An adult learner from the West Midlands has collected two leading care industry awards.
Tommy Silvester recently picked up the West Midland Care Association Carer of the Year Award and Central England Carer of the Year Award in a matter of days.
The 23-year-old has worked at Belvidere residential home in Dudley since he was 16, reports the Dudley News.
During that time he has acquired a wide range of skills that enable him to provide a high standard of care to the residents at the home.
As well as learning on the job, Mr Silvester has found time to study for the formal qualifications that could help him to build a successful long-term career in the care home industry.
He has already obtained both an assessor's award and an NVQ level 4 in management.
Mr Silvester is now taking courses in management and leadership, which could help him to further his career.
The carer is also hoping that his double awards success will improve his future job prospects.
"It's a great shock - it means a lot for the future," he said.
Classroom assistant Sheila Hollern recently told the Shields Gazette that taking adult learning courses had helped her to progress in her career.
The 50-year-old decided to sign up for an NVQ level 2 course for teaching assistants and an adult literacy programme, after staff at the school she had worked at for ten years encouraged her to make the most of her skills.
After starting the courses Ms Hollern discovered that she is dyslexic - something which may have held her back during her own schooldays.
With the condition identified, she was able to make good progress and is now studying for her NVQ level 3.
As well as helping her career prospects, Ms Hollern said taking the adult learning courses had helped to make her more confident in other aspects of her life.
Get qualifications whilst doing your job – see our range of NVQs and speak to your line manager about the benefits of taking an NVQ with learndirect.