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20 Feb 2007 10:51:53
Mum of two Karen Tyrrell took a brave step last year. She took stock of her career and decided to go back into education by undertaking two courses at the University of Bedfordshire which have helped to transform her career.
Karen, 47, from Letchworth, had a part-time filing job at a stockbroker’s office while her children were at school.
Eight years on she was offered the chance to take on a management position. After taking two University courses to build her confidence and learn some new management skills, she’s achieved the promotion she wanted plus a pay rise to go with it.
Karen is now the Administration Manager of Raymond James Investment Services in Hitchin – updating client accounts, sorting probate cases and corporate actions on stocks held and talking to clients about their options.
Karen said: “I’m now in full-time employment, taking on more work for the investment team as the business has grown. I felt I needed more skills and confidence to do this and saw the University advert in the local paper. I did the ‘Unlocking Your Potential’ course first because I had been out of studying for a long time and needed to get back into learning and find more confidence.
“I enjoyed it so much, I did the next ‘Flying High’ course too. I thought I would be intimidated by high-flying businesswomen attending – but it wasn’t like that at all – there was a real mixture of people.
“It was a good course – from problem solving and decision making to simple things like doing a ‘to do’ list each day, to organise yourself and prioritise.
“I was freed up by my employer to do it two days a month. Now I’m much more involved with clients, and there’s more job satisfaction. We have even taken on someone else to do my old job”
The courses aim to build confidence and self-esteem and include problem solving, planning change, decision-making, team building, leadership, budget management and time and self-development.
Flying High provided a level 3 Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) qualification with an option to gain University credits at degree level. More than 100 women took the Unlocking Potential course – 37 women gained a management certificate, two were promoted at work, six gained credits to a degree level, two went on to do Master’s degrees and signed up for ‘Flying High’.
Karen continued: “Since taking the course, I’ve been involved in more discussions about plans for the business. I feel I’m taken seriously and it has really given me a boost and made me want to do more training.
“My daughters are impressed that I have gone back into education. Heather is at the University of Bedfordshire doing Sport and Exercise Science, while Lindsey is at college doing hairdressing.”
The ‘Unlocking Your Potential’ and ‘Flying High’ courses were supported by the European Social Fund.
To find out more about the range of business and career development courses offered at the University’s Knowledge Hub, call 0800 328 5334 or visit www.beds.ac.uk/knowledgehub.
Latest news» 2007» Feb» Letchworth mum is flying high after return to uni
