Training professionals recognised by national STAR Awards

Alan Davies, a Motor Vehicle Training Consultant from Wigan, is celebrating his success after winning a national award at the glittering STAR Awards Ceremony, which was held on London on 12 October 2004.

Alan, a Motor Vehicle Training Consultant at ProCo North West, won the Work-Based Learning Trainer of the Year prize category sponsored by ALP for his ability to inspire motor vehicle engineering students to enhance their qualifications. He has made a significant difference to the lives of all his learners, many of whom have left school without any qualifications yet have graduated with a Higher National Certificate (HNC). Alan was presented with a trophy and a STAR Awards certificate. In addition, ProCo North West received a certificate to show they employ a STAR Awards winner.

Several other training professionals were also highly commended at the Ceremony. In the Work-Based Learning prize category sponsored by ALP, Farzad Spehri, Area Manager for London at HCTC Ltd. and Jane Sharpe, a training co-ordinator from Sheffield Trainers Limited were highly commended. May Dare, Director of HR at The Community College Hackney, was highly commended in the Award for Outstanding Achievement sponsored by LSDA. Terry Gater, a Group Training Executive at Rockware Glass Limited in Knottingley, was highly commended in both the Outstanding Achievement prize category sponsored by LSDA and the Work-Based Learning Trainer of the Year sponsored by ALP.

All STARs were nominated by their learners, colleagues or managers and come from workplaces such as further education colleges, community-based providers, private sector providers and employers, adult education institutions and UK online centres. The STAR Awards Judging Panel chose winners and highly commended nominees who had made a difference to the lives of learners with their willingness to exceed expectations and enrich the learning experience. More details can be found at www.dfes.gov.uk/starawards

The STAR Awards is a national awards scheme launched in November 2003 by Charles Clarke, the Secretary of State for Education and Skills. The Awards recognise the achievements of the unsung heroes working in the Learning and Skills sector and are endorsed by Stephen Fry, Alan Titchmarsh, Kim Wilde and Tanni Grey-Thompson.

Next yearís nominations open in January 2005. Please visit www.dfes.gov.uk/starawards for more details or contact the STAR Awards helpline on 0800 652 0528.