Hertford Regional College volunteer scoops Adult Learners’ Week Award
After 15 years being unemployed an adult learner is to receive a regional award in
recognition for the hard work she has put in to get back into the workplace.
Elizabeth Sladden, 35, has scooped the coveted South East Adult Learners’ Week Award
after getting back into work thanks to the Employment Service at Hertford Regional College
(HRC). She will be presented with the award at a ceremony with other finalists from across
the country in London in June.
Elizabeth joined HRC’s Business Solutions team as a volunteer from the Job Centre last
September where she impressed the team with her ability to complete every task, learn on
the job and absorb information.
As a result Elizabeth was offered a place on the college’s
European Social Funded training scheme which helps
selected unemployed candidates in the local area to get
back into work.
Elizabeth learnt how to write a CV and brush up on
Interview techniques. The college then submitted her CV
to a local company looking for an admin assistant. After
being invited for interview, Elizabeth was delighted to
then be offered the job.
Barbara Stone, Head of Employer Engagement at HRC said: “I believe that the company was
able to see Elizabeth’s true potential shine through due to her learning and applying this at
her interview. At Hertford Regional College we knew Elizabeth was highly employable and
just needed the right tools and employer to find success.
“Elizabeth told us that she always believed that her luck wouldn’t change and that she
would never be successful at interviews. During her time volunteering at Hertford Regional
College, before attending the Employability course, Elizabeth had an interview with an
another company but was unsuccessful.
“It was a great delight to a make a change to a person’s life. Elizabeth had expressed that
she was so happy to begin to earn money and make her daughter proud; the whole team at
Hertford Regional College are immensely humbled that we could play a small part in this big
difference to a person’s life.”