Pictured above: (l-r) Andrea Sangster with tutor Shamaila Bibi Fazal, of Pertemps People Development Group's Learndirect centre in Handsworth

A Birmingham mum who is aiming for a career in social care after returning to learning has been nominated for a prestigious award.

Andrea Sangster, aged 40, from Handsworth, has been shortlisted for a Learndirect award in the Skills for Work category after discovering a new passion for studying.

As a long-term unemployed single parent, Andrea had been referred to employment and training experts Pertemps People Development Group (PPDG) for help to find a job. She took full advantage of the Learndirect facilities available at the company's Handsworth Advancement Centre.

Andrea said: "I had no idea I could access such fantastic courses, at no cost to me, which would enable me to get back to work again."

Her PPDG employment coach identified Andrea's need for qualifications so that she could secure a job in social work and suggested on-line learning through Learndirect was the way forward. Agreeing that it would increase her chances, she began to study for a Literacy level 2 qualification with the support of tutor Andy Wroe, who she described as "mentor, friend and encourager extreme".

"Passing my English motivated me to do more," she said. "I suddenly discovered learning was something I actually enjoyed because I was doing it in a very supportive environment. And it's spurred me on to greater things both at home, within my community and now in new workplaces."

Through the Working Neighbourhoods Fund (WNF), Andrea has secured a part-time position in a local care home and her continued studies towards level 2 in Numeracy has inspired her to enrol on a further education course in social care. Juggling studies, work and being a lone parent isn't enough for Andrea - she now also works as a lunchtime supervisor at a local school to gain more experience.

She recommends on-line learning to her family, friends and colleagues. Andrea added: "Don't just sit there, go and get some useful qualifications by speaking to a tutor and start moving forward with your life. Learndirect has changed my life and it can do the same for you."

The West Midlands Learndirect Achievement awards will take place at Edgbaston Cricket Ground on Friday, July 16. The nominees include learners who have overcome personal difficulties to learn and have gone on to find a job or move up in their career, as well as businesses who have thrived as a result of improving the skills and motivation of their workforce through Learndirect.

The WNF is a partnership between Be Birmingham, Jobcentre Plus, Birmingham City Council, and the LSC, which is being delivered across Birmingham by Edgbaston-based PPDG. One of the key features of the project is the strong outreach element which sees employment-based services taken into the heart of communities. Jobseekers can visit one of the city's many PPDG centres or, alternatively, make an appointment for a team member to come out to them and meet at a convenient venue.  

PPDG is recognised as one of the UK's leaders in addressing unemployment and social exclusion. It has helped more than 100,000 long-term unemployed people into sustained employment and self-employment through a variety of Government-funded Welfare to Work initiatives including Flexible New Deal, the Working Neighbourhoods Fund and Employment Zone. It has also trained over 130,000 people in vocational skills, and more than 175,000 people have benefitted from professional information, advice and guidance services.

It has centres throughout Birmingham and Solihull, Coventry, Nuneaton, Leamington Spa, Stoke, Cannock, Tamworth, West Bromwich, Hereford and Worcestershire, Liverpool and Teesside.