WHEN redundancy beckoned, schoolteacher Kevin Webb swapped the whiteboard for the fretboard, to set up his own school of rock.

Two years later, Mr Webb's music tuition business All About Guitars is on the up and he feels he is now doing something he was always destined to do.

And he has no doubt that a large part of his progress to date is down to the help and support he received from Careers Wales.

This week is Adult Learners' Week, which aims to encourage people from all walks of life to learn new skills and boost their job prospects, and Mr Webb is urging people to take the opportunity to try something new.

After a 17-year teaching career was cut short by redundancy in 2010, learning new skills was vital for Mr Webb to pursue his idea of a career in the music business.

He realised he needed professional advice and contacted Careers Wales, which helped point him in the right direction.

"I was so passionate about the direction that I wanted to go in, anything seemed possible, but my adviser helped me to pull all my ideas together and start to prioritise," said Mr Webb.

"We discussed a self-employment idea and where I could seek financial support from agencies, which turned out to be crucial."

Mr Webb became involved with ReAct, a Welsh Government skills and retraining scheme for people who have been made redundant. Through it, he found funding for training that took in music theory and jamming, Rock School Guitar Grades Four, Five and Six, music technology and advanced guitar repair.

On completion, he launched All About Guitars, based in his home town of Usk. He is also a registered music leader, is involved with Bristol's Colston Hall and other venues, and develops and delivers musical workshop projects with music industry professionals.

He is also now teaching music to foster children through social services, running parent and child community song writing and guitar workshops each week at Raglan primary school.

"I've been through a lot following the redundancy, and although I knew from an early stage what I wanted to do, I didn't necessarily know how to get there," he said.

"Careers Wales was an excellent first port of call. The guidance I received was invaluable. I sincerely believe that I was destined to do what I'm doing now. I work with some amazing people, and when good people work with good people, great things can happen."

MORE than 800 taster events are taking place across Wales until May 20, to mark Adult Learners' Week. For details of events in Newport, Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen, Caerphilly and Monmouthshire, visit www.niacedc.org.uk where 'what's on' guides are available to download.