awards at the South East learndirect Achievement Awards  Ceremony.

The learndirect Achievement Awards, now in their third year, celebrate learners and businesses who are going that extra mile to learn new skills and improve their qualifications, as well as the people and centres supporting them. The Awards recognise people from all walks of life, like learners who have overcome personal difficulties or have returned to learning after many years, and businesses working with learndirect to train their workforce.

Paul Fletcher, from Newport, won the Unionlearn Award, which recognises Union members who have taken a learndirect course to develop their career, or those who have encouraged others to take a learndirect course.

Paul manages to juggle numerous responsibilities alongside his fire service work; encouraging learning not only with staff on the Isle of Wight, but also across other counties in the South East in his role as a Fire Brigades Union representative. He hosts regular meetings with other union learning representatives from different sectors to share good ideas, and on a local scale, he has made learndirect part of all career development programmes. Paul’s latest initiative, aimed at encouraging those not already on a course to take up learning, has already been rolled out across the island.

On winning the award, Paul said:

“I’ve had a lot of support from the union learning team, and local managers and organisations that I work with, so I have them to thank for being up on stage collecting this award today.”

The Albany POA Learning Centre, based in Newport, won the Working with Employers Award, as well as being Highly Commended in the Centre of the Year Award category. The Working with Employers Award recognises learning centres that work with local businesses using Train to Gain or other methods, resulting in benefits for the businesses they support.

As well as working with the prison service and POA members, over the last year and a half, the Albany POA Learning Centre on the Isle of Wight has delivered learndirect courses to staff at Newport Fire Station. Numeracy and Literacy courses were extremely successful, with more than 70% of staff gaining a Level 2 qualification. Staff in the control room were also offered the chance of doing an IT qualification, with tutors coming to the station at times suitable to the learners. The development programme has since been rolled out to all fire stations on the island.

On winning the award, Nicola Volley from the Albany POA Learning Centre said:

“We have had to be very flexible to fit around the lifestyles of the fire station staff, but the challenge is worthwhile as you see them progress and achieve. It’s great to see how proud they are when they gain their qualifications.”

Paul Fletcher and the Albany POA Learning Centre will now represent the South East at the National Awards Ceremony in London in October.

Barry Francis, from Unionlearn, sponsor of the award category said:

“Unionlearn is proud to sponsor this award and delighted to see Paul Fletcher recognised for all his hard work. We wish Paul all the best at the national awards ceremony in London.”

Malcolm Ming, Ufi South East regional performance director said:

“The winners and Highly Commended finalists in the South East have shown exceptional determination, and have gone that extra mile to learn new skills and improve their qualifications or support others in doing the same; as well as encouraging their staff to learn new skills and improve their qualifications. The winners from the Isle of Wight are an inspiration to learner support staff across England, and truly deserve recognition.”