Sunanta Phattanavibul freed herself from loans and credit card payments

Sunanta, 32, from Streatham, has freed herself from loans and credit card payments after securing a job thanks to the new skills and qualifications she gained with learndirect. Sunanta moved to London from Thailand in 1999 to improve her English skills and worked as a waitress before leaving to look after her children full-time. When she split from her husband she struggled for money and knew she needed to find a better job to support her family. Sunanta was advised by Jobcentre Plus to go to learndirect to gain qualifications in maths and English to help improve her employment prospects.  She’s now working as an administrator and is earning money that will help provide a brighter future.

Sunanta said:
“When I first moved to England, I worked as a waitress in a restaurant. I met my husband in London so I decided to stay in the UK and continued to work in the restaurant for the next eight years.

“Eventually, I quit my job to become a full time mum and look after my two children who are four and two. Unfortunately, three months after I left my job, I split from my husband.  He went back to Thailand and I was left to look after the children on my own.

“Being out of work meant I really struggled with money.  I had loans that I couldn’t pay off and had to borrow money from my family. I was desperate to get back to work so I could support myself and my children.

“I really wanted to work in administration but when I started looking for jobs, I found my experience in the restaurant wouldn’t help me get the job I wanted.

“When I first went to learndirect, they asked me to identify what my goal was for the future and what I hoped to achieve, and this really helped give me something to focus on. The flexibility of learndirect also meant I could do some of my learning at home when it best suited me, so I could fit it around looking after my children.

“The tutors at learndirect always kept me motivated to reach my goal to work in administration.  I was able to get my qualifications in maths and English, write a CV and apply for jobs, all with their help.

“Thanks to my new skills I was successful in getting a job at a Housing Trust doing the administration for the maintenance department. I enjoy my work so much now, I’m happy to go into work every day and I’m making more money than when I was a waitress.

“Now I have a job things are so much better. I can pay my bills without worrying and I’ve managed to pay off my loans and credit cards.  I have extra money left over to buy things for my children and I’m able to save money for the future as well.

“I’d like to do a degree in business administration next so that I can progress at work and go onto to an even higher position.

“My experience at learndirect not only allowed me to get more qualifications, but it has helped me to start a new life.”