Two of the biggest events in the Welsh training calendar are fast approaching - Vocational Qualifications Day on June 10 and Adult Learners' Week (June 13 – 19), which provides me with a great excuse to talk about these two excellent educational celebrations.

Vocational qualifications are no longer seen as the ‘alternative’ route; but rather the norm and on par with GCSEs and A Levels.

Long gone are the days when education was just for children and young adults.

Today learning and training is ageless and limitless, these two events recognise and celebrate this ever-changing world of work and development.

The Welsh Government’s Department for Education and Skills alongside the National Training Federation for Wales and Colleges Wales have organised this year’s VQ Awards. The awards which fall on the eve of VQ Day will celebrate the achievements of both learners and employers across Wales.

At Acorn we’re delighted to have worked with two of the six finalists for this year’s Wales VQ Learner of the Year: James Pepper, 39, a technical services director at Vista Retail Support Ltd in Cardiff who has been developing his skills with Acorn since 2005, and Paul Wiggins, 35, a chartered insurance broker at Newport-based BPW Insurance Services who achieved an Apprenticeship in Insurance with Acorn in 2012.

Like James and Paul, there are people across Wales who are eager to get into the workplace and train on the job.

There is always a need for willing people, individuals who are dedicated and committed to working hard and gaining additional qualifications in a bid to secure a fruitful career.

I’ve said it before, but vocational qualifications are extremely significant to the Welsh economy and everyone involved.

Adult Learners’ Week, the following week, aims to raise awareness of the growing number of older people who are looking to develop new skills.

Whether returning to work after a break or redundancy, pursuing a promotion or climbing the career ladder, adult learning and additional qualifications can potentially changes lives for the better.

It allows people who may have believed they had reached their potential to secure additional career defining qualifications. You can find further information on the taster sessions being provided during this week at: http://www.niacecymru.org.uk/

So, whether you’re an individual entering or re-entering the world of work, someone who fancies a change, a company on the search for talented, enthusiastic employees, or you just want to know if there is any funding available to help support your training needs, take a moment throughout June to think about how training can either change your career or help improve your business performance.