Learning Success

City Council event celebrates staff achievement

(Date of issue: Wednesday, 10 December 2008)

Carlisle City Council is set to stage its annual ‘Celebration of Learning’ event on Thursday, 11 December, at Tullie House Museum & Art Gallery. This will recognise the achievements of 45 staff and members that have gained qualifications ranging from literacy through to postgraduate diplomas. They will be joined by the Leader of the City Council, Cllr Mike Mitchelson and the City Council’s Town Clerk & Chief Executive, Maggie Mooney, who will make the presentations.

The Council is committed to ‘ leading by example’ in developing its staff. In 2007, Carlisle City Council became the first authority in the Northwest to be awarded the Get On Award, which recognises excellence in Skills for Life provision. A new corporate development programme,

CityFirst, was launched in 2008, which is designed to deliver a range of in-house training and developing opportunities for staff at all levels. The Council is working with external training providers to deliver qualifications for its staff ranging from level one and two qualifications as part of Train to Gain, through to degree and postgraduate courses.

Carlisle City Council Leader Cllr Mike Mitchelson said:

"The staff ‘Celebration of Learning’ event fits firmly with a Carlisle City Council’s Learning City priority. Learning City is one of three corporate priorities for the Council and this means being a role model for our community and leading by example in the field of learning and development. In supporting this initiative we as a City will begin to benefit through growing our own. Every member of staff that has attained an award has worked extremely hard and their efforts are to be thoroughly commended."

Cllr Barry Earp portfolio holder for Learning and Development said:

"This event celebrates all that Learning City stands for, all of those involved have every reason to be proud of their achievements. I am delighted to see staff and members firmly grasping the opportunities presented to them in developing the necessary skills and abilities, which will help Carlisle City Council go from strength to strength and grow and develop for the future."

Maggie Mooney Chief Executive of Carlisle City Council said:

"The ‘Celebration of Learning' event is about celebrating the achievements of City Council staff and members, and also an opportunity to recognise a great deal of courage too. For those who were new to learning this year, it was not easy to leap into the unknown. It's not just about working hard and gaining qualifications, but also recognising that many of our staff have shown a genuine desire to be the best they can possibly be. Learning is about changing lives and always for the better."