Magna staff’s NVQ success (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Magna staff’s NVQ success

6:00pm Thursday 4th October 2012 in News By James Tourgout

STAFF at Magna Housing Group were praised after receiving their NVQ qualifications.

A dozen members of staff received certificates and were commended by group chief executive Graham Colls for their hard work.

He said: “It’s very pleasing for me personally to see the smiles on people’s faces.

“There are various qualifications at various levels.

“One member of staff has gained a level seven, which is the equivalent of a masters degree or post-graduate qualification. All of this has to be fitted around work, which is very impressive.”

The awards were presented at The Shrubbery Hotel, Ilminster, a halfway point for staff spread across a wide geographical area.

IT level two certificates were awarded to Kate Byrne, Ella Thorpe, Rupert Harrison and Kelvin Walker. Level three certificates in business skills went to Zoe McCusker, Christine Bulpin and Fern Gatland. Management qualifications were awarded to Rowena Wrixon, level three certificate, Simon Lake, level four certificate, Ros Chidgey, level five diploma and Barbara Mullan, level seven diploma. Pauline Clenshaw gained a level four diploma in advice and guidance. Magna, which employs 437 staff in Dorset, Somerset and Devon, became an NVQ centre in 2009.

It mentors other organisations going down the same route.

Group chairman Donald Rushton presented the certificates along with Magna Housing Association chairman Ian Bullock.

Mr Rushton said: “It’s great for Magna to have this skill base building up and it’s great for staff as individuals to have this benchmarking of what they are doing in our business.

“It shows an attitude of mind, that learning is a great thing. It shows curiosity and interest.”

Training and staff development officer Pauline Clenshaw, who has steered the NVQ work at Magna from the beginning, paid tribute to the students, assessors, verifiers and managers.

She said: “We’ve had nearly 50 full qualifications since we first became an NVQ centre, with another 17 being studied at the moment.

“Not only do staff get a nationally recognised qualification, but also the opportunity to look critically at the work they do and identify ways of improving. “In this way Magna gains, our residents and tenants gain, and so do our staff – winners all round.”