MORE than 45 learners working in the social care sector will meet at St Andrew's House Hotel in Droitwich next week for an awards ceremony.

The awards will be presented to learners who successfully participated in a radical employer training pilot which sought to fast-track workers in the care sector to National Vocational Qualification level 2.

Some people achieved their qualifications in as little as six weeks as opposed to the more usual six months.

The nine-month project, funded by the Learning and Skills Council (local LSC) through the European Social Fund, was delivered to a total of 160 care workers at employer premises.

Training

"As a sector comprising many small businesses with tight staffing ratios, releasing essential staff for off-site training was a concern for many business managers," said Karen Hilling, skills and sector broker at the local LSC.

"The training delivery was made as flexible as possible to reflect the vastly differing learner requirements and shift patterns, causing minimum disruption in day-to-day care routines.

"As well as providing NVQ level 2 qualifications in care, the project also gave the learners the chance to brush up on their essential skills and take national tests in both numeracy and literacy."