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Nottingham author backs Learning at Work Week

Successful Nottingham author, Nicola Monaghan, will be on hand next week to encourage Nottingham City Homes employees to get back into learning.

The company is holding events from Monday 11 May to Friday 15 May to mark the nationally-led Learning at Work Week. Events throughout the week include a book wwap, an event to talk to union learning representatives and local colleges and a taster session for a new customer care training package.

On Thursday 14 May, Nicola Monaghan, Nottingham-born author, will launch the special Learning at Work Day event, being held at our Harvey Road depot. This event is designed for all employees, in particular craft workers and housing office staff who normally work out in the community. All employees have been allowed an hour out of their day to visit the event and learn more about getting back into training and developing their skills.

Nicola’s connection is not just with Nottingham, she previously lived in a council home. Born in Radford she grew up on the estates of Broxtowe, Sherwood, Bilborough and Top Valley. She went to Trinity School and later went on to teach at Haddon Park School. She studied maths at York University, and then worked in London for several years before returning to Nottingham to study an MA in Creative Writing at Trent University. She has since had two novels and a shorter book published, including her debut novel, The Killing Jar, which is based on the Broxtowe estate where she lived as a child.

Nicola will launch the event to show employees the benefits of going back to learning. She is also keen to push the book swap initiative. She said:

Literacy is the key to navigating life, filling in forms, getting jobs and generally understanding the world. But it can also unlock bigger treasures; further learning and research, writing letters and emails and creating stories that persuade and capture the detail and beauty of life for other people to see.

In a world of computers, satellite television, busy lives and work, we can forget how relaxing it is to sit with a good book and read. I will be encouraging all NCH employees to get back to reading and expand their learning opportunities.

(Mon, 11 May 2009 09:00:00 GMT)

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