Goodbye from Jo Knight

This was my seventh and final Adult Learners’ Week Awards Ceremony, and what an honour it has been to provide a platform to celebrate the success of many of the West Midland’s wonderful and inspiring adult learners over the years.

Bob Lawrence is a terrific example of a winner who has become a close colleague and who played a key role in enabling NIACE to access the West Midland Safari Park as a venue for the 2010 awards ceremony. Thank you Bob.

It would be untrue to say that I do not have my favourite winners. I can however honestly say that every single learner that I have been introduced to via the nomination process deserved it.
I am proud of each and every one and really feel that they have joined a very special family of which I became ‘mum’ for a short time. Next year, NIACE will be celebrating the 20th year of Adult Learners’ Week and I know they will want to contact as many of the previous winners as possible to join in

regional and national events – so the celebrations continue.

It is not just the learners of course that need a pat on the back. The tutors, employers, project leaders, etc. who take the time to nominate someone often go ‘unsung’, but they are the people who nurture, mentor and teach the adults.
They are the ones who create such an interesting job for the panels who have to make the tough decision on which learners are the best of the best.

So whilst I am saying goodbye please don’t think this is the end – I want to hear that the West Midlands have in 2011 scooped as many awards as possible but, more importantly, that the region continues to have the highest number of nominations of the very best quality. For information on

the 2011 Adult Learners’ Week nominations please contact alw@niace.org.uk, or ring 0116 204 4200 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              0116 204 4200      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              0116 204 4200      end_of_the_skype_highlighting and keep an eye on www.alw.org.uk

Adult Learners’ Week is organised by NIACE and supported by

European Union - European Social Fund Investing in Jobs and Skills

BIS - Department for Business Innovation & Skills

Careers Advice