I don’t have the time

Donna, 39, is from Chichester and works as assistant manager at her local Harvester, The Barn, where she began as a part-time waitress working a few evenings a week. Having worked in the catering industry before having children, Donna’s experience and ability were quickly spotted and she was promoted to the role of team leader in the restaurant. It’s a role she might well still be working in had she not decided to brush up on her skills with a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ).

Donna opted for an NVQ level 2 in Food and Drinks Service. The course gave her the opportunity to refresh her knowledge on all aspects of bar and restaurant work and catch up with the latest legislation relating to things like food hygiene and safety.

“Had I not been on the course I don’t think I’d have applied for the job I’m doing now,” she says. “It            proved to me that I am quite capable of taking on new challenges – and it prepared me for the                  new learning curve I’d be undertaking as assistant manager.”		  
    Donna found the level of support she received from VT Training fantastic, which helped to make the learning experience not only useful but enjoyable, too. Alongside regular visits from her assessor, Donna generally spent around four hours a week on her course work. Combining a full-time job and study with being a mother, she did find that she had to be very organised and strict with herself, but once in the habit of putting one morning a week aside for her NVQ work she soon got into a routine. And it hasn’t put her off doing further study. On the contrary: “When I’m comfortable in my new job role, “ she says, “I’d like to do an NVQ level in Hospitality Supervision.”

For the time being, Donna has plenty of in-house training to undertake, covering areas as varied as kitchen management and computer skills. One day she’d like to manager her own restaurant – and she really doesn’t mind where the job takes her. As her husband is self-employed, and supports her ambition, she’s in the happy position of being able to go wherever the right opportunity arises.