“I left school with no qualifications, now I’m driving regeneration in my home town” – University of Cumbria prize-winning graduate Nina Albertelli

Graduating with her BA (Hons) Applied Management degree, part of her Level 6 Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship (CMDA), Nina has also received The Hensman Prize at Carlisle Cathedral.

The Hensman Prize is awarded to the University of Cumbria business, industry or leadership student who brings demonstrable benefit to the Cumbrian community through their research, volunteering, projects or business start-up.

Nina works as business development manager at the Phoenix Enterprise Centre (PEC), helping business start-ups and encouraging new businesses to grow in the area.

Through the award, she has been recognised for developing PEC’s feasibility study that supports efforts to establish a new community hub in Cleator Moor.

Responding directly to the UK Government’s Levelling Up agenda and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) to empower communities, a new community hub is proposed with hopes that up to £5.6m can be secured through the Cleator Moor Town Deal to refurbish and develop the council-owned building that PEC may operate.

Ensuring this investment can deliver long-term, measurable community benefit is essential to avoid the risk of underspend and potential clawback to central government. Nina’s study also formed a major part of her final project for her degree programme and apprenticeship.

It has been no mean feat for Nina, who – due to her lack of academic qualifications – has been able to manage her full-time job and family commitments alongside completing Functional Maths and English courses in addition to her degree and apprenticeship studies during her first year at University of Cumbria.

Nina said: “This Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship, both the degree programme and apprenticeship side, has changed my view of work and of life. Without it I could perhaps do my job but it has really elevated my deeper knowledge and higher levels skills that I’m able to utilise every single day, helping me understand much more about the things that come across my desk and the factors that may affect them.

“My study that I submitted for my programme is helping with my academic studies but will also be used by the PEC board when we want to progress towards the next stages of the hub plans.”

Despite leaving school with no formal qualifications, Nina bought her first business – a café in Whitehaven – when she was 21 years old.

“I thought if I bought my own business then no-one could make me redundant,” said Nina, reflecting her entrepreneurial spirit.

After five years, Nina sold the café business before going on to enjoy a career in the health, wellbeing and fitness sector. She gained a plethora of relevant professional qualifications including physical training and GP on Referral services before the opportunity to work at the PEC came up at the time of the Covid pandemic.

Her entrepreneurial talent and project management skills were on display for all to see during the pandemic when, as a volunteer, she helped lead a £200,000 appeal that sent 10 vans of aid to war-torn Ukraine, attracting support from major west Cumbrian employers including Forth Engineering.

Nina, who has two grown-up sons, said: “This was never on my radar. My youngest son, who is now 19, he knew more about this process than I did when I found out about the apprenticeship through work. This was because at the time he was at school in sixth form going through all the prep for applying to university.

“We were talking about UCAS points and he looked through every piece of paper and certificate I had including things like a Zumba certificate that may’ve had six points, a pool plant operator certificate that had 16. I had no idea that these things were worth UCAS points. I knew early on I’d have to do my Maths and English, but again the university was on hand to guide me on what options were available.”

Understanding and support from her manager and employer have been key to Nina’s learning success, as has face-to-face teaching sessions with tutors and fellow degree-level apprentices.

“They’ve seen how my studies are having a positive impact upon my work,” said Nina.

Nikki Dawson, senior lecturer for the CMDA programme, said: "Nina has demonstrated exceptional professional and academic growth throughout her three years on the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship at the University of Cumbria. She has consistently supported her peers, served as an effective and respected student voice for her cohort, and has been a leading advocate for work‑based learning and the value of the CMDA programme.

"Her commitment, maturity, and collaborative approach have made her a pleasure to teach, and she stands out as a learner who has fully embraced both the academic and professional dimensions of the apprenticeship."

PEC’s Executive Director Joanne Crowe said: “When I appointed Nina in 2022 her enthusiasm, passion and determination shone through.  I know she won’t mind me saying that I thought of her as a rough diamond.

“She committed herself fully to her learning and, as a result, has grown and developed both academically and personally. She applied her learning to her work programme and has implemented change management and improvements across the organisation.

“She is such an asset. That diamond is shining now!”

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