Skills tide rising at Brightlingsea Harbour

learndirect has been developed by University for industry (Ufi) with a remit from government to provide high quality post-16 learning. It operates more than 800 online learning centres in England and Wales. Every Step Limited (Mobile Business Unit), which works with employers throughout the region, won the Working with Employers award for the work it has done with Brightlingsea Habour to support its learners.

The centre was nominated by the Harbour as it has provided a varied programme for their workforce to update IT skills since 2006. Since installing a laptop in the crew room to allow staff to access the learning facilities, a number of staff a the Harbour have benefited from what the centre offers. For example, one member of staff used skills learnt from a presentation course to produce promotional material for the organisation.

On receiving the award, Lucy Brockway-Smith, CEO of Every Step Ltd said, ‘Offering flexible learning is key. We get into a business and create a bespoke programme for them. The best thing about what we do it taking on learners and employers who are not confident about learning and seeing them achieve. That’s what it’s all about.’

Everystep Ltd (Mobile Business Unit) will now go forward to represent the East of England at the National Awards Ceremony to be held at The Science Museum in London on 20 October.

Dereth Wood, Ufi operations director concluded, ‘These East Regional winners have demonstrated an inspirational commitment to developing the skills and qualifications of employees at Brightlingsea Habour. As a great encouragement to centres across England, they truly deserve recognition. I wish them the best of luck at the national ceremony in October.’