Bob had no formal qualifications, but the knowledge and experience he'd gained in his job helped him get on to the education ladder and gain an Honours degree.

Bob was in his 30s and working as full-time coordinator at an unemployed workers' centre providing community-based activities.

"I enjoyed working with people and I had quite a lot of responsibility, but I was at a bit of a dead end. I thought 'is this it for the rest of my life?'"

Bob knew he could not progress in his job without formal qualifications. And he was keen to get back into learning and maybe go on to university. "I wanted to see how I'd get on, but I wasn't sure I could do it."

It was a big step to take, because Bob and his partner Moira have three children. But since the youngest had now started school, Moira reckoned she could go back to work and help to support the family while Bob studied.

Bob approached his local further education college for advice. He had practical skills in computer graphics and IT, and practical experience in management and team working, but no accredited qualifications.

He was advised to start by aiming for an HNC in Working with Communities. The college would give him advice and support in getting back into learning.

Bob enjoyed being back in a learning environment and achieved an HNC. That gave him confidence to continue learning and take that major step of going to university.

"When I was at school nobody like me would have even thought about going to university. It was just 'get a job' and get on with it. I couldn't believe it was me that first day I started on my degree."

The learning he acquired doing his HNC was credited towards doing a BA Degree in Community Education. "By the time I got that Degree I was by then totally bitten by the learning bug. Moira was really happy doing her job and one of us was always there for the kids, so I decided to go for it and try for an Honours degree."

Bob said: "To be honest, that 12 months' studying before I got the Honours degree was really, really hard. But I wouldn't have missed it for anything. If you get the chance, go for it."

Bob is now a community learning and development worker, helping to develop education and training opportunities for other people. And he's using the Framework to show other people the different pathways to learning open to them.

"It was a bit of a stretch for the family while I was studying. But Moira never complained once and the kids thought it was dead funny that their dad had gone back to school.

"And now we're enjoying the benefits. I've got a better job and the kids understand more about what the real value of an education is. I hope it'll give them a better future too."