Stockport company wins top national learning award
11/05/2009
Spectrum Plastics, based in Stockport, is celebrating its success today after winning an award at the national learndirect Achievement Awards Ceremony.
Spectrum Plastics, based in Stockport, is celebrating its success today after winning an award at the national learndirect Achievement Awards Ceremony.
Spectrum Plastics won the national Small and Medium sized Company Award, which recognises businesses that have supported learndirect training, recognising the part that learndirect can play in supporting business goals.
Spectrum Plastics in Stockport realises that its employees are key to its success. During the last year, its managing director has worked with trainers and assessors, supporting staff to undertake workplace assessments. She recognised that training could help the company succeed in difficult times, by making its workforce more effective. Everyone taking the learndirect NVQ courses has benefited from improvements in knowledge, confidence, and decision-making skills. They now have the skills to enable them to improve efficiency, increasing productivity and profit.
On winning the national award, Spectrum Plastics managing director Kath Doran said: “More than half of our team put themselves up for NVQs. By working with learndirect and giving them the time they deserved, it shows our people how important they are to us. learndirect has revolutionised our business and the way we think. Last year we made a loss, this year we broke even, and next year we’ll make a profit. I put this turnaround down to our work with learndirect.”
The learndirect Achievement Awards, now in their third year, celebrate learners who are going that extra mile to learn new skills, businesses whose employees are gaining new qualifications, and the people and centres supporting them. The Awards recognise people from all walks of life, for example learners who have overcome personal difficulties or have returned to learning after many years, and businesses working with learndirect to train their workforce.
Spectrum Plastics had previously won the Small and Medium sized Company Award at the North West regional learndirect Achievement Awards in July.
TV presenter Eamonn Holmes, who presented the awards with his wife Ruth Langsford said:
"Ruth and I are both delighted to support the learndirect Achievement Awards. We have worked with learndirect in the past to highlight the difference learning can make to people’s lives, and have seen first-hand how learners from across the UK are boosting their skills, improving their job prospects and becoming more confident. All the finalists are truly inspiring, and we were honoured to help celebrate their success at the national learndirect Achievement Awards ceremony.”
Chief Executive of learndirect, Sarah Jones said:
“The national winners and highly commended finalists have shown exceptional determination, and have gone that extra mile to learn new skills and improve their qualifications, or have supported others to achieve their goals. These finalists are an inspiration to millions of learners, support staff and businesses across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and truly deserve recognition.”