Last updated 09:30, Monday, 03 March 2008

ASHTON Adair knew vocational learning was the next step for her and she joined Lakes College intending to enrol on a hair and beauty course.
But some careful consideration and her love of IT swayed her decision at the last minute and Ashton is now almost half-way through her NVQ Level 2 in Business Administration.  
IT was a favourite subject of the former St Benedict's Catholic High School student and Ashton looked for a course where she would be able to both use and develop her computer skills.
"I thought if I went down the administration route there would be more opportunities for me within business," she explained. "I also knew of others who had taken the Business Admin course; they had really enjoyed it so that helped my decision."
Ashton started her course in September last year. Her day was divided into two parts, with morning sessions focussing on theoretical learning from teamwork to health and safety guidelines and afternoon sessions were spent developing practical skills such as Clait and PowerPoint programmes. She went on: "At first I found the morning sessions quite difficult; I obviously learn better using practical methods but I soon got used to it.
"I hadn't taken business studies at secondary school but I wasn't put off with the business aspect to the course. I just liked working on computers and I knew from prior research on the course content that the NVQ was mostly IT focussed.
"It was a huge change from studying for my GCSEs as I only had one subject to focus on and it was a subject which I really wanted to learn and develop in.
"We're tested at the end of every module and have already taken a Clait exam. At the moment we're working on PowerPoint but that's a topic we are continually examined in through the length of the course.
"Some other assessments have been more general knowledge based but on a multiple choice format, which is much easier to cope with.
"But the skills I'm developing have been vital so I'm really enjoying the course. The NVQ can last up to 18 months but you can finish it earlier if you manage to work through it quicker. I'm on course to finish around June this year.
"I'm now in the placement stages of my training and I'm currently working at Sellafield doing document production. When Sellafield changed its logo all files and documents had to be changed with the new logo on it and I have the job of transferring those documents.
"It's really been valuable learning on my placement and I've loved every minute of it. The staff in the office are so helpful and always ready to offer advice and support."