Can my employer help?

An experienced cleaner with more than 24 years in the profession, 40-year-old Teresa Smith from Morecambe enjoyed her job at the University of Cumbria (formerly St Martin’s College) and never expected to do anything else.  She had been with the organisation for 18 years when her line manager approached her about doing an NVQ Level 2 qualification in Housekeeping.

Little did Teresa know that this would lead her into an exciting new career within 18 months.  “I’d always liked the idea of studying,” Teresa comments, “but while my children were growing up there was never the time or the opportunity and later I lacked the confidence to believe I could do it.  When my employer approached me about doing the NVQ Level 2 I just thought ‘why not?’, but I would never have imagined how things would snowball from there.”

       Teresa embarked on an NVQ Level 2 and with so much practical experience already under her belt,            Teresa sailed through the assessments and her confidence grew rapidly.

Though an Assessor needs to be qualified to carry out the role, Teresa’s years of practical experience and her success in gaining her NVQs prompted Lancaster & Morecambe College to offer her the part-time role, on the agreement that she must qualify as an Assessor within a year.

She began studying as an assessor just a few months later, and within four months of her first evening class, was fully qualified.  Now, instead of being hands on in a cleaning role, Teresa spends her time visiting companies to assess their cleaning and housekeeping staff as they study for their NVQs.

“I would never have thought it possible that taking a qualification could have given me so much,” Teresa adds.  “I’ve had to work hard but the rewards are fantastic and I love my role as an Assessor.  The only downside is that my fingers get numb from all the writing the job involves!