A COUNTY learner has won a prestigious award after improving her work skills.

Jane Duffett is celebrating after picking up the skills for work award at the West Midlands learndirect achievement awards ceremony. The award celebrates the success of people who have taken courses run by learndirect to develop their career and have successfully used the skills they have learnt.

Mrs Duffett had previously worked with children and arrived at the former Choosing Information and Communication Techno-logy Centre, now CICT, in Worcester wanting to improve her literacy, numeracy and computer skills.

She has since improved those skills, undertaken an IT course and as a result of her training, she has been offered a full-time position as an adviser at Worcester Jobcentre.

“I wanted a change of direction and to gain some qualifications,” said Mrs Duffett, aged 43, of Kempsey, near Worcester.

“I can’t praise learndirect enough – they have been fantastic. Just go through that door and the rest of your life is ahead of you.”

John Davis, from Jobcentre Plus, which sponsored the award, presented Mrs Duffett with her trophy.

He said: “The calibre of nominees has been very high again this year and Jane fully deserves to be rewarded for her success.”

Mrs Duffett will now represent the West Midlands at the national learndirect Achievement Awards in London on October, 20.

Pertemps People Develop-ment Group from Hereford were highly commended at the ceremony.