Learner becomes learning advocate

Vicky Nelson, aged 54, from Notting Hill, has gone from a Tesco wages clerk to a Mobile Union Learning Representative, influencing managers in their learning policies. Vicky's remarkable achievement will be awarded with a National Learning Works Award from the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) as part of Adult Learners' Week 17th - 23rd May 2008.

Vicky never used to have much confidence. She had epilepsy as a child and the drugs she took affected her ability to learn. But since becoming a Mobile Union Learning Representative for the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers, the learning she has done to help her in the role - including an adult learning support certificate, an introduction to IT and a course to learn skills for supporting lifelong learning - has transformed her outlook.

'I have discovered talents I didn't know I had,' she says. 'I now have a much wider range of skills - IT, people skills, organising, team management. The learning I have done has given me more confidence in myself and in what I can do.'

Through her tireless work as a learning representative, she is bringing the benefits of learning to her colleagues. Her new self-belief has made her fearless in dealing with the most senior figures in Tesco. One of her greatest achievements was persuading a senior manager to agree to run an English-language course in company time.

She takes huge satisfaction from seeing her colleagues develop. 'My learning has made me aware of the untapped potential in people,' she says. 'Watching their achievements is like seeing your child take its first steps. It's great to see their confidence grow.'

David Lammy, Minister for Skills, said,

'I never fail to be inspired by the stories I hear about learner's achievements. Vicky's hard work confirms my belief that improving your skills can be a life changing experience. The benefits better skills bring to learners and those around them are wide-ranging. On the personal level people become more confident and have higher self - esteem, and individuals can develop better job prospects. More widely this can lead to parents being better able to help their children with homework and learner's employers becoming more competitive.'

Rachel Thomson, Senior Campaigns Officer at NIACE, said,

"In spite of the fact this is the 17th annual Adult Learners' Week we continue to be amazed by the quality of the nominations we have received. Vicky's story is an indication of how learning can transform lives completely. All of this year's winners have shown a huge commitment, passion and creativity throughout their learning journeys. Their achievements are all the more inspiring due to the challenges they have overcome and they fully deserve to be recognised as outstanding and inspirational adult learners."

James Plaskitt, Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Department for Work and Pensions, and Minister responsible for ESF, said,

"I am pleased that the ESF is again sponsoring Adult Learners' Week which provides a wonderful opportunity to celebrate learning and communicate how it can help people improve their job prospects. I hope that many more people will be inspired to take up learning opportunities after hearing the inspirational stories of the winners of this award."

Members of the Work Place Learning Centre team are available to provide journalists and media organisations with expert comment on all aspects of learning at work.

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