He is accustomed to reporting on silky sporting skills. But today, BBC sports presenter Ray Stubbs will be handing out the gongs to reward skills of a different kind.

He is accustomed to reporting on silky sporting skills. But today, BBC sports presenter Ray Stubbs will be handing out the gongs to reward skills of a different kind.

The Football Focus frontman is the special guest at the Norfolk final of the Big Skill Awards 2009, which are being staged outside the Forum in Norwich.

The awards recognise and reward inspirational people and businesses that have improved their life or the lives of others through learning.

This year's shortlisted finalists are:

14-16 learner award

Jade Church, 16, from Norwich

Abigail Moore, 15, from Norwich

Dale Bartram, 16, from North Walsham.

17-19 learner award

Bobby Colliver, 18, from King's Lynn

Matthew Duerden, 17, from Bunwell

Ashley Brennan, 18, from Poringland.

Adult learner award

Illumin�e Nganamariya, 40, from Norwich

Anonymous

Ruth Ward, 67, from New Costessey.

Skills for the community award

Hazel Lewis, 35, from King's Lynn.

Skills for work award

Matthew Summers, 22, from Boughton

Harry Bunting, 21, from King's Lynn.

Employer commitment to skills award

The Crown Hotel, Wells

Lintott Control Systems, Colton

Norfolk broads Direct, Salhouse.

The learners' champion award

Peter Thompson, 48, from Hopton

Teresa Gibson, 37, from King's Lynn.

The ceremony kicks off at noon with an afternoon of displays and demonstrations of the training and educational opportunities in Norfolk.

Visitors will have the chance to scale a 45ft climbing wall, learn how to juggle, play a giant game of Jenga and get hair and beauty tips.

There will also be skills demonstrations including engineering, cookery and carpentry and plenty to keep youngsters entertained including badge making, face painting and a competition involving a life-sized model horse.

Stage performances will take place throughout the day, with dancing and musical theatre from Norwich City College and Yarmouth College, and a dog agility show from Easton College.

The presentation of the awards takes place from 6.30pm.

Graham Brough, area director at Learning and Skills Council Norfolk, who was on the judging panel, said: “It's really heartening to see that so many people have learned new skills which, in many cases, have helped turn their lives around.”

Stubbs said: “It'll be great to be back in Norwich and meet the finalists and to present the awards to the winners. There are some really inspiring stories among the finalists and their achievements really deserve to be recognised with these awards. It's fantastic to be involved in something that has clearly improved people's lives and, in many cases, the lives of others.”