Local artist seeks better business with learndirect
Frances Stickland fits in some learning
at Carmarthen library
publishers and perhaps even setting
up my own website.”
National Operations Manager for
Ufi Cymru, Phillip Lloyd, said: “IT skills are increasingly important for
small businesses these days and learndirect offers an ideal training
route through which individuals can
gain relevant skills in a structured yet flexible manner.
“I am pleased to hear that Frances
is taking advantage of the flexibility
of learndirect to develop new skills
and I wish her every success with
her business.”
For learners such as Shane
who cannot attend college classes at set
times due to work or family commitments, learndirect can open up opportunities to
develop skills and achieve
qualifications in
a comfortable environment.”
Principal of Ystrad Mynach College
and Ufi Board member Bryn Davies
said: “Shane’s story illustrates precisely
how learndirect’s flexible style can
open doors to learning for individuals
in a society where time is a precious
commodity. learndirect enables
learners to build con fidence and
develop skills in their own time and
progress at their own pace.”
A self-employed artist from Whitland in Carmarthenshire intends to expand her business with
the help of new technology and is learning to use computers with learndirect and Coleg Sir
Gâr to help her on her way.
Frances Stickland, 39, sells paintings
to local galleries and publishing
companies and is confident the IT
skills she is developing through her learndirect course will enable her to
be more efficient in her business, and reach a wider business audience via
the internet.
She said,“I am currently doing the ‘Switch on’ learndirect course. I saw a poster advertising computer courses in Carmarthen library and enrolled straight away when I realised I could attend sessions in my own time. I am busy with my painting, voluntary work, and various other commitments, so the
flexible style of online learning is ideal for me.
“I manage to fit in about two hours every week and really look forward to my course. As I don’t have a computer at home, I do my learning at the learndirect centre in Carmarthen library.
“I have never used computers before and was very nervous before starting
my first lesson. The instructions are very clear however and the course allows me to repeat sections as many times as I like which is extremely helpful.”
“Once I have finished this course and have a basic knowledge of computers,
I would like to go on and learn about
the internet. I think this will bring many
opportunities to my work; finding
new outlets for selling, contacting
Working the learndirect shift
30 year old Shane Morgan from
Aberbargoed works shifts in a local
plastics factory but was determined
to fit learning around his working pattern in order to develop his IT
skills and move into an office based
job. learndirect and Ystrad Mynach
College offered the perfect solution
and Shane now has a number of IT
quali fications to help him on his way.
Shane has completed a number of
courses at the College @ Bargoed
learning centre and obtained a
recognised IT qualification, the
European Computer Driving Licence
(ECDL) with learndirect.
Shane Morgan with tutor Janet Jones at the College @ Bargoed
He said: "I left school at 17 and went on to do a BTEC in Construction at night school. I have never experienced anything other than a traditional tutor-led classroom environment and was a little unsure at first
as to whether I would adapt to the style
of e-learning. Once I got used to the idea
however I realised how effective it is and
how much flexibility it gives you."
“With learndirect I can arrange my
learning around work, family and social
commitments. With shift work, it is
difficult to find a course to fit in with
allotted free time but learning with learndirect has allowed me to choose
my study time to fit around my life and I
am able to progress at my own pace.
Learning Centre Manager at the College
@ Bargoed, Janet Jones said: “The style
of learndirect is ideal for hundreds of
individuals who find it dif ficult to fit learning
into their lives.
