A BOLTON woman has achieved a national first.

Catherine Potter, Quality Co-ordinator for Bolton's Verna Ltd, is the first female in the country to gain an NVQ Level 4 in Quality Management.

The new Quality Management standard covers all the business and technical issues surrounding the profession.

The pioneering training programme has been part-funded by Bolton and Bury Chamber - as part of Verna's continued commitment to Investors in People.

Catherine, aged 28, said: "I didn't have a formal quality-based qualification, but had plenty of skill and knowledge that I'd learned working within Verna.

"This NVQ recognised the knowledge that I already had and focused on the areas where there were skills gaps.

"It was highly practical and I am putting into practice all that I have learned."

She was responsible for guiding the transport division through to success in gaining its ISO9002 quality standard.

Other key staff are now pursuing NVQ Level 5 programmes in Operations Management - with the support of the Chamber.

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