BIA’s Visually Impaired Employee Is Awarded an Advanced Apprenticeship Certificate
A visually impaired employee at Birmingham International Airport (BIA) is celebrating her success after achieving an Advanced Apprenticeship certificate in Customer Service.
Laura Turner, aged 21 from Atherstone, Warwickshire, has very little sight and needs a cane for assistance and adaptive technology to do her Training Administrator job. Since joining BIA in 2001, Laura has successfully completed; six Level 2 and Level 3 certificates including Key Skills in Communication, Key Skills in IT and Key Skills in Application of Number, a foundation degree in Business Administration and now the Advanced Apprenticeship certificate in Customer Service.
Laura said: “I started working at the Airport five years ago as a clerical trainee in the administration department, then after a year I moved to Human Resources and continued to work towards a foundation degree in Business Administration. The Airport has consistently provided me with encouragement and support and enabled me to complete Key Skills, NVQ’s and my Apprentice. Since completing my NVQ in Customer Service I produced an Airport guide in Braille and large print for the Information Desk for passenger use.”
Birmingham International Airport heavily supports skills and education for its employees and is involved in several programmes to help staff achieve their goals. In the 2005/06 academic year, 225 Airport workers enrolled on a ‘Skills for Life’ programme, improving and furthering their literacy and numeric skills with an impressive 162 accredited achievements.
BIA’s Training and Development Manager, Jayne Howle, said:
“As a voice within the West Midlands Regional Skills Partnership and a key employer in the Midlands region, the Airport supports staff to further develop skills and talents by embarking in various courses such as; degrees, NVQ’s, Key Skills and many more. The Airport is proud of Laura for successfully completing eight courses since she began working here, the fact she is visually impaired makes it even more outstanding.”
Mike Beasley, Chair of the Regional Skills Partnership, congratulated Laura on her outstanding achievement and congratulated the Airport on the support it has provided to enable Laura and other employees to improve their skills and competencies.
He said: “The members of the Regional Skills Partnership (RSP) work together with employers in the region to improve business performance, to enable individuals to reach their full potential and to improve the overall economy of the West Midlands. Encouraging more and better investment in skills is essential for the Midlands economy to continue to grow and we are delighted that Birmingham International Airport is setting an example for other Midland companies to follow.”
For more information on the West Midlands Regional Skills Partnership, as an individual or a company please visit www.wmskillspartnership.org.uk.
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