Orcadian globetrotter Jenna Tait has twin passions in life - sunshine and certificates.

Jenna boosted an already impressive list of qualifications when she became the first person from the islands to gain a Modern Apprenticeship in administration.  Now she is indulging her love of the sun by teaching English to students in Italy at a language school near Milan.

The 24-year-old from Kirkwall completed her ground breaking Modern Apprenticeship while working as an administrative assistant at Orkney Enterprise.  Doreen Rendall, development manager with Orkney Enterprise, said: "She was working with us full time, so we know how determined she was to achieve a qualification she saw as really important.

"She is the first to achieve a Modern Apprenticeship in administration here in Orkney and she did it to a really high standard."

Jenna, who has a degree in English language and linguistics, said: "I love gaining new certificates.  It sounds a bit quirky, but I suppose it is because I enjoy learning new things.  I particularly enjoyed doing the Modern Apprenticeship because the qualification is based around practical skills."

Karen Campbell, from Kirkwall-based Support Training, guided Jenna as she gathered a portfolio of evidence demonstrating her ability to tackle a wide range of administrative tasks.

"She put in such a lot of hard work and I am really proud of what she has achieved," said Mrs Campbell, business administrator with the training company. 

"Jenna will go far and this is an extremely worthwhile qualification that should be a big help to her.  It is a work-based qualification that shows you are skilled in many aspects of running an office and that is something that more and more employers are looking for."

With the help of yet another certificate - a teaching English as a foreign language qualification she gained on a four-week course in Barcelona - Jenna quickly found work in Italy.

She said: "I am having a fantastic time.  The weather is fabulous and the food is wondering and the other students are great.

 "Many of the things I learned in gaining the Modern Apprenticeship have been useful for the admin side of the job I am doing at the language school.  I am going to be sad to leave but it helps that I am following the sun to another teaching job in Malta."

Jenna then plans to find office work in Scotland before setting off on her travels again.

She added: "The fact that I can show I have done the Modern Apprenticeship means I should be able to command a higher rate of pay.  It is always going to be useful when I am looking for work because now I have got proven skills, backed by very relevant qualifications."