STAFF at a Darlington-based waste recycling company have highlighted the importance of putting themselves through extra learning whilst working.

Andrew Challis and Mark Storrie have both been able to move up the ladder at Total Recycling Services and are now highlighting the benefits of working on the job to help others.

Their appeal comes as the Festival of Learning takes place this week, which aims to celebrate adult learning across the country.

Mr Challis, a hazardous and transfer station supervisor, initially started as an unskilled worker in the company’s industrial services division in 2013, before moving through to drum decontamination in 2014.

He is now overseeing three members of staff as part of his role.

Mr Storrie started his career as a forklift driver when the company was founded in 2009, before moving into supervisory and managerial positions.

He said: “Professional development is incredibly important – it keeps you a step-in front of the person behind you and ensures that you’re always pushing on.

"It gives you a level of understanding in your role that you wouldn’t have had.

“Instead of getting a view at just one role of an organisation it can allow you to understand the organisation from different perspectives – helping you to help your colleagues and offer advice from a more informed position.

“If I had any advice for someone in a position to want to go for a role but they don’t have the qualifications is to say go for it. I wasn’t the best academically at school, but it has lead me to better things.”