A TECHNICIAN from Risca has been highly commended for returning to education while holding down a permanent job.

Melanie Conway, of Ty Isaf Park Road, works at Crumlin-based Atlantic Technology. But the 35-year-old mother of two teenage girls is also studying part-time for an Ordinary National Certificate in electronics and electrical engineering.

She was recently entered for the NAICE Dysgu Cymru Learning At Work Awards by her tutor at Coleg Gwent's Cross Keys campus. NAICE Dysgu Cymru, one of the organisations promoting adult learning in Wales, had organised the awards in an effort to promote the message that through commitment to learning careers can be enhanced and productivity in the workplace increased.

Ms Conway has worked at Atlantic Technology for four years. At first she assembled and tested semi-conductors used in mobile phones. She is now classed as a technician with responsibility for setting up the machines she uses and fault finding.

In a change to the normal way of studying Ms Conway is taught in the workplace two hours a week by her tutor.

She said: "It's really good. I think being 35, going to college full of 16-17-year-olds, I would have felt intimidated and might not have started the course. But I am in familiar surroundings and that makes it easier. There's six of us in my area doing the course at the same time. That means we are able to encourage each other."

Ms Conway said she knew she was being entered for the award. She said: "I think it was because there's not many women in engineering and they want more women to go into engineering and more adult learners. I think they see me as a role model."

Ms Conway said she was "really pleased" at being highly commended. She said: "It spurs me on to do better. My mum and dad are also chuffed to bits, especially because I am on my own with the girls and I work. My colleagues are also pleased for me."