Gordon Cartlidge - Bentley Motors

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	With my prize money I am going to buy a laptop and would love to write a book about my life and experiences which would hopefully help people with similar difficulties come forward and find help.

Gordon Cartlidge has worked for world renowned motor company Bentley for over 35 years. Two and a half years ago, Gordon’s job role as a Paint Valeter Associate began to change and started to require more documentary procedures. His manager noticed that Gordon was finding difficulties to adapt to the paper led changes and asked him to consider getting help.

Gordon was then directed to Bentley’s training department who identified that he would benefit from one-to-one support. After being introduced to several different tutors from several different colleges, Gordon was introduced to Total People and their Basic Skills tutors who were able to offer Gordon the support and flexibility that he needed to complete his goal; being able to read to his 18 month old granddaughter. Two and a half years later Gordon has come a long way. “This has changed my life completely,” says Gordon.

His Basic Skills tutors from Total People were so impressed with his efforts, dedication and development that they encouraged Gordon to apply for the Adult Learner of the Year award. To Gordon’s surprise he was awarded Senior Adult Learner of the Year Award for the North West. Gordon was invited to London’s Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, and the launch of ‘Adult Learners Week’ where he was introduced to other regional winners as well as Members of Parliament who had come along to support the event.

From one prestigious occasion to the next, Gordon was invited to the Palace Hotel in the heart of Manchester to accept his Senior Adult Learner of the Year Award for the North West. “The award ceremony in Manchester was fantastic. It was great to meet people who had and were going through the same experiences as myself. I even gave a short speech when I accepted my award thanking those who have supported me throughout this journey.” At the awards it was discovered that Gordon had gone missing and he was finally found, to the shock of his friends and family, to be in one of the hotel’s suites giving a radio interview, something that Gordon could have only dreamed about doing two years prior.

Since his success, Gordon has been continuing his progress with Total People and their tutors. “I hope that my story will help people come forward and give it a go. I’ve been able to fulfill my goal of being able to read to my granddaughter but I would also be proud if I could help someone else overcome their gremlins.”

Gordon has now set his sights higher, “With my prize money I am going to buy a laptop and would love to write a book about my life and experiences which would hopefully help people with similar difficulties come forward and find help.”

 

 

 

 

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