Adult Learners Week special: It’s never too late to achieve your dreams

This week celebrates Adult Learners Week, which aims to inspire adults to transform their lives through learning a new skill. It doesn’t matter what age you are, whether you want to advance your existing career or change direction completely, there are many opportunities open to adults.

With training, funding and Apprenticeships available in most industry sectors it’s simply a matter of finding the right route for you.

We’ve spoken to two adult learners who have upskilled their C.V to improve their career opportunities and as a result, have a better work life balance, have increased their salaries and are happier in their jobs.

Lauren Wilson, 21, from Crosby in Lancashire once worked numerous unsociable shifts as a gym instructor at a local gym. She longed to expand her career opportunities but was on a low wage and the cost made additional training options difficult.

Fortunately, Lauren heard about the Get Qualified NW funding through a colleague, which was managed by the National Skills Academy (NSA) for Sport and Active Leisure.  Lauren applied for the maximum £200 subsidy and started the fitness course with Focus training, part of the NSA’s network of recognised training providers, in February 2010.

“Over four months, I learned about anatomy and physiology for exercise and health, the principles of exercise, fitness and health, and how to plan and instruct group exercise to music sessions. Most of this was in my own time, with two days of fulltime classroom based learning.”

After passing the course in June 2010, Lauren was reimbursed by Get Qualified NW. She is now freelancing at five gyms – teaching over 18 Zumba, Legs bums and tums, and Spinning and Circuit training classes a week and earning considerably more than she was before the training.

“If I didn’t complete my exercise to music training, I’d still be a fitness instructor doing shift work,” she says. “I love freelancing; not only can I enjoy teaching numerous styles of fitness, but I get to meet an array of fitness enthusiasts, from beginners to elite sportspeople. My wage is much more appealing now; my training has transformed my career. The way I see it; if you have a dream, go for it!”

Another example of how adult learners can improve their career is former engineer, Ashley Peake. He is now one step closer to his dream of leading groups and spreading his knowledge with others after he completes an Apprenticeship in the Outdoors, supported by the National Skills Academy for Sport and Active Leisure.

Ashley, 21, from Blackpool studied engineering after he finished school and then worked at his father’s business in fabrication and welding. But his real passion was for the outdoors and, in his spare time, Ashley volunteered as a climbing instructor for Blackpool Council. It was there that he learned about the Apprenticeship scheme at Derwent Hill Outdoor Education Centre in Keswick.

Ashley says: “I’ve always been into climbing and hill walking so I thought, why not make a career out of it?”

On completion of his one-year Apprenticeship in August 2011, Ashley will be awarded with practical and theory based qualifications, including Level 2 Activity Leadership, L2 Certificate Working in the Outdoors, Level One Certificate in Coaching Paddlesport and Foundation safety and rescue training.

“It was a big decision to leave engineering behind because I liked my old job. But my new job – I love it!”

Florence Orban, chief executive of the NSA for Sport and Active Leisure, says: “There is a whole range of courses available for adults looking to retrain completely or simply expand their skill set, including both Apprenticeships, where you can learn on the job, and college-led courses.

It is important that an individual, of any age, understands the value a particular course will bring to their end goal. For example, if you were looking to get into the fitness sector, ensure that the course you sign up to is REPs accredited as these will be the only qualifications that employers accept.”

To find out the current training opportunities offered by the National Skills Academy for Sport and Active Leisure visit www.sportactivensa.co.uk