WORCESTERSHIRE'S businesswoman of the year has been appointed as a member of the Learning and Skills Council Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

Esther Ruggiero, who is co-owner and managing director of Droitwich-based Train 4 Security, was appointed to the role following a rigorous selection process.

Esther's responsibilities will include providing leadership, strategic direction, effective management of resources and advocacy for the education and training agenda.

The Learning and Skills Council is a national organisation responsible for planning and funding high quality vocational education and training for everyone. With a goal to make the UK better skilled and more competitive, the organisation's ethos is one shared by Esther.

"Having worked within the training arena for more than 10 years, I really am passionate about life-long learning," she explained. "My husband and I set up Train 4 Security in a bid to provide better qualified personnel to work within the security sector, an industry that has often suffered from a negative image. By working closely with the industry's professional bodies we have seen a real shift in this image. Government regulations have also had a positive impact on the industry as has the focus on training.

"Being appointed as a member for the Learning and Skills Council in the two counties is a real honour and will allow me to further my interest and influence in training," she said.

provision."

Alan Curless, executive director at The Learning and Skills Council Herefordshire and Worcestershire added: "We are delighted to welcome Esther on board and look forward to her input and experience on the many local issues we deal with. Our role is to ensure that training opportunities are open to everyone and not limit its access to certain groups or types of people. Esther's skills and personality is well suited to helping the LSC reach this goal."

This new role for Esther comes at a time of celebration for the Worcestershire company. With an expected turnover of £1.2million this year, Train 4 Security has enjoyed a meteoric rise since it began in 1999 from a garage in the town.