This week learndirect is urging individuals and businesses from all over the country to nominate a local learner or training provider for a learndirect Achievement Award.

The learndirect Achievement Awards, now in their third year, celebrate learners and businesses who are going that extra mile to develop their skills and up-skill their local area, 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.

Statistics show that in the last year alone nearly a quarter of a million individuals across the country took up a learndirect course, improving their skills and employability. Laid out end-to-end, people who started learndirect courses last year would stretch over 250 miles, reaching around the pitch at Wembley Stadium more than 1,170 times!

County Durham learndirect centre Communicators Training Associates won a national learndirect Achievement Award in 2008 in the Working with Employers category, which recognises learndirect centres who work with local businesses and organisations to support learners.

Communicators Training Associates were recognised for the innovative ways in which they have introduced, developed and grown provision for employers both large and small in the County Durham area. The centre works closely with Durham Police; they have introduced and embedded learning assessments for new police officers as well as a range of other measures. Clients say the centre does a “tremendous job” and has helped their staff to gain a level of confidence to do their job more effectively and efficiently.

On receiving their award, Kate McLean, from Communicators Training Associates said:

“It’s great to build up a relationship with an employer and see their staff develop, from doing Skills for Life qualifications right up to NVQs. You have to invest in people and being able to provide for employees’ futures as well as employers’ futures is one of the great benefits of learndirect.”

Centre manager Nuala Fennelly was Highly Commended at the 2008 national learndirect Achievement Awards.

After becoming a learndirect centre manager in March 2007, Nuala has implemented a range of strategic changes. Whilst increasing diversity of provision and improving communications between staff, she implemented a stable structure to management and teaching practice, which has improved staff moral, creating a positive atmosphere for both staff and learners.

On receiving her certificate Nuala commented:

“I myself was an adult learner. I left school at 15 with nothing but went back to education at 34. I think this helps me understand how hard it is to take that first step.”

TV and radio presenter Eamonn Holmes and his wife Ruth Langsford, who are supporting the launch of this year’s awards said:

"We are both delighted to support the learndirect Achievement Awards which recognise individuals and businesses who rise to the challenge of developing new skills as well as the people and centres that support them. We have worked with learndirect in the past to highlight the benefits of learning, so have seen first-hand the really positive impact that learning can have on adults around the country: it really can be life-changing. So please, log on to the website at www.learndirect.co.uk/awards and make a nomination.”

Welcoming the launch of the Achievement Awards, Dereth Wood, director of operations at Ufi – the organisation behind learndirect – commented:

“The learndirect Achievement Awards recognise the success of individuals and businesses who participate in learndirect learning, and the people and centres supporting them. I would urge everyone who knows of a deserving individual or organisation to make a nomination, so that learndirect learners, businesses and those that support their learning can be celebrated for their hard work and dedication.”