The university's Vice-Chancellor, Prof Tim Wheeler, presented the successful candidates with their professional certificates in management at a graduation-style ceremony hosted at the chapel on the Chester campus.

Dressed in cap and gown, the learners, who are all from the Chester area, gained their professional certificates through a series of lectures, writing skills sessions, and computer workshops. The course focused on communication skills, team working, and critical reflection.

Senior lecturer Connie Hancock, said: "Most of the learners who have been recognised in the ceremony have spent their working lives with no accreditation, acknowledgement or qualifications to reflect the significant range of skills that they have amassed during their careers.

"This five-month course, which is equivalent to three modules of a degree programme, represented a flexible method of achieving an award that accurately reflected existing competencies, and responded to the skills that they felt needed to be further developed or acquired.

"The professional certificate signals a significant achievement for these learners, as it represents their first venture into the world of higher education.

"We are very proud of their achievements, and hope that they will build on their successes."