A PERSHORE based training provider which operates across the UK, has had the outstanding contributions of a member of its team recognised by a local college.

Training officer Jane Juniper from First Response Training was named assessor of the year at the Training and Development Awards held by North East Worcestershire (NEW) College, Bromsgrove.

Ms Juniper, who delivers training in a range of subjects, is the project lead for the delivery of NCFE-accredited blended learning courses that FRT offers as a sub-contractor for NEW College. She works closely with key representatives at the college to deliver and assess the blended learning programmes, which are funded by the Skills Funding Agency, and pipped 80 other assessors to the post to be named assessor of the year.

Attending the Training and Development Awards with other members of the FRT team, Ms Juniper was simply expecting a nice evening with a meal and a presentation from Claire Young, a finalist in series four of BBC1’s The Apprentice in 2008. Instead, she found herself getting up on stage to receive an award for her outstanding standards and commitment in the delivery of blended learning courses.

She said: "I was completely taken by surprise but was elated to have received the award. I did not expect it at all and was shocked that my colleagues – who had known about it beforehand – were able to keep it so quiet. It was a very lovely surprise though.”

Darren Eden, chief executive of the holding company that owns FRT, added: "Jane consistently receives excellent feedback from both learners and clients for the training that she delivers. We have always known, therefore, that she is an excellent trainer and assessor and a credit to our company, but it is really good to see this acknowledged by an external organisation and to have her hard work and dedication rewarded in this way."