Nicola Hawkins of the Product Development Administration team collected a regional award in November for Learner of the Month in recognition of her hard work and commitment to learning new skills at work. As a Young Apprentice Nicola successfully achieved her NVQ levels 1 and 2 in Business Administration using experience and skills gained at Mamas & Papas. She has now moved on to the Advanced Apprenticeship programme where she is studying towards an NVQ level 3.

Nicola has been gaining valuable work experience as a result of a partnership between Mamas & Papas and CMS, a local provider of vocational training. The two organisations have a successful history together in providing on-the-job learning opportunities for people who are keen to improve their skills and find work.

The Learner of the Year Awards ceremony, hosted by the West Yorkshire Learning Providers Network and the University of Huddersfield, was an occasion to celebrate work-based learning and the commitment and achievements of young people throughout Kirklees and Calderdale in 2007/8. The Training & Development team caught up with Nicola at the awards ceremony to find out more.

 

How did you get started with Mamas & Papas?

Nicola: “I was given the opportunity to gain some work experience in 2006 through the CMS ‘Entry to Employment programme’ or e2e as it’s known. I spent 19 weeks working for the Product Development Administration team and the Buying and Merchandising team. I got a real taste for working life and what it’s like to work at M&P head office and so I was really keen to continue. I began my Apprenticeship in April 2007 and it took me a year to complete NVQ level 2.”

 

Tell me about your award.

Nicola: “Well, I won Learner of the Month for October 2007 because I exceeded expectations through the quality and level of my work that I was completing here at Mamas & Papas. I’ve been given a certificate and a really nice glass trophy.”

Nicola: “It’s the people! In my team we help each other out. For example, when I started I was just processing price amendment forms and now I’m responsible for so much more! I couldn’t have done this without the training and support from Deborah (Johnson) and Dana (Lang). They really helped me.”