Robert Turner was good at hiding his dyslexia at work.........

Afraid to pick up a pen, he would remember messages and pass them on over the phone to his colleagues. It’s a different story today. “I would not be in the job I am now had I not decided to return to learning,” says the 39-year-old airport worker.

He always knew that he was being held back in his career at Birmingham International Airport by his reluctance to face up to his difficulties. He wanted to move from information desk assistant to terminal assistant, but “I knew that my spelling and grammar were poor and was too ashamed to ask for help”, he says. “Positions came available many times for terminal assistants but I knew tests were involved and I knew I would never pass them.”

Finally Robert became sick of missing the opportunities. “Terminal assistant positions became available again and I thought, ‘I want one of those’,” he says. “I spoke to the personal development manager and asked for help. We had a very good chat and to be honest a few tears were shed.”

Since then he has not looked back. He joined a literacy course at the airport, had his dyslexia diagnosed, has been promoted to terminal assistant and has completed an NVQ level 2 in customer service. Now he relishes the challenge of an NVQ level 3. “It will test all the knowledge and skills I have gained through my learning experience,” he says.

Robert was nominated, by Sally Cullum-Kenyon of Birmingham International Airport Limited, for his West Midlands Regional Adult Learners' Week Award. 

PRESS RELEASE