National Training Awards - A Winning Formula
The National Training Awards' East Midlands ceremony took place last night at the East Midlands Conference Centre, where winners of the East Midlands Training Awards and National Training Awards were celebrated for their outstanding achievements through training.
To coincide with the Awards ceremony UK Skills, who manage the National Training Awards, have commissioned a survey which reveals how perceptions of vocational and academic skills throughout the UK* have developed.
The results reveal that in the Midlands over 80% of people believe that in the current economic climate, a graduate would not necessarily find it easier to find a job more quickly than someone with a vocational skill - such as plumbing or carpentry. This figure reflects the heightened awareness of the value of vocational qualifications in the UK
An amazing 76% of people in the Midlands would prefer to turn down a 5% pay rise in order to be given more training opportunities. 87% of people in the region agreed that British employers should invest more in training in order for Britain to remain competitive with other countries.
Linda Ammon, Chief Executive of UK Skills, comments: "We are pleased to see that the common perception that a university degree is the only way to secure a good job has changed, as reflected in the Midlands survey results. We believe that vocational skills are equally important and can help build satisfactory and fulfilling careers. Last night we presented several National Training Awards to people in the East Midlands who had shown outstanding commitment to vocational training. We hope to see even more entries from the region in 2003".
National Training Award Winners
in the East Midlands are:
National Training Award Winners
Jane Jackson, Jacksons Bakers of Distinction
Sarah Wall, Stanair Industrial Door Services Ltd
Eleanor Meldrum, University Hospitals Leicester NHS Trust
Martyn Cook, Cable Telecommunications Training Service
Janet Turner, Bryan Donkin Valves Limited
East Midlands Training Award Winners
Mrs M Saunders, Southwark Junior School
Kelly Wagstaff
Adam Merrell
Jane Jackson, Sarah Wall, Eleanor Meldrum, Martyn Cook and Janet Turner will now go forward to the 'UK ceremony', where Special Awards will be given to those who have demonstrated exceptional achievements in the field of training. The UK ceremony will be held at the London Guildhall on 3rd December.
The National Training Awards are universally recognised as being the No 1 training award in the UK given to organisations and individuals who have achieved lasting excellence and success through training. It is aimed at those who have decided to improve their chances of success through learning new skills. The awards support the Government's commitment to lifelong learning, crucial to individuals and business success and to the benefit of the UK economy as a whole.
- The National Training Awards are the UK's number one accolade for businesses, organisations and individuals who have achieved lasting excellence and success through exceptionally effective investment training.
- UK Skills champions skills and training through competitions, awards and events. UK Skills recognises that investing in high quality training and vocational education leads to a well-equipped workforce which is the key to the success of the UK economy.
- National Training Awards:
National Training Awards
National Awards for those who have achieved lasting success through exceptionally effective investment in training
Investors in People Awards
In addition, categories of Special Awards for 'Outstanding Investors in People' presented by Investors in People UK are:
- Small organisation (1-49 employees)
- Medium organisation (50-199 employees)
- Large organisation (200+ employees)
- A School
For further information, please contact:
newsbureau@nationaltrainingawards.com
Or
Sarita Tamber 0207 950 2811 stamber@webershandwick.com
Kirstine Cox O20 7905 2530 kcox@webershandwick.com
Alternatively, visit www.nationaltrainingawards.com
* Excludes Ireland
Case studies:
National Training Award Winners
Brampton
No.116
Derbyshire Bakers cooks up winning formula
for finals of National Training Awards
A family-run bakers has just been awarded a National Training Awards after impressing judges with a new training scheme.
Jacksons Bakers of Distinction decided that a new structure would benefit the business and investigated the best training available in their area.
The Chesterfield bakers teamed up with High Peak College in Buxton and put staff through a NVQ II craft-baking course.
However an in-house training scheme was devised that was found to better meet the specific skills of a baking business workforce and over a four-year period 25 staff have taken courses provided by Jacksons.
Better skilled staff has resulted in less wastage, which has resulted in more pay for the workforce.
The general awareness of the baking industry amongst Jackson employees has increased and the all-round health of the company has grown with more staff staying longer.
Jane Jackson, from Jacksons Bakers will now go forward to the 'UK ceremony', where Special Awards will be given to those who have demonstrated exceptional achievements in the field of training. The UK ceremony will be held at the London Guildhall on 3rd December.
Kettering
No.156
Northants company heads for finals
of National Training Awards
Stanair Industrial Door Services Ltd. has just been awarded a National Training Awards.
The Kettering business has impressed judges with the implementation of a new all-inclusive training structure to help staff increase their knowledge.
The company highlighted a need to train existing staff to take on management roles and to employ and train new people for the engineering and administrative requirements of the business.
Senior and middle management attended managerial courses, which enabled them to share what they had learnt with their colleagues.
Engineers were sent on a number of courses which provided them with the appropriate skills needed for the job and finance and admin staff were trained on a new computerised system offering greater efficiency and better customer service.
Across the board training has resulted in a greater confidence among staff at the company with more employees being able to attend to work outside their direct sphere. Morale has increased and an atmosphere of ideas sharing has grown.
Sarah Wall, from Stanair Industrial Door Services Ltd will now go forward to the 'UK ceremony', where Special Awards will be given to those who have demonstrated exceptional achievements in the field of training. The UK ceremony will be held at the London Guildhall on 3rd December.
Leicester
No.714
National Training Awards final place
is just the medicine for Leicester hospital
A fast-track training programme has benefited nurses and patients with kidney disorders at the Leicester General Hospital - and earned the Renal Services & Urology Directorate a National Training Award!
The department devised the training when recruitment of qualified and experienced renal nurses was proving extremely difficult - and the existing training in dialysis took six to 12 months, which was considered too slow to meet future demands for the service.
Nurses taking part in the three month course were mentored, and kept 'reflective learning diaries' and self-assessed their progress. They also had written assignments to demonstrate their specialist knowledge and its application to clinical practice. The 15 fast-track nurses are now teaching dialysis skills to new nurses.
The training has reduced vacancies and allowed a new satellite unit to open for 48 patients.
Eleanor Meldrum, from Leicester General Hospital, will now go forward to the 'UK ceremony', where Special Awards will be given to those who have demonstrated exceptional achievements in the field of training. The UK ceremony will be held at the London Guildhall on 3rd December.
Lincoln
No.173
HM Forces Leavers help Lincolnshire company
reach finals of National Training Awards
The expansion of the cable telecommunications and fibre optics industry has helped one Lincoln Company win a National Training Award!
With the telecommunications industry vastly under-manned Cable Telecommunications Training Services (CTTS) has been working vigorously to turn the training of engineers into a priority.
The MOD, through its Re-settlement Programme provides the company with a large body of people with differing trades who CTTS can focus their efforts on.
Lincoln College initially provided the base for the course after becoming impressed by the groundbreaking training programme and The Training Programme - Digital Cable Networks was born.
Training was designed to equip trainees with the necessary technical skills to work in this new revolutionary field as technicians, enhance the personal skills needed for 'civvy street' and arrange work experience to help people reacclimatize to life outside the Forces.
Since 1996, 1193 trainees have attended the programme and there has been an astonishing 100 per cent pass rate.
Martyn Cook, from Cable Telecommunications Training Services, will now go forward to the 'UK ceremony', where Special Awards will be given to those who have demonstrated exceptional achievements in the field of training. The UK ceremony will be held at the London Guildhall on 3rd December.
Chesterfield
No.775
Engineering economic miracle
puts firm in National Training Awards final
Few companies have increased profit by 42 times in just five years - but that is the 'economic miracle' claimed by Bryan Donkin Valves Ltd of Chesterfield, Derbyshire.
The mechanical engineering company reversed a 10-year downward trend, not with massive investment in equipment, but with moderate investment in developing the workforce's skills, winning the company a National Training Award 2002!
Training was introduced across the business and 74 people underwent training, which changed a culture resistant to change, improved communications and multi-skilled staff. It involved staff in cost reduction schemes and improved supervision. Improvements in quality, stock control and material costs resulted.
Janet Turner, from Bryan Donkin Valves Ltd, will now go forward to the 'UK ceremony', where Special Awards will be given to those who have demonstrated exceptional achievements in the field of training. The UK ceremony will be held at the London Guildhall on 3rd December.
East Midlands Training Award Winners
Nottingham
No.18
Nottingham Junior School confounds critics
to reach final of National Training Awards
A once failing junior school in Nottingham has turned itself around to become an education success stories that has won the school an East Midlands Training Award!
Southwark Junior School in Old Basford, was judged to be failing its 350 children in 1999 following an OFSTED inspection that cited low standards and poor behaviour.
A complete overhaul of daily life at the school was needed and a cohesive learning strategy was implemented with the support for and positive growth of all the school's children at its core.
This year the school was released from 'special measures' after it had been seen to vigorously tackle the work habits and attitudes of its 7 - 11 year-olds
The school's belief that Teachers Can Teach, Classroom Assistants Can Support and Children Can Learn, has provided the school with a "Can Do" culture which is reflected in the high morale of the staff and the all round achievements of the children.
Lincoln
No.168
Female engineer from Lincoln storms through
to National Training Awards final
An inspirational female engineer has just won an East Midlands Training Award!
Kelly Wagstaff from Lincoln became a National Trainee for ALSTOM after developing an interest in engineering while working in the company's canteen.
Upon completion of the NVQ2 foundation of the traineeship Kelly applied for the Modern Apprenticeship in Engineering Production and was accepted.
Months of training were before her but that only brought the best out in Kelly. She sailed through her courses while continuing her on-the-job training.
Finally she embarked on her first post-apprentice job as a test fitter on the company's Turbine Test Bay.
Kelly continues to use training to further her career and in four or five years time hopes to become a Test Engineer or a Field Service Representative.
She says: "When I look back at the prospects I had working in the canteen compared to what I have achieved since 1998 and what I believe is possible for me in the future, all the hard work and effort have certainly been worthwhile."
Corby
No.624
Adam overcomes attack to reach National Training Awards final
Even a vicious attack, which left him with severe head trauma, could not deter Adam Merrell, of Corby, Northants, from his chosen career path.
Adam, an East Midlands Training Awards 2002 winner, was on a Choices Project with Rathbone at Corby when he told his training advisor he wanted to work with the elderly. Within one month of getting a work placement, he was offered a job in a residential home, and was working towards his NVQ level two in care, when he was attacked on his way home in February last year.
Adam was unable to work for four months and suffered total loss of confidence. Rathbone supported him to return to work and study and he completed the course. He is now enjoying work and planning NVQ level three. "I am confident in my working abilities. I have improved my self-esteem and confidence," he says.
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