Part-time Course at SERC Rewards Excellence at Work for Ciara

Gaining a Professional Recognition Award through South Eastern Regional College (SERC) has helped a Bangor woman focus and reflect on her senior role in healthcare recruitment, cementing her professional development. 

Ciara Ashton, (40), progressed from Our Lady and St Patrick’s College, Knock, to a degree in Geography at Queen’s University Belfast, then embarked on a career in recruitment.

“I started my career working in Marie Curie as a recruitment consultant,” Ciara explains, “I then moved to Balmoral Healthcare Agency as a recruitment co-ordinator in May 2013; I have worked my way up to senior recruitment co-ordinator, then principal recruitment co-ordinator and now I am Head of Operations.” 

Ciara says she has had full support from her employer to progress and grow professionally:  

"Balmoral Healthcare has invested in my career, and it is through this investment that I completed an ILM Level 5 course in Leadership and Management. We then looked at the next stage in professional development and met careers staff at SERC to explore the City and Guilds Level 6 Professional Recognition Award and find out what the course entailed. Finding a qualification which recognises the work I have already done seemed the right step.” 

Ciara found the course was exactly right for her circumstances. She comments,

“My tutor, Barbara, was excellent and worked at my pace. Barbara knew I wanted to finish the course in about six months, and she enabled me to meet this target. I especially liked that the classes were online via Teams as it meant I could fit the classes around my working day. My classes with Barbara and the opportunity to fully explore and reflect on my role have given me a greater confidence within myself. 

“If anyone is wondering about enrolling on any professional development course at SERC, I would say go for it, you won’t regret it. You will be able to work at your own pace and the classes will fit around your schedule. This course officially recognises the work I already do and it’s lovely to have this qualification now to show for it.” 

Professional Recognition Awards offer the opportunity to gain an accredited qualification which recognises excellence in a chosen vocational field. Find out more at Business Services - SERC.