Learn To Earn

A professional education will earn you a living, but a personal education will make you rich

LEducation provides many an interesting debate, whether university degrees are worth it or if higher level apprenticeships really compare, I thought that I would share some of my own experiences. Growing up in Newcastle, I never realised or even appreciated the importance of education. Early on at school I was what can only be described as a swot. Later on I became a bit distracted, what with girls and fast cars, and simply wanting to make money. All of which required me to work. Although I was introduced to enterprise at a very early age through the family business, I was 12 when I started to work properly with both a Saturday job in a store and delivering papers. After leaving school, I enjoyed holding down a couple of jobs and could only be described as your typical workaholic. However, it was only later on in life that I began to really appreciate the importance of lifelong learning and personal development.

And for the last 20 years have focused on learning something new every day, reintroducing myself to Higher Education undertaking various post-graduate and vocational training. The feeling of accomplishment when learning something new or gaining a new qualification is refreshing and encourages you to do more. In fact, it is proven to release endorphins making you feel better, happier and successful. This is the same effect as chocolate but with lifelong learning, it brings you closer to your goals and ambitions rather than worrying how to burn it off! Employees may feel that there is no incentive to develop themselves further but if we fail to learn, then we fail to grow, and growth is important both personally and professionally. The single biggest factor contributing to career progression is learning. And for employers, a developing workforce ensures innovation, efficiency and increased productivity. If employees know that you invest in them then they are more invested in you. This is why

The BIG Learn has been launched and over the next 5 months over 50,000 individuals will be offered the opportunity to learn a formal, vocational qualification which is fully-funded, flexible and fun. A broad range of courses are available including Lean Organisation Management, Mental Health Awareness and Principles of Team Leading. Anybody 19+ can sign-up to these courses and learn online at a time to suit them over a 6-8 week period. This great initiative is taking place within the North of England and is an opportunity for employers to demonstrate their commitment to lifelong learning, and for employees to invest in themselves. The key to success is dedication to lifelong learning which will ultimately help everyone to become richer, both personally and professionally.