'If we can do it - you can do it too'.

Returning to education has already paid dividends for one mature student.

Ian Wake completed a Foundation Degree at Middlesbrough College and is currently studying for a BA in Business Management at Teesside University.

He works for safety equipment specialists Sperian where was recently promoted from regional to national product manager.

He said: "I have worked for Sperian for a number of years now and worked my way up through the company.

"I enjoy my job and have quite a bit of experience but I wanted more knowledge of the business world and how I could help my company go forward.

"Sperian sponsored me to go to Middlesbrough College and were great in allowing me the time to study. I have quite a busy job and travel all over the country but it was just a case of learning to manage my time and A learner who has her eyes on travelling the globe is hoping her ambitions will be realised after an award-winning education.

Kayleigh Manders studied for her AVCE in Travel and Tourism (now known at the BTEC National Diploma) at Middlesbrough College where she enjoyed a trip to New York.

The 20-year-old is currently in her second and final year of a Foundation Degree in Travel and Tourism which is held at Middlesbrough College in partnership with Teesside University and splits her time between the two learning centres.

Last year she received an award from the University for outstanding first year performance on a foundation degree.

Kayleigh, who lives in Ormesby, said: "It was a brilliant course at Middlesbrough College, I really enjoyed it and would recommend anyone to do it. In fact I am trying to convince my little sister it is the course for her..

making sure I got all of my reports written up on a night or a weekend if I had been at college that day." Forty-year-old Ian, who lives in Stainton Village with his wife and three daughters, left school at 16 to join the army.

He is now UK product sales manager where his responsibilities include introducing new products to the market, training and guiding the sales team, pricing and development and looking into new markets.

He said: "I am currently writing a UK marketing plan on how we can look forward to 2009 and strengthen the company's position in the market.

"I would encourage anyone who wants to progress to look at going back into education no matter what their age it can really shed a new light on a job you may have been doing for years." Kayleigh is currently on work placement at Middlesbrough Council's tourism department where she is helping to promote the town's tourism destinations.

"I have worked in the travel industry before. I had a seasonal job as airport check-in staff at Durham Tees Valley Airport and I also worked as a sales rep for a holiday company." Whilst undertaking her Travel and Tourism course at Middlesbrough College, Kayleigh, who left St David's School in Acklam with 10 GCSEs, studied for her cabin crew qualification, broadening her future employment prospects.

She said: "I really enjoyed the cabin crew course and although it is the tourism side I am interested in at the moment, having that qualification behind me means that I can have plenty of options in the future."

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Ian Wake