A Kent office of the Environment Agency has been recognised for its success and shortlisted for an award.

The team at the Tonbridge office has been nominated for learndirect's Business Impact Award for its high level support to staff and learners and dedication to their work.

Wanting to make a difference, team leader Chris Di Marco, took on an employee with learning difficulties as part of the Assisted Apprenticeship scheme via Kent Support Employment.

Mr Di Marco said: "“I took this candidate on because they demonstrated the right skills for our business.

“The Apprenticeship scheme was also supported by our National Confidence Programme, where we want everyone to feel confident when talking about disability across the organisation. People always talk about equality and diversity, but we here at the Environment Agency live it and encourage everyone to “be the best, be yourself.

"Thanks to learndirect we were able to guide and support our candidate through his journey to complete his Business Administration level 2 Apprenticeship, build his confidence and gain an outstanding employee.”

As a trainer assessor at learndirect, Nicki Gardner works with a range of learners with individualised delivery plans and understands the difficulties leaners with disabilities face.

“The Environment Agency has immensely contributed to breaking down the limitations of anyone with a disability" Nicki Gardner...

She was the one who nominated the Environment Agency for the award and said: “Taking on an employee who requires a great deal of support and guidance obviously takes up additional time but with this invested effort the employee has proven to be an asset to the department and is now employed on a part-time basis.

“The Environment Agency has immensely contributed to breaking down the limitations of anyone with a disability.

The learndirect Inspiration Awards celebrate the learners going that extra mile to develop their skills, as well as the businesses and learndirect centres and staff supporting them.

The nominees include people who have overcome personal difficulties to learn and have gone on to find a job or move up in their career, as well as businesses who have thrived as a result of improving the skills and motivation of their workforce.

The Environment Agency will find out whether they have won the award at a ceremony to be held at the Madejski Stadium in Reading today.

For more information click here.