Returning to education to progress further with Leicester College

After building her career within local government for more than a decade, Dawn Jolliffe made the decision to return to education to support her progression - a step she describes as both challenging and rewarding.

Having left school in 1994 and gone straight into employment, Dawn worked her way up from an Administration Assistant in the repairs team at Melton Borough Council. Over the last 12 years, she gained immense experience in housing repairs, working in a fast-paced responsive team environment. As her responsibilities increased and she moved into career-graded roles, completing an HNC became essential for her progression.

Life balancing work and learning with Leicester College

“Returning to college as a student again was a little daunting,” Dawn explains. “But my tutor fully explained the course requirements, the lessons were well structured and the pace was just right. There was always plenty of help on hand and advice from other class members, plus full support from the tutors who were extremely knowledgeable and helpful.”

Dawn successfully completed her HNC in Construction & the Built Environment at Leicester College, and her assignment grades enabled her to progress onto the Level 5 HND in Construction Management - a qualification she chose to take to further expand her knowledge and future opportunities.

Balancing work with studies, attending college on Wednesdays, was a challenge, but one that paid off. With strong support from tutors Ray and Asem, Dawn excelled in her assignments and group projects, gaining confidence and technical expertise.

Hard work pays off

“My confidence and knowledge within the workplace have excelled and my qualifications open up other opportunities such as project and contract management and construction site supervision roles,” continues Dawn.

Dawn’s qualifications have directly contributed to promotions, and most recently securing a new role as Planned Major Works Surveyor at Melton Borough Council. She now works within the housing asset team, managing larger-scale planned projects in a very different environment from responsive repairs.

“The more qualified you are, the more doors open,” Dawn says.

Next steps

Looking ahead, Dawn is considering progressing to a Level 6 degree in the coming years and is now able to support other council employees who are studying in career-graded roles.