The Learning Rep magazine - Winter 2009

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learningrep » Winter 09

Living la vida Lola How to reach your goals with Lola Jaye’s new Quick Read

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2009: improve skills now If Britain is to emerge successfully from its economic problems employers must keep investing in skills. To encourage this approach, key industry players in business, the unions and government wrote an open letter entitled “Now is the time to invest in skills”, which appeared in all the main newspapers. It’s the time to build skills in growing sectors and in the green economy.

Unionlearn and the trade union movement is set to play its part. This year we are focusing our efforts on backing union reps including ULRs to be effective in these difficult times. We will also be highlighting those employers working with unions to up their skills game.

This year we will be producing some new guides and information for reps. And in this issue of The Learning Rep you will see a feature on some employers who are keeping up their skills commitments. We will be promoting this kind of best practice vigorously.

Our partnership work will continue to bear fruit. For example, with Investors in People we have launched a new project to appoint workplace trade union ambassadors (see opposite). In 2009 we will work to deepen and enrich our relationships with our partner organisations.

I was delighted to be one of the first to interview new skills minister Lord Young (see pages 12-14). Known to many as Tony Young, before going to the House of Lords he gave long service to the trade union movement, which included many years as a general secretary. His commitment to union learning is undiminished, and I look forward to working with him.

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Contents: 3 4 9 10 12 15 19

IIP ambassadors News Learning @ Work Day MPs learn about learning Talking to Lord Young Employers who get it Sheila Bearcroft

20 Lola’s Quick Read 24 Apprenticeships 28 Scottish Union Learning 34 Contacts 35 Jay knows 36 Free resources

Liz Smith – Director, unionlearn The Learning Rep, winter 09 Editor: Mike Power mpower@tuc.org.uk Writers: Astrid Stubbs, Martin Moriarty Design: Redhouse Lane Communications Print: Ancient House Printing Group Distribution: Cavalier mailing Cover photo: Quick Reads author Lola Jaye visiting Barnet Council photographed by Jess Hurd

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Investors in People « News «

With these ambassadors

you are spoiling us!

Three leading union learning reps have become ambassadors for Investors in People (IIP), the quality standard for developing people at work.

PCS ULR Elaine Anderson (Child Maintenance and Enforcement Agency), Prospect ULR Alison Lawson (Advantage West Midlands) and UNISON ULR Roger Irvine (Merseytravel) have joined TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber to take the IIP message out to unions, employers and employees.

“I was delighted to be asked by IIPUK to become an ambassador,” Roger said at a joint unionlearnInvestors in People reception in Westminster in November. “At the moment we’re quite a small

group, but hopefully we’re only going to get bigger, which would be really good.”

The reception also marked the launch of a new unionlearn booklet, Making The Most of Investors in People, which explains what the quality standard can offer learning reps and their members in the drive to improve workplace skills.

“Sometimes it’s not always immediately obvious to unions what Investors in People can offer, but I think it’s a powerful tool that unions, working imaginatively with employers, can use as a framework for the development of the workforce,” commented unionlearn Director Liz Smith.

Eccles MP Ian Stewart, who sits on the DIUS Select Committee, also presented Business Improvement Through Learning Awards from the Campaign for Learning to Toshiba, Haringey Council and WH Smith at the event.

And Skills and Apprenticeships Minister Lord Sir Tony Young Main picture: Ian sent a message of support to Stewart MP the event. studies the new IIP booklet with “This partnership is an new ambassador example of two organisations Alison Lawson working effectively together to while Roger support the government’s skills Irvine (above) agenda and is helping to put explains how IIP your organisations at the has worked at Merseytravel forefront of the government’s drive to increase the demand for learning and skills,” he said.

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Photos: Jess Hurd

ULRs expand the union team spreading the word about Investors in People

» News

Donna takes the prize East Anglian learning rep Donna Bilyard (UNISON) picked up the national Unionlearn Award at the learndirect Achievement Awards in October from co-hosting TV presenters Eamonn Holmes and his wife Ruth Langsford.

“I’m really overwhelmed to have won not just the regional award but the national award too,” Donna commented.

“I get great job satisfaction from helping people achieve their full potential: it’s a pleasure to work at

the UNISON Learning Centre at James Paget Hospital in Great Yarmouth.”

Newcastle ULR Jacqui Robinson (GMB) was Highly Commended at the national ceremony.

“Unionlearn is delighted to have sponsored its own award, and are pleased that the calibre of national finalists has been so very high,” said Unionlearn Director Liz Smith.

“They fully deserve their national recognition, and to be rewarded for their success in promoting learndirect and proving the benefits of union-led learning.”

To nominate a learner, business or learndirect centre for this year’s learndirect Achievement Awards, please visit the website at www.learndirect.co.uk/awards.

National learndirect Achievement Award-winner Donna Bilyard (second right) is congratulated by (from left) Ufi Chief Executive Sarah Jones, TV presenter Ruth Langsford and unionlearn Union Development Manager Judith Swift

VQ day is on the way Following this summer’s inaugural VQ Day, independent education foundation Edge has announced that this year’s celebration of vocational achievement will take place on Wednesday 24 June.

A wide range of resources is already available on the VQ Day website, including posters and leaflets, as well as practical advice on making your event a success plus tips for engaging schools and employers in the local area.

WEDNESDAY

For more information, visit www.vqday.org or contact the VQ Day PR Team: vqday@bbpr.com.

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24 JUNE

“Bomber” Graham strikes a blow for skills Former British and European Middleweight champion Herol ‘Bomber’ Graham became the first learner to sign up for a course when he launched a ULR recruitment day for GMB, Unite and UNISON members at Sheffield City Council and Sheffield Homes in November.

GMB member Herol was signposted to a range of sports science courses at the end of the event, by which time there were also enough volunteers to run two ULR courses through Sheffield TU Education Centre.

Herol Graham (centre) squares up to unionlearn’s Steve Bosworth (right) flanked by GMB Project Manager Chris Jackson

News «

Oliver asks for more

Chef Oliver Lloyd has made it into the 30-strong Squad UK for the WorldSkills competition

Young chef Oliver Lloyd is one of the 30-strong Squad UK all set to take on the best in the world at the biggest skills competition ever, WorldSkills Calgary 2009, in Canada this autumn.

Oliver and 29 other 17- to 22-year-olds made the cut after a tough three-day selection competition in November, and they will be joined by further squad members chosen at the next selection competition in January.

But they will have to wait until June before UK Skills reveals the final team to battle it out at WorldSkills, the international skills competition held every two years, in which young people from 51 different countries go for gold in 40 different vocational skills.

WorldSkills comes to London in 2011. If you know a skilled young person who might be eligible to compete, why not encourage them to enter a national ‘WorldSkills UK’ Competition, through which they might get the chance to represent the UK at the event?

• To find out more, visit: www.worldskillsuk.org.

Leading lights illuminate learning in Blackpool

In addition, five providers from the area secured the prestigious unionlearn Quality Award at the event: Manchester Training, Burnley Trade Union Learning Centre, St Anthony’s Centre, Union Learning Zone and Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

And a number of regional employers signed the government’s

Skills Pledge at the conference in the presence of Blackpool South MP Gordon Marsden and TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber, including Stagecoach NW, Knowsley Community College, Warburtons Ltd and SCAPA Group PLC. The conference also featured

the regional re-launch of U-Net, unionlearn’s network of learning centres working with learndirect.

“The turnout and atmosphere was tremendous, and this was one of the most successful conferences we’ve held in the region,” commented unionlearn Regional Manager Dave Eva. Photo: Chris Gleave

Unionlearn Director Liz Smith presented GMB learning rep Kasia Furman with the regional ULR of the Year Award at unionlearn’s North West Union Learning Conference – just one item in a packed agenda at the Illuminating Learning event in Blackpool before Christmas.

“It’s really important that we recognise the effort and hard work that ULRs, unions and learners put in to ensure unionlearn activity continues to play a vital role in addressing skills issues in the region and across the country,” Liz told the 300 delegates.

Other winners included: ● Marilyn Gollom (UNISON, Learner of the Year) ● Hilary Frangleton (POA, U-Net Learner of the Year) ● Tracy Roberts (UNISON, TU Education Learner of the Year).

Liz Smith (main picture, second left) hands Kasia Furman her ULR award, flanked by runners-up Jonathan Waterhouse (USDAW, left) and Andrew Morgan (ASLEF), while local MP Gordon Marsden (above) addresses the conference

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» News

Leicester cabbies do the knowledge, Level 2 Over 50 members of the RMT Leicester taxi drivers’ branch have become the first to graduate from an innovative learning programme designed to help them develop their skills and knowledge, and gain a nationally recognised qualification.

The 51 drivers who successfully qualified for the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 2 in Road Passenger Transport picked up their certificates at a major official ceremony, held at the National Space Centre in the city.

Supported by Julie Freeston (Rail Union Learning) and Dave Hubbard (unionlearn), RMT Branch Secretary Kashmir Singh encouraged everyone he could to sign up for the course at Leicester College.

“I spoke to as many drivers as possible, explaining to them that this course was something we all should do,” he says.

He says he really enjoyed the sixmonth training course, which included sessions on the Disability Discrimination Act, personal safety,

customer services and the provision of tourist information on the city.

Over 100 more drivers are now lined up to follow suit, with more activities planned to encourage further applications, including a rollout programme to target the 4,000-

plus drivers throughout Leicestershire. Two of the graduates have put their names forward to be trained as NVQ Assessors so they can help their fellow drivers achieve the qualification.

Leicester cab drivers celebrate gaining their NVQ Level 2 qualifications

EU boost for Cornish skills Over a dozen Cornish trade unions have got together to run a learning and skills project with financial support from the European Union designed to help develop struggling local economies to average EU levels.

A total of 13 unions are now partners in the project, which is focusing on three areas of activity: ● Skills for Life ● capacity building ● workforce development.

It’s also supporting the development of a U-Net Learning Centre in St Austell which should

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benefit all trade unions, their members, friends and family in Cornwall.

“Cornwall is the only part of England receiving EU ‘Convergence’ funding because incomes are so low, and this project should go some way to boosting the presence of unions and their impact on the county,” says unionlearn Regional Development Worker Geoff Hale.

“This is an exciting project for Cornwall which will provide substantial funds to support union activity in Cornwall but does demand continuing commitment

Geoff Hale (seen in a unionlearn DVD) explains how European funding is helping Cornwall

from unions to do what they have said they will do.”

The project is managed by unionlearn and a Joint Operations Group has been set up to monitor progress and the achievement of outcomes.

News «

Aiming higher through the OU

Clean sweep for Northern projects at matrix awards Four PCS workplace learning projects and one CWU scheme from the Northern region became the only union initiatives to win national matrix Excellence Awards this year.

“Achieving the matrix Excellence Award is no mean feat and to have effectively five centres within the region manage to do so is incredible,” commented unionlearn regional manager Barney McGill.

“This is a defining moment for union learning in the region: the CWU and PCS are such fantastic ambassadors for the value and very real accomplishments of trade unions and ULRs in the delivery of

lifelong learning and upskilling of the region’s workforce.”

The four PCS projects, based at Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs in Newcastle and Peterlee, the Department for Work and Pensions at Tyneview Park and Longbenton, and the Passport Service in Durham, have helped 2,000 people back into learning between them.

Still in its infancy, the CWU Live and Learn project based at Royal Mail in Middlesbrough has managed to reach over 300 of the 400-strong workforce, with high quality learner signposting and engagement from the outset.

BBC News presenter Kate Silverton (centre) celebrates with the winners of this year’s matrix Excellence Awards

Reading with a Welsh Accent TUC Wales and Accent Press have launched a new Workplace Reading scheme, which enables ULRs to order a refillable book box packed full of Quick Reads plus a variety of contemporary fiction, sport, biography, health and self-help titles.

The idea is that the book box can be used as a workplace library, a book-swap scheme, or as the basis for a workplace reading group, and it can be refilled as everyone works their way through titles that make up the starter kit.

The complete box with 30 books, reading group start-up suggestions and ideas is just £99 plus postage, which represents a massive saving

(the books alone would cost over £170).

“Union learning reps in Wales have benefited enormously from the Workplace Reading scheme, which builds on the successful collaboration of Wales TUC and Accent Press to distribute Quick Reads,” says Wales TUC Head of Learning Services Siân Cartwright.

“This new and creative approach to workplace learning is low-cost, easily accessible and has the potential to reach out to workplaces the length and breadth of Wales.”

Accent Press founder Hazel Cushion addresses the Wales TUC ULR conference about Workplace Reading

You can find out more at www.workplacereading.com

Manchester Royal Mail worker Andrew Manning is one of over 2,250 union learners who have taken the Open University route to personal or professional development, thanks to the partnership between the OU and unionlearn.

With the backing of CWU learning rep Duncan Healy, Andrew didn’t need much persuading to take up the idea of learning with the OU. After attending a workplace talk by the OU, he spoke to an OU representative about different course options and within days called the OU advice line and booked himself on the Understanding Management course.

“I wanted to do this course as it is relevant to my job and I thought it would help in my career progression,” he says.

Andrew received a 50 per cent subsidy towards the course fees as part of an Aimhigher scheme aimed at encouraging learners new to higher education in the area. “I would have done the course without the subsidy, but it did help,” he admits.

He’s still deciding what to do next. “I would like to do some further studies to follow on from this experience – but I’m not sure what in just yet.”

Professor David Vincent, the OU’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Strategy and External Affairs), says Andrew’s story is one of thousands that show the value of the memorandum of understanding between the OU and unionlearn.

“We’re currently recruiting more trade union members to OU courses and unionlearn is able to greatly benefit from our flexibility of provision,” David says.

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» News

Travel broadens the mind, so book yourself on a study visit If you’d like to find out more about how education and vocational training is run in other European countries, then you need to book your place on one of the next round of study visits organised

by Transversal.

You can choose to visit one of 300 organisations who are hosting the trips to showcase their own good practice in areas such as the recognition of informal learning or integration of disadvantaged groups into the labour market.

Visits last between three and five days, with field trips to different educational institutions and establishments so participants can talk to social partners, students, and experts.

Grants are available to cover travel expenses and contribute towards the costs of the visit.

“These visits involve a lot of work – visiting educational establishments,

exchanging experiences, analysing information, defining best practice and writing reports – but they broaden everyone’s horizons as to what can be achieved,” explains ASLEF union learning rep Chris Nutty, who travelled to Iceland with Transversal last year.

Wales TUC Development Officer Barbara Hale is equally enthusiastic about her trip to Turkey to find out more about vocational education.

“My study visit to see the system of vocational education in Kayseri was both enjoyable and interesting and it was also useful to exchange information with partners from Spain and Poland who also participated in the visit,” she says.

The catalogue for the next round of visits will be published in February and the deadline for applications is Thursday 9 April 2009.

Let NIACE throw you a Lifeline Adult learning organisation NIACE has published a new guide called Working with unions to develop literacy, language and numeracy in the workplace as part of its ‘Lifelines in Adult Learning’ series.

Co-authored by unionlearn’s own Judith Swift and NIACE’s Sue Southwood, the 52-page booklet sets out how providers and employers can reach many more learners when they work together with trade unions.

Case studies scattered through the guide show how the partnership approach is paying off in a wide range of workplaces, and there are practical tips for ULRs, employers and providers to help them developing a sustainable culture of learning.

There’s also a useful checklist and glossary, plus details of further reading and online resources.

You can order your copy of the booklet for £7.95 from http://tinyurl.com/5qz8r3 or tel: 0116 204 4216.

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Participants in last year’s Iceland trip visit an education centre co-owned by the Icelandic Federation of Labour and the Confederation of Icelandic Employers.

To find out more, visit www.transversal.org.uk or contact the Study Visits Team at ECOTEC on 0845 199 3939 or email studyvisits@ecotec.com.

Moving on up in the Midlands Low-paid women workers in the East Midlands are booking out a series of one-day workshops unique to unionlearn which offer them the chance to see how they could transfer the skills they use in their home lives to move into management roles at work.

After 17 women attended the first successful Women Stepping up to Management session at Derby’s Midland Mainline Academy in November, another in Nottingham in January is already fully booked, and more are planned later this year.

The Derby day attracted admin workers, enquiry clerks, receptionists, caterers, production workers and call handlers, most of them low-paid and under 25, from the Fire Service, retail, food manufacturing, car manufacturing,

colleges, prison service, voluntary sector, police service and local authorities.

“We all know women who are capable of running multinational companies, who get trapped below the glass ceiling because of low confidence levels, and the lack of job opportunities at management level with flexible working conditions,” says unionlearn Midlands Project Worker Irene Murray.

“These sessions allow women workers ‘to have a go’, to look at the skills developed in running the home, the family, the household budget, and to transfer these into their working life.”

For more details contact irene.murray@tuc.org.uk

Update «

Seven steps to

L@W Day heaven It’s time to start planning your Learning At Work Day on Thursday 14 May. This year’s theme is Skilled for Success.

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Planning is key to a great Learning at Work Day – set up a steering group with members that represent all sections of the organisation.

Decide on the objectives for your Learning at Work Day – are you trying to reach potential new learners, highlight a new course or celebrate success?

Be creative – think of a theme that grabs the attention.

Use the 7Ps of marketing to make sure your Learning at Work Day offer is perfect – think about the people, the place, the (learning) product, the promotion, the price, the process, and the physical space.

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Think benefits – sell the benefits of learning rather than the learning itself.

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Evaluate, evaluate, evaluate – use the data you collect from Learning at Work Day to inform your work and next year’s event.

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CfL offers support to help ULRs plan events and is also running planning sessions around the country. To find out about more, log onto www.learningatworkday.com

May is on the way! » Adult Learners’ Week from

PCS members learn how to relax during Learning At Work Day

L@W Day takes the biscuit McVities/United Biscuits in Stockport launched an onsite learning centre in January 2008 and ULRs used Learning at Work Day to promote the courses on offer.

As a result 200 employees were reached and over 50 new people are now doing online courses, ranging from IT to English and maths with a waiting list for Skills for Life courses. In addition, 10 employees are learning Spanish and 84 people have signed up to learn about fire protection.

9 to 15 May is the UK’s largest learning festival.

Coordinated by the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education(NIACE), it aims to encourage more and different adults to engage in learning activities, holding and promoting learning events throughout England.

» Adult Learners’ Week celebrates inspirational learning achievements through the Adult Learners’ Week Awards for individuals, families, groups and projects. Nominations close at 5pm on 21 January 2009. More details at www.alw.org.uk

» Learning sessions can be organised for lunchtimes or breaks where employees can demonstrate their skills – for example, introducing a session on how to trace your family tree, or leading a discussion about the history of the local area, or demonstrating how to create a website.

» More help in planning your

This year unionlearn regions can again apply for support for small activities on Learning at Work Day. See your regional page at www.unionlearn.org.uk for details.

event is contained in the Adult Learners’ Week ‘Event in a Box’ step-by-step Event Planning Guide. There are also customisable posters available to support learning events, as well as New Horizons motivational booklets to support potential learners. Visit www.alw.org.uk, email alw@niace.org.uk, or call 0116 204 4200.

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» Update

MPs say “Aye” to

union learning

The parliamentary campaign unionlearn launched earlier this year has seen over 40 MPs visit workplace learning projects in their constituencies to see how unions are helping their members move on at work.

Photo: Roy Peters

Yorkshire & the Humber

Getting together on the buses Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman got to see management and Unite the union at Centrebus sign a National Learning Agreement (and the government’s Skills Pledge) when he dropped in on an all-day learning event at the company’s Huddersfield subsidiary in October.

“I’m delighted to witness the signing of a National Learning Agreement between Unite the union and Centrebus,” Barry said.

“By also signing the government's Skills Pledge, the company is really demonstrating its commitment to creating a culture of learning.”

Unionlearn Regional Manager Mary Alys and Siôn Simon MP (right) talk to Fire Brigades Union ULR Paddy Lynch at Erdington Fire Station

Midlands

FBU answers skills emergency call

It’s a deal: Unite Regional Industrial Organiser Harish Patel (left) and Centrebus Managing Director Peter Harvey (right) sign the national learning agreement in the presence of local MP Barry Sheerman

Birmingham Erdington MP Siôn Simon (since promoted to Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Further Education) saw how his constituents are benefiting from union-led learning during a visit to the learning centre at West Midlands Fire Service in September.

“The FBU and UNISON are working extremely well in partnership with the Fire Service to run courses and help Fire Service staff to gain new skills and new confidence which will be to the good of them, their families and their communities.” Siôn said.

Southern and Eastern Lyn Brown (right) meets the ULR team in Newham

Moving on, East End style

Photo: Andrew Wiard

West Ham MP Lyn Brown commended the 14-strong team of union learning reps at Newham Borough Council for encouraging over 170 of their colleagues to take courses in numeracy, literacy, IT and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) through the partnership between GMB, UNISON,

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Unite and the authority when she visited this summer. “Unionlearn provides an important service to union members who want to get on by suggesting the appropriate courses from a list of more than 950,000, and giving advice about childcare, writing CVs and preparing for interviews,” Lyn commented.

Update «

South West

Delivering for parcels staff Swindon MP Anne Snelgrove was the guest of honour at the launch of courier and delivery firm DHL’s new learning centre, where 150 workers – a quarter of the staff on site – have already signed up to courses, including basic IT skills and learning English as a foreign language. “I know from experience that people blossom in their education at different ages,” she said. “Human potential to learn doesn’t stop when we leave school or college – often the best years of learning come later in life.”

Anne Snelgrove (standing) meets DHL learners in Swindon

Stephen Hughes (far left) presents certificates to learners at the Live and Learn project at Durham County Council, accompanied by Regional Manager Barney McGill (far right)

Northern

Now that’s what we call a learning journey

Photo: David Morrison

North East of England MEP Stephen Hughes brought a whole new meaning to the phrase “learning journey” when he visited five different union-led workplace learning projects in one day in September.

The trip took in Durham County City Councils, Tetley GB, Tristar Homes and Holme House Prison.

“All of these projects are excellent examples of the value of partnership at work and the vital, positive role trade unions can play: by working together, the unions and employers have found a positive way to encourage learning and skilling while improving motivation and productivity,” Stephen said.

North West

Airport learners are up and away Cheadle MP Mark Hunter visited Manchester Airport to see the learning centre set up by Unite and other unions to help staff improve their skills and find jobs within the airport after unemployment or redundancy. “Everyone involved in this project should be proud of what they have started here: it’s a great example of how working in partnership can lead to staff improving not only their working lives, but their own lives as well,” Mark said.

Reaching for the skies (from left): unionlearn Regional Manager Dave Eva, Bury College’s Suma Lahi and Jeanie McGlaughlin, Aleksandra Parker from Regional Language Network NW, Unite Convenor Lesley Addie, Mark Hunter MP and UNISON Branch Chair Tim Ward

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» Interview » Lord Sir Tony Young

Meet the Lord who’s

Young at heart Unionlearn Director Liz Smith puts the big questions to the new Skills Minister, Lord Sir Tony Young.

As you settle into the new job, what are your first thoughts on the biggest challenges?

The biggest challenge is going to be sustaining training and apprenticeships in an economic downturn. We’ve got to convince employers that now is the worst time for them to cut back on training – all the evidence shows that, if they do, their business is two-and-a-half times more likely to fail.

What feedback are you getting from employers?

You’ve got some wonderful employers out there. I recently met a human resources director from a department store in Dorchester who said all the staff were trained – to the point where, if they’re selling a quality product like Le Creuset, which is more expensive than conventional cooking equipment, they’ll be sent to France to see how it’s manufactured.

She said the store knew without any shadow of a doubt that training increased employee loyalty because staff felt valued, and increased customer loyalty because it helped staff serve them better – and it cost 1 to 2 per cent of turnover, which was really good value for money.

The good news is that I could give you loads of examples like that. But you do still get people who say if they trained people, there’d be nothing to prevent them being poached and going off elsewhere.

My message to them is that there’s no absolute guarantee,

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Tony Young CV Tony Young started his career as a telecommunications apprentice for the General Post Office in 1958, when he first joined the NCU, forerunner of today’s Communication Workers’ Union (CWU).

First elected a branch officer in 1967, Tony joined the National Executive Committee in 1978 and was elected General Secretary in 1989, and on creation of the CWU became Joint General Secretary and then Senior Deputy General Secretary until 2002.

He represented both the NCU and the CWU on the TUC General Council throughout that time, and also served as a BBC governor from 1998 to 2002.

Tony became Lord Young of Norwood Green in the London Borough of Ealing in 2004 and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Skills and Apprenticeships in 2008, where he is responsible for engaging employers in Train to Gain, building employer support for apprenticeships, Skills Pledge, National Skills Academies, Sector Skills Councils including Sector Compacts, and the UK Commission for Employment and Skills. He is also Minister for Students.

but what are the things that make employees want to stay with the company? It’s quite simple, in my experience: they’ve got to feel valued, and they’ve got to share in the success of the company – if you bear those factors in mind, they’re going to think twice before they leave.

When companies do close or lay off staff, what sort of things can the government do to help?

We’ve got £100 million from Europe precisely to deal with that need for training arising from redundancy.

We’ve had some experience: the shutdown of Rover was a painful strategic loss and it obviously impacted on a very large community.

But the efforts that were made to retrain, re-skill and get people back into work – they’re never going to be 100 per cent successful, but that was a job well done and a lot of lessons were learnt from that, like the need to act quickly and with a clear strategy.

Lord Sir Tony Young « Interview «

Given your own background, how do you see the union role and what contribution do you think we can make in the future?

If I look at my own development, where I am today is as a result of a union education – I left school at 15 without any qualifications at all, and my own union education courses and the experience I gained gave me everything.

I see a positive role for the unions in everything we do – encouraging employers to take on apprentices;

Photos: Jess Hurd

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» Interview » Lord Sir Tony Young

We’re very enthusiastic about the new right to request time to train.

How do you see that changing the culture?

I think it’s a really profound change. We’ve argued for a long time about various approaches, training levies and so on, but this is a different approach. This is an opportunity to change attitudes because it will empower individuals to go to their employers and ask for training – a perfectly reasonable request, we think!

What can the government do to encourage more employers to create apprenticeships and more young people to take those opportunities?

We’ve got to convince employers that taking on apprentices is worthwhile, and we’ve got to make it a lot easier – that’s why we’ve got a National Apprenticeships Service starting in April which is going to have 400 field officers working for it which should take away from the employer all the bureaucracy and all the administrative worries of dealing with apprentices.

We’ve also got to lead by example in the public sector, taking on our share of apprenticeships: the health service is pretty good, there’s a lot going on there, but local authorities are very patchy, so one of the key areas for me is to work with the Communities and Local Government Department to see if we can ensure that every local authority is taking on its share of apprentices.

We’ve set ourselves the target that by 2013 there should be an apprenticeship available for every young person who wants one –

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Photos: John Harris/reportdigital.co.uk

monitoring that they’re being treated properly; encouraging companies to train more people.

There’s lots of vital jobs that unions do – for me, workplace learning ranks right at the very top because it’s empowered people and changed their lives.

I’d say union learning reps are as significant as health and safety reps, and in some ways more profound in their influence because every person we take through the barrier of literacy and numeracy we change their lives forever.

Union man (clockwise from top): Tony Young with the then TUC General Secretary John Monks at the 2002 Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Festival; addressing the Labour Party conference in 1998; and appearing on the picket line during the CWU’s longrunning Critchley Labels union recognition struggle in 1999

and we’re talking about real apprenticeships where there’s a job at the end of them.

But we also need to change the perception of apprenticeships. I remember asking my 17-year-old son what his peers thought of the vocational route and he said they viewed it as a second-class option for people who couldn’t make it to university. That’s a really unfortunate perception, but it is there in the minds of some of our young people.

That’s why part of the role of the National Apprenticeship Service field officers will be to go into schools and talk to pupils and teachers about the benefits of apprenticeships. We’re also going to introduce a statutory obligation on schools to give the full range of options on career paths when they give career guidance: I see that as fundamentally important.

What are you reading?

“Reading for pleasure is one of the passions of my life. Just over a year ago, I was looking at my bookshelves and there was sitting the collected works of Charles Dickens, a Christmas present from my wife 20 years ago.

I thought If I don’t read these soon, I’ll be cremated with them! So I set myself the task of reading Dickens chronologically and I’m now on Hard Times, which is very good at conveying the privations of working class people even though he couldn’t understand the concept of trade unions!”

What can be done to address equality and diversity in apprenticeships, in particular to reduce gender stereotyping and increase participation by black and minority ethnic (BME) and disabled workers?

We’re seeing more women plumbers, more women bricklayers, but we want to see more women engineers, and a whole range of jobs where traditionally women haven’t chosen to go.

That’s why we’re going to introduce mentoring of apprentices in areas where you’d wouldn’t normally expect to find women or ethnic minorities or people with disabilities.

The National Apprenticeship Service has got to address this issue, and we’ve got to look at the way people are being taught in schools – education has got a lot to do in this particular area.

You’ve set out loads of challenges. If there was just one issue you could have a big impact on in the time you’re in this job, what would you pick?

It would have to be apprenticeships. If during my time I drove up the number of apprenticeships and changed attitudes of employers, parents and young people, I’d be able to look back and think: “That was pretty well done.”

Employers « Feature «

“Organisations and unions working together to increase the skills of their workers is one of the best ways to get Britain on the road to economic recovery. Cutting back spending on skills training at this time is a false economy. Employers in the private and public sectors need to be in good shape for the upturn.” unionlearn Director Liz Smith

We’ll get through this

together

By Astrid Stubbs In the current economic downturn, it’s even more important that unions and employers get together to deliver workplace learning. We showcase some successful learning partnerships over the next few pages.

Photo: Colin McPherson

A coalition of the UK’s most senior business and union leaders is urging employers not to slash staff training in a bid to cut costs in the economic downturn.

And at the same time, the TUC has teamed up with the CBI and the Government to demonstrate just how successful dialogue on training at work can be, in a new booklet called It’s Time To Talk Training.

Between them, the two initiatives reveal just how much the movers and shakers agree about the urgent necessity of increased workforce development.

The coalition of business and union leaders made their unprecedented call late last year in an open letter to UK employers published in 12 national newspapers.

“When markets are shrinking and order books falling, it is our staff’s commitment, productivity and ability to add value that will keep us competitive: investing now in building new skills will put us in the strongest position as the economy recovers,” they argued.

Joint work by UNISON Branch Secretary Roger Irvine and Learning and Development Officer Liz Chandler has helped build a successful learning partnership at Merseytravel

Signatories included: ● UK Commission for Employment and

Skills Chair Sir Michael Rake ● TUC General Secretary Brendan

Barber ● CBI Director General Richard Lambert ● Business in the Community Chair Sir

Stuart Rose ● Standard Chartered Chair Mervyn

Davies.

The ground-breaking It’s Time To Talk Training booklet points out that the

best union-employer partnerships share a number of common features.

“All engage with staff members as individuals, ensuring that each person has regular training discussions with their line managers. In the bestperforming workplaces, this individual dialogue is often supplemented by other forms of two-way communication, either directly with the workforce or through unions and ULRs,” it argues.

The groundbreaking publication showcases how 10 widely differing organisations across a range of sectors and regions have established effective dialogue on training.

It specifically praises the dialogue on training which UNISON, Unite, GMB and UCATT have established both at Merseytravel and at Newcastle City Council; UCATT’s positive role in the Kings Waterfront construction project in Liverpool; and the learning partnership between the company and Unite, GMB and UCATT at VT Shipbuilding.

Download the booklet from: www.dius.gov.uk/publications/ TimeToTalkTraining.pdf

winter 2009 « 15

» Feature » Employers

“I get a far better trained and happier staff: there’s a buzz around the place. Staff turnover is low, there’s more of an interest in what we do, people can see we are trying to add value to their jobs.”

Unichem Preston General Manager Alan Danson

“I’d like to pay tribute to those many union learning reps who do great work up and down the land in helping their colleagues to gain new skills and experiences.”

CBI Director-General Richard Lambert

Warning: learning can seriously improve your business health The smoking ban helped launch a new learning centre and a new “We’ve run a whole series of era of industrial relations at programmes and have eight ULRs Pennine Foods (part of the who are very active and very ? w o n giant Northern Foods) much involved. There is a k u o y Did 0 near Sheffield. steering group and everyone is 5 l a ic p A ty y n “The smoking room was involved to discuss what is a p m o c employee attached to the canteen wanted out of the facility and 0 0 ,0 5 6 1 could save £ lling its and with legislation we work with BFAWU to gain y fi coming we discussed from its experience every year b ps. skills ga lls Council what to do with it and nationally,” says Rowena. d Ski rn (Lea ing an 2005) Courses include numeracy decided to turn it into a research, learning centre,” explains and literacy, ICT as well as HR manager Rowena Clayton.

ESOL, which is now embedded in Northern Foods and an NVQ in Food Manufacturing at the foodworkers’ union BFAWU helped company. with funding and the room was And the company matches each gutted, redecorated and re-opened hour of an employee’s learning time in 2006 as the Moore Learning with time off to learn.

Centre, named after long-serving “We try to offer the facility and employee John Moore. courses so that people are able to come and develop their skills and take them back into the workplace.

As a result a number have gone on to do NVQs,” she says.

“It is truly very much a joint venture and it works really well.”

Proof of that comes in employee feedback to Marks & Spencer, which carries out ethical audits of the companies it uses.

The survey found that staff highly rated the opportunities they had for learning and training and that management was in tune with its employees and listened to them.

“Learning is a contributory factor in

16 » winter 2009

ULR Deborah Loy (above) says the learning centre (below) has helped everyone work together at Pennine Foods

making staff feel valued and we also have a really good record for promoting people from within the company when previously they would not have thought they would be able to go for such jobs,” says Rowena.

BFAWU Branch Secretary and ULR Deborah Loy confirms that relations with the management team are really good.

“Now the factory floor workers understand things a lot better, and the management team understands certain issues that the factory floor operatives may come across: as a result everyone seems to work together now.”

BFAWU recognised the efforts of management at Pennine Foods at a House of Commons Award Ceremony in December when it paid tribute to its ULRs and to Rowena as part of a national award presentation.

“We have to reward our ULRs and acknowledge the contribution from employers – that’s what partnership is all about and we want to cement that partnership,” commented BFAWU National Project Manager Dorban Ippoma.

Employers « Feature «

“We’re absolutely delighted with the results we’ve achieved since we introduced our own learning programme. There has been a marked increase in motivation and morale, fewer days lost through sickness and a 10 per cent reduction in grievances and complaints. We’ve also got a lower turnover of staff than any other comparable transport authority in the country – 4 per cent!”

Merseytravel Chief Executive and Director General Neil Scales

Did you know Independent st ? show that com udies don’t invest in panies that grow and developm th, research recession are 2 ent during a .5 ti to fail than tho mes more likely se businesses tha that do, while t do emerge strong invest often er competitive th and more an they were before the rece ssion.

How the Waterfront became a contender The Learning Partnership Network at the massive Kings Waterfront development in Liverpool helped improve communications, health and safety and industrial relations on the site, opened to coincide with the city’s Capital of Culture celebrations last year.

Kings Waterfront involved around 600 people working onsite at any time – a mixture of local, national and migrant labour with varying levels of formal education.

Keen to encourage the take-up of learning across the site, design and construction firm Bovis Lend Lease set up a Learning Partnership Network involving senior management, construction union UCATT, Liverpool Community College, Constructionskills and unionlearn.

Dialogue led to the opening of an onsite learning centre, with all partners contributing towards its set-up and resourcing.

With ten computers, internet access, college tutors and a variety of courses on offer, the centre has made a crucial contribution to tackling the skills gaps and

shortages in the construction industry.

The workforce (the majority employed by the various subcontractors) was engaged through a series of taster sessions (eg, introductions to computers), leaflet drops and toolbox talks, which revealed a big demand for learning.

Support from management was vital: in partnership with the union, they engaged contractors and elicited

the Pledengt’seSkills g in k ta p e e k s rm fi y Wh sign the Governm uraging employers to lop Unions are enco their employees deve mmitment to help all co c bli pu the e, dg Ple s to at least Level 2. towards qualification beginning: it’s their skills and work commitment is only the ered, that For unions, the public ich training wh is deliv the d an s, ard erw aft s what happen d up to the really counts. anies that have signe mp co of s red nd hu the To see hxoy http://tinyurl.com/5w Skills Pledge, log onto

their support to encourage staff learning and, where possible, support this via a “give an hour, take an hour” scheme.

Workers enthusiastically took up courses, including numeracy and literacy initial assessments and courses, IT courses, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), supervisors’ courses and Spanish classes.

The migrant workforce (as many as 28 different languages were spoken on-site) improved their English language and communication skills, industrial relations progressed, and the Health and Safety Executive recognised advances in health and safety.

“Credit must be given to all the parties involved in the learning centre at Kings Waterfront, which provided opportunities for the workers to help improve their skills and their chances of finding future work,” says unionlearn Regional Manager Dave Eva.

The learning partnership network at Kings Waterfront helped improve industrial relations as well as boost workers’ skills

winter 2009 « 17

» Feature » Employers

“Skills and training have never been more important to UK businesses. In the ever-intensifying heat of global competition, skills are a critical factor in determining business success.”

Institute of Directors Director General Miles Templeman

“Working with trade unions to make sure we get the employment part of our work right allows chemical businesses in the UK to successfully compete in a global marketplace and also provide good jobs with our workforce having a high skill level.”

Chemical Industries Association Chief Executive Steve Elliott

How the Beamlight partnership helps everyone shine ULR training and a desire from management to fully support staff learning needs has brought about a sea change at Nottingham-based Beamlight Automotive Seating, which makes seats for cars and trains.

Gerry Moran, who is a Community health and safety rep, says he and a colleague went on the TUC ULR training course last year and Beamlight staff Officer Mick Brightman. returned invigorated. celebrate their Apprenticeships help encourage “On the course we started talking skills in engineering and fabrication, about learning agreements with the NVQs which are trades that are dying out, people we met and we picked up according to Gerry. tips from others. It meant that when And he has nothing but praise for we came back we approached the company’s commitment to management to encourage them to learning. set up a learning centre,” explains “There is a special relationship Gerry. between the company and the union, With the support of an which is seen as a help not a enlightened manager, work has hindrance by the company,” he says. moved forward, a learning centre “And the company has done quite has been opened and a learning a lot to help re-educate people agreement is due to be signed. and make them feel better in Many of the company’s ? w o n Did you k themselves, introducing 244 employees, who work s b jo 0 0 ,0 In 2007, 130 d because NVQs for all who wanted across a range of jobs lle fi n u d e in to take one. And they from shop floor to office a rem didate was n a c le b have been proactive in staff, are already a it u no s training you h g u ro trying to develop union benefiting from h T . available f skilled o l o o learning. learning and the p a te can crea nd “In this modern era, we company’s general ho understa w s te a id d n ca y. have to work together to manager presented n a p m o your c ensure the business NVQ certificates to kills S s er oy pl (National Em survives and local jobs are successful learners. ) Survey, 2007 kept here and we would not “It’s the first learning have achieved what we have if agreement of its kind and it there had been no understanding commits the company to valuing all from management.” its people including its apprentices,” Beamlight HR Manager Patricia explains Communitas ULF Project

18 » winter 2009

Top tips for ULRs to win best employer/union relations on learning: Absolute support from senior management is fundamental for the success of the training agenda.

Patience – it’s easy to get disheartened. Remain flexible in negotiations as there is always room for some give and take.

Yes, set up a forum to identify the need, but your responsibility does not stop there. You have to develop and implement an action plan, otherwise the forum is just for show.

Distinguish between partnership meetings and IR meetings. You need to be able to switch off, to wear a different hat for each.

ULRs are important in identifying and relaying training needs to managers. It can be scary telling management directly that you are lacking in certain areas.

1

2 3

4 5

Barrett says the company views staff development as a necessity, particularly in a competitive environment where quality is a prerequisite.

“Our most valuable assets are the skills and attitude of our people,” she says.

unionlearn Board « Interview «

Sheila take a bow Sheila Bearcroft wants to spread the word about union learning while she’s president of the TUC this year.

W

Photo: Rob Watkins

hen TUC president Sheila Bearcroft set off for her first day in a South Wales factory her dad told her “Don’t forget to join a union.”

So she did join – and kept joining, whenever she started a new job and following her return to work after having children.

“My dad was a miner and it would never have occurred to me not to join the union,” says Sheila, who is on a mission to spread the word about unions and learning in her roles as TUC president, unionlearn board member and South-West regional president of the GMB. Sheila became increasingly active in the National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers (NUTGW) before its merger with the GMB in 1991 when she went on to become a GMB branch secretary.

Elected to the post of GMB regional president 15 years ago, she has campaigned around protection of jobs for Marks and Spencer staff and to eradicate child labour.

“People today often say the union doesn’t matter, it doesn’t do anything for them, but it’s as important as it ever was,” Sheila says.

“Statistics show that unionised workplaces have better wages and conditions. I think that unions can still be a lifesaver: I only wish that young people realised how much they need them.”

Having left school at 14 without any qualifications, Sheila gained all her

subsequent knowledge from life experience, GMB and TUC courses, she says.

“Learning is important – probably today even more so when manufacturing is not there any longer,” she says.

Which is why she’s delighted to see members of her union meeting the challenges they set themselves in learning and moving on.

“I think of one of my members who became a learning rep and who has gone on to be full-time organiser for the GMB – it’s wonderful to see,” she says.

“Some of our people have problems with literacy and need help and education to go further in life, and if they have the ambition to take up further education through their trade union, unionlearn is probably the first step they will take.”

As president of the TUC, Sheila says she will be promoting the message that unions give more access to learning at work and that in turn promotes unions.

Should the day ever come when she has time to spare, she’d like to fulfil a lifetime ambition to learn the piano. “Perhaps I just might when I retire!” she says.

“Learning is probably even more important today when manufacturing has gone.”

winter 2009 « 19

Long story,

Photo: Jess Hurd

» Interview » Lola Jaye

Quick Read Getting anywhere in life is more to do with perspiration than inspiration says author Lola Jaye. She should know: it took her eight years to get published!

By Martin Moriarty

Y

ou’re interested in a training course at work.

You’ve promised yourself you’ll find a better job.

You’ve always thought you’d make a good shop steward. But whatever it is you’re thinking about, you’re just not making it happen.

Don’t despair – help is at hand, courtesy of a brand new Quick Read to be published on World Book Day, Thursday 5 March.

It’s called Reaching For The Stars and it’s written by someone who knows how to make your dream of a better life come true.

Eight years ago, Lola Jaye was a 20-something psychotherapist in the National Health Service, where she still works today helping people quit smoking.

But what she really wanted to do

“I want to get across the message that you can do anything you set your mind to”

20 » winter 2009

0 was to become a published author, We have 10 first ’s la Lo f o something she’d longed for since copies e Time You she was a little girl. novel By Th y. to give awa “I was the eldest of a load of Read This… t a in r e foster kids and I was lonely, so I Get your ord rg.uk/ learn.o used to write these silly little www.union lola stories in my bedroom,” she remembers.

She decided she needed to take her writing dreams seriously, and her submit sample chapters to college days had shown her she was publishing houses.

It was when she sent off her first perfectly able to write much more three chapters that she first began than “little stories” – after all, she’d written a 20,000-word thesis as part to realise just how difficult getting of her Masters degree. published was actually going to be.

A novel was only three times that Instead of a contract and a big fat long, she told herself, so how hard advance arriving in the post, she got could it be? a rejection letter from the managing “I really thought it was going to director, who said he liked the idea be easy!” she recalls, laughing at the but wasn’t so keen on the writing. arrogance of her younger self.

That wasn’t part of the plan.

The first thing she did was draw “I was devastated,” she admits. up a plan of action (Lola’s big on But as soon as she’d dried her planning: as she says in Reaching eyes, she made a new to-do list For The Stars, if you’re cooking a (she’s not just big on planning – meal you make sure you’ve got she’s also big on adjusting your everything you need before you plans in the light of what life throws start, “so something as big as your at you). dream also deserves a certain She decided she would carry on amount of planning.”) with the novel, improve her writing She decided she would write in and find herself an agent (the the evenings and at weekends, traditional first stop on the way read as much as she could and to publication).

Lola Jaye « Interview «

Lola Jaye CV She began researching online, networking at conferences and even (she admits) stalking one or two agents by email, and it might have taken years of hard graft, but it all paid off eventually.

“When I finally found an agent who was interested, I thought ‘Now I’ll get a publishing deal!’” she recalls.

Wrong again. It took another three years before her book hit the shelves, partly because what she’d written didn’t fit into any of the obvious categories so beloved of the publishing industry.

Through all that time, she refused to let go of her dreams, until, finally, Harper Collins signed her up and published By The Time You Read This… last summer.

“The day I found a publisher was amazing, but at first I still couldn’t believe it because there’d been so many knock-backs along the way, so many tears, so much anger, so

many ups and downs,” she says.

It all goes to prove the truth of the old saying about success being 1 per cent inspiration and 99 per cent perspiration, she reckons.

Which is probably why she leapt at the chance of writing a Quick Read.

“When I was asked to write a Quick Read on the subject of following your dreams, I thought it was perfect, because I’d been there – success wasn’t handed to me on a plate,” she says.

“It was such an honour to be asked to do it, and I thought it would be a great way of getting across the message to people that you can do anything you set your mind to.”

So... what’s on your to-do list?

And what are you going to do about it today?

Barnet Council learners quiz the author overleaf

Lola Jaye was born in London and spent most of her childhood living with foster parents.

After studying Psychology at the University of East London, she went on to complete a Masters in Psychotherapy and Counselling at Regents College.

As well as working full-time for the NHS as a counsellor in London, Lola has always made the time to write her own work.

Her first novel, By The Time You Read This…, was published last year.

Now she’s also written Reaching For the Stars as part of the next batch of Quick Reads, and is currently putting the finishing touches to her second novel, While You Were Dreaming, due out this summer.

Lola shows off a proof copy of her new Quick Read on her trip to Barnet Council

winter 2009 « 21

» Interview » Lola Jaye

Any

questions?

Union learners and council leaders got the chance to put their questions to Lola Jaye when the author dropped into a communications skills course offered through the Return to Learn partnership between UNISON and Barnet council.

Lango Gamanga (UNISON member) How did you handle your first rejection?

When it first happened I thought it was all negative, but when I went back to it I saw the positive. The managing director of a publishing house had felt inclined enough to contact me even though he was a very, very busy man, and although he didn’t like my writing he liked my idea, which was 50 per cent of it done – that was the positive. Don’t get me wrong, I cried that day There are always going to be negatives, but you need to find the little gold nuggets of positivity – because they’re always there.

Claire Anthony (housing benefit officer) You’ve written your novel and the new Quick Read, so do you have any plans for another book?

Yes: it’s called While You Were Dreaming and it’s slated to come

Ten new Quick Reads on the way Lola’s Reaching For The Stars is just one of the ten new Quick Reads to be launched on World Book Day, Thursday 5 March.

To find out more, visit www.worldbookday.com or www.niace.org.uk/ quickreads

22 » winter 2009

out in the summer (although it still needs a final edit!). I can’t give too much away right now, but it’s a modern-day fairy tale: I’ve tried not to make it too corny, but there is a glass slipper, there is a sleeping beauty and there is a sort of Prince Charming. It’s different from By The Time You Read This… but I hope it’s not too different: I’m not sure how smart it would be to suddenly attempt a sci-fi.

Uzi Izchaki (detached youth worker) Are you drawing from your own experiences or is it all fiction?

Obviously, my Quick Read, Reaching For The Stars, is drawn from my own experience, but it’s different with novels. The beauty about waiting eight years to get a publishing deal is that you write many novels in that

time. The first one I wrote was so about me I’m glad it never got published, it’s embarrassing! The second was a bit about me, but by the time I got to the third I’d got over that autobiographical stuff and started to write fiction. I would be lying if I didn’t say there was a bit of me in the characters: for example, all my main characters’ names begin with L like mine, and I’ve drawn on my own experiences (I’ve experienced bereavement and in By The Time You Read This… the main character’s father dies), but really it’s a work of fiction – especially the love scenes!

Andrew Harper (Cabinet member for Environment and Transport) Do you think that what you’re talking about – helping us all reach our dreams – should apply not just to ourselves but also to the way we encourage our children, instead of trying to mould them and stifle their creativity?

I agree. My birth parents are Nigerian, and in Nigerian culture you have to be a doctor or a lawyer

Photos: Jess Hurd

Lola Jaye « Interview «

Lola explains how she made her dreams come true to Barnet Council learners

or an accountant at a push. If you dare say “I want to be a writer,” they might look at you like you’ve got three heads! Seriously though, it’s nice to encourage creativity in your children. Let them be creative and be themselves, instead of pushing things on them that we perhaps wanted for ourselves when we were growing up.

John van Rheede Toas (principal parks and open spaces operations manager)

“If I’d sailed through life hunky-dory, I don’t think I’d have very much fodder for my writing.”

Would you say the negatives in your life have helped you write your books?

Yes, totally! If I’d sailed through life hunky-dory, I don’t think I’d have much fodder for my writing, to be honest. I think you have to experience the joy and the pain to be able to write about them. It’s unfortunate that we do go through pain in life, but we need to sometimes – it’s not nice, it’s awful, it’s hell on earth at the time, but when you’ve gone through it, you realise that whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, as the saying goes.

Andy Cowie (Skills for Life tutor) What sort of books does an author like you read?

This is where I’m supposed to say I only read literary novels, but I don’t – I feel guilty saying that, but I must be honest with you! I read a wide

Lola Jaye signs copies of her novel for Barnet Council learners (above and below) after answering their questions about writing (opposite page)

spectrum and it varies depending on what’s taken my fancy. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold is one of my all-time favourites as is Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden. At the moment, I’ve just got back from America and I’m reading Black Indians: A Hidden Heritage by William Katz, a non-fiction book about the American Indians and the African-American slaves who got together. But next month I could be reading a Lisa Jewell or a Tasmina Perry. Read what you enjoy, not what someone tells you to read: life’s too short!

Last call for your Quick Read stories By the time you read this (as Lola might say), you’ll only have a week or two to put the finishing touches to your contributions to the unionlearn 2010 Quick Reads collection of real-life stories from the workplace.

The closing date for entries is Saturday 31 January 2009, and each story must be between 1,500 and 2,500 words.

To find out more, visit: www.unionlearn.org.uk/ QRcompetition

winter 2009 « 23

» Feature » Apprentices

Thisisthe age ofthe

appre E

mployers should take on more apprentices and the government do more to facilitate access to apprenticeships, argues the TUC in a new report.

The report says boosting the number of high quality, employer-based apprenticeships is increasingly on the agenda, particularly following the recommendation of the Leitch Review of Skills that the number of apprenticeships should be doubled by 2020.

In England, the government has accepted a target of 400,000 apprenticeships by 2020.

But the TUC report finds there are big differences in numbers across the English regions and warns that radical action will be needed to reach that target, particularly in London.

It also highlights that apprenticeships make up just less than 1 per cent of employment and that gender differences still persist.

The report recommends: ● introducing mechanisms to bring in both public and private sector employers to offer high quality employer-based apprenticeships, for example through public procurement, sector levies, targets in Sector Skills Agreements and licence to practice arrangements ● statutory rights to collective bargaining over training, which would help unions support the expansion of apprenticeships ● developing regional apprenticeship strategies through Regional Development Agencies and regional Learning and Skills Councils, actively engaging employers and trade unions ● supporting the expansion of adult apprenticeships ● urgently addressing the issue of apprenticeships in Greater London, including through major development projects such as the Olympics and Crossrail.

24 » winter 2009

Apprentices « Feature «

entice

More employers should find out how taking on apprentices can help them boost their businesses.

By Astrid Stubbs

Danny learns his trade Joining the army after he left school didn’t give Danny Murphy the career and future he was hoping for.

“I left after a year – it wasn’t for me – and I took up labouring jobs,” says the 21-year-old.

But working as a temporary hand on building sites often meant Danny was laid off when work dried up.

But now he does have a career and a future – and it’s all thanks to his union, Unite, which along with UCATT, has helped forge an exciting scheme for craft apprentices at Lincoln City Council.

His apprenticeship in felt roofing is a mix of formal college and work-based learning.

The authority’s commitment means apprenticeships are also available in bricklaying, electrical installations, wood trades, painting and decorating and plumbing.

“This apprenticeship means a lot to me. I feel better in myself and now I don’t have to live in fear of getting laid off: I’ll have a trade behind me,” says Danny.

“It’s really good because other

staff take the time to show you how to do the job properly. When I was working on building sites, they had to get the job done so didn’t have the time to show you what to do.”

UCATT officer Kevin Clarke says the deal is ground-breaking because it’s brought craft apprentices to the council for the first time, and unions were involved throughout the appointment process, including sitting on the interview panels.

Danny is joined by an apprentice electrician and joiner, which means “three young men can now hopefully have a career and support their families in future years,” says Kevin.

They hope to double that number next year and keep building on that, he adds.

The Lincoln scheme is part of a six-month project to promote Apprenticeships across the Midlands, according to unionlearn Regional Manager Mary Alys.

The scheme has had an immediate and enthusiastic response from several unions keen to be involved, including Unite, Community, UNISON, BFAWU, UCATT, CWU and BSU, she says.

Heading in the right direction The Government is raising the minimum wage for apprentices in England from £80 to £95 per week from August 2009. “This is a victory for the TUC’s campaign for better apprentice pay,” said Brendan Barber. “But, as strong supporters of apprenticeships, the TUC will continue to campaign for higher standards and further increases in apprentice pay will help achieve this.”

Make a date for February The second annual Apprenticeships Week takes place from 23-27 February 2009. The week aims to raise the profile of apprenticeships and encourage more employers to take on apprentices while paying

tribute to the achievements of employers and apprentices and explaining the key role that apprenticeships are playing in today's world. More details at www.apprenticeships.org.uk

winter 2009 « 25

» Feature » Apprentices

Rachael reaches for the skies Unite member Rachael Hoyle, who works for BAE Systems in the Eurofighter Typhoon Structures Team, has shown how women are moving into traditionally male areas by winning the Advanced Apprentice of the Year award in the annual Learning and Skills Council Apprenticeships Awards.

She says her advanced apprenticeship in aerospace engineering helped solidify her career in an industry traditionally dominated by men.

“I didn’t always want to be an engineer or work with aircrafts, and as my schooling drew to a close, I felt so unsure of what the future held,” she says. “But Apprenticeships really appealed to me, as it would mean beginning a career while learning from people who are experts in their own right.

“Apprenticeships allow a combination of both further education and the development of skills for both male and female employees, and if they can be used to encourage diversity at the same time this can only be positive.”

Vote for your favourite apprentice

The top ten countdown Apprenticeships are available across England, with over 180 different programmes, ranging from accounting to youth work. The ten most popular apprenticeships are: » construction 19,651 » hairdressing 16,568 » business administration 15,280 » customer service 15,258 » hospitality and catering 13,422 » children’s care 13,025 » engineering 11,417 » vehicle maintenance and repair 8,412 » retail 8,167 » electro technical 6,247 (Source: LSC, 2006/7)

26 » winter 2009

The Learning and Skills Council’s Apprenticeship Awards recognise the key role apprentices play in today’s economy. Awards go to employers who provide high quality apprenticeships, and successfully use apprenticeships to improve organisational performance.

Apprentices are also eligible to enter one of three categories – Apprentice of the Year, Advanced Apprentice of the Year and Young

Apprentice of the Year. The awards acknowledge and celebrate apprentices’ exceptional contributions to their workplaces where entrants have made a real difference to the business they work in by exceeding expectations and delivering measurable benefits.

Find out more on 0800 954 8896 or at www.apprenticeships.org.uk/ awards. The deadline for entries is late February.

Brendan backs the Bill The government’s Apprenticeships Bill will help more people into skilled work, says the TUC. “In today’s competitive labour market, the need for skills is greater than ever and apprenticeships are an important route into employment,” says TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber.

“Employers must now

raise their game and offer more quality work-based apprenticeships.”

Brendan also welcomes news that the government is to increase the number of apprentices in the public sector: “Boosting skills and employment are just the sort of measures needed to steer us through this economic downturn,” he says.

Apprentices « Feature «

Sasha helps gather winter fuel If you call the Government’s Winter Fuel helpline, you may find yourself talking to Sasha Landless, one of the many PCS members jumping at the chance of an apprenticeship at the Department of Work and Pensions.

Sasha works in The Pension Service in the North East dealing with all winter-fuel-related enquiries.

She undertook an adult apprenticeship in customer service, which involved two National Vocational Qualifications for customer service and contact centre operation and key skills in communication and application of number.

“I found it really useful: I had more confidence after the apprenticeship,” she says.

Apprenticeships help consolidate existing skills and fill in the gaps that are missing. “Because it's part of your job, you may not know that there are some new things you can learn. I would recommend an apprenticeship because it refreshes

skills you may have forgotten and it’s also a recognised qualification,” says Sasha.

Apprenticeships are available to civil servants in jobs ranging from immigration officers to driving test examiners, and many will include a qualification in business administration, IT, team leading and customer service. Currently these are available in the MoD, HMRC, the Home Office and Ministry of Justice.

But such is the demand that these are likely to be extended in these departments and widened into other areas of government, says PCS Learning Officer David McEvoy.

“This will give a mid-career boost to a huge group of people who are stuck in their careers,“ he says.

The scheme has an equality dimension because it gives qualifications to people, mostly women, who may not otherwise have had access to training and development, he points out.

Jobs for the boys – and girls Overall, there are slightly more men on apprenticeship programmes than women. During 2006/07, 54.2 per cent of people starting apprenticeships nationally were men, and 45.8 per cent women.

But the survey found distinctly gendered patterns. Only 1.3 per cent of construction apprentices and 2.5 per cent of engineering apprentices were women in 2006/07.

At the other end of the scale, women comprised 97.1 per cent of childcare and 91.7 per cent of hairdressing apprentices.

Collective Learning Funds aid apprenticeships A pilot in the North West shows how Collective Learning Funds in the private sector are proving to be the catalyst for dialogue about making the best use of investment in training to support workplace learning, which includes apprenticeships.

Through the learning committee at the Argos call centre in Widnes, discussions between USDAW, the employer and the provider resulted in a mapping of existing investment in training.

This raised the issue of Train to Gain, and a recognition that it would support the development of NVQ Level 2 training in customer service and also 12 adult apprenticeships.

Introducing Train to Gain freed up additional resources from the provider to fund IT training that would not have otherwise been available and the project has also ensured a fairer distribution of training between managers and shopfloor workers.

winter 2009 « 27

» Feature » Scottish Union Learning

Skye’s the limit for

By Astrid Stubbs Union-led learning has entered an exciting new phase in Scotland.

T

he launch of Scottish Union Learning represents a step change in union-led learning north of the border.

Scottish broadcaster Sally Magnusson hosted the launch at an event attended by ULRs, trade union officials, MSPs, Glasgow councillors and partners.

STUC General Secretary Grahame Smith described the launch as the new phase of union-led learning in Scotland.

“Nobody can do what we can do and with the launch of Scottish Union Learning we have the potential do so much more,” he said.

MSP Wendy Alexander, Community ULR Audrey McJimpsey (see right) and First ScotRail Managing Director Mary Dickson also made presentations at the event, alongside Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Fiona Hyslop and UNISON ULR

Jeanette McQuiston.

“This is a very exciting step for unions in Scotland and we are delighted to be partners in developing this new brand and building on our long history together,” commented unionlearn Director Liz Smith.

The Scottish Union Learning Board governs the new structure by agreeing and monitoring its business, operational and financial plans.

Accountable to the STUC General Council, the board consists of 12 appointed union representatives and is supported by a Scottish Union Advisory Group and a Partners Forum.

STUC General Secretary Grahame Smith is an ex-officio member and

Grahame Smith (above) addresses the launch of Scottish Union Learning, which was also attended by (below, from left) Scottish Government Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Fiona Hyslop, Scottish Union Learning Manager Sylvia O’Grady, unionlearn Director Liz Smith and BBC TV presenter Sally Magnusson

the TUC’s nominee is Liz Rees, Head of Trade Union Education.

The STUC’s General Council has appointed Anne Douglas (Prospect) as the Chairperson. Other Board members are Harry Donaldson (GMB), Joy Dunn (PCS), Jenny Duncan (Young Workers Rep), Fiona Smith (UNISON), Agnes Tolmie (Unite the Union), Simon Macaulay (EIS), Harry Frew (UCATT), Kevin Lindsay (ASLEF), and Lyndon Peach (Community). The Scottish government has appointed Rosemary Winter-Scott as an observer to the Board.

Log onto www.scottishunionlearning.com for information on lifelong learning and skills. The site also has a Learning Online Forum, which is a resource for ULRs, SULF project workers and union officials to share news and views on union learning in Scotland.

28 » winter 2009

Scottish Union Learning « Feature «

Scottish learners Let’s move forward on time to train We must make progress on the right to request time to train, urged STUC General Secretary Grahame Smith at the first annual Scottish Union Learning Conference in November.

Grahame called on the Scottish government to resist business pressure to drop commitments on investing in training and workforce development.

Following the conference, the STUC raised the issue of time off with First Minister Alex Salmond to ensure that the Scottish government follows through on commitments to invest in the workforce, giving the right to take up learning and training opportunities.

Over 200 ULRs representing 17 unions from all over Scotland attended the conference, which

was held under the theme Learning and Organising.

They were joined by Scottish Union Learning Fund (SULF) Project Workers, STUC General Council members, Scottish Union Learning Board members, trade union members and officials and lifelong learning partners.

Sponsored by ILA Scotland and the Scottish Qualifications Authority, the one-day conference provided participants with practical information and skills through workshops and presentations and also allowed ULRs from across the country to come together and discuss how to shape union learning throughout Scotland.

Anne Douglas, Chair of the Scottish Union Learning Board, opened and chaired the conference.

Unite Senior Organiser Rozanne

Foyer spoke about the important connection between learning in the workplace and organising.

And sessions included Cultural Awareness and Accessing Resources as well as workshops on Organising Migrant Workers, Learning Agreements, Integrating ULRs into the Union Team and Sharing Good Practice.

Darah Zahran of Skills Development Scotland, Jenny Duncan of the STUC Youth Committee and Community ULR Audrey McJimpsey also addressed the forum.

“The Scottish government must resist business pressure to drop commitments on workforce development”

Audrey wins STUC award

Gordon Brown presents Audrey McJimpsey with her Helen Dowie Award

Community ULR Audrey McJimpsey has won the third annual STUC Helen Dowie Award for Lifelong Learning.

A learning rep at RSBi Blindcraft in Springburn, Glasgow, Audrey has been very active within the movement since 1986, and currently supports local initiatives to promote union activity, especially union learning.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown presented her with the award at the STUC Annual Congress in Inverness last year.

“Helen Dowie was someone who really believed in the power of trade union learning and someone who believed others could develop their potential through it,” he said.

“This award is a positive step in recognising the achievements of those who support learners in gaining confidence and developing skills through trade union-led lifelong learning.”

winter 2009 « 29

» Feature » Scottish Union Learning

Breaking the barriers Overcoming her own barriers to learning has helped Remploy ULR Helen Douglas support colleagues on their learning journeys.

Helen had an extremely negative experience of education and developed tremendous psychological barriers to learning.

As a result she’s worked hard to break down stigma and physical barriers to learning while negotiating with providers to meet the needs of members of the Unite and Community unions at Remploy Clydebank.

Because of her hard work, 90 per cent of the workforce has now taken up learning.

Helen was rewarded for her

efforts two years ago when she became the first winner of the Helen Dowie Award for Lifelong Learning.

She is now lead ULR for all nine Remploy factories in Scotland and is busy carrying out a learning needs survey to help her replicate the success of Clydebank across the country.

She’s also carried her passion for learning outside Remploy and has trained to become a volunteer tutor in her local community.

“Learning has helped put the union on the map in a different light: now people realise it’s there to help them,” says Helen.

“In a changing world, the union is enabling people to move around in that world.”

Spreading the word Time off for every Remploy employee in Scotland to pursue learning has been hailed as a major step forward by Unite the union.

Unite Learning Coordinator Lyn Turner says work at Remploy is part of a drive which is seeing the union take groundbreaking learning to many new workplaces.

Lyn says the recent Remploy agreement, signed by the Unite, Community and GMB consortium, allows a minimum of 50 hours a

30 » winter 2009

year for each employee.

“That takes us a considerable step forward with regard to time off to support learning,” says Lyn. From 2009, ULRS will also be given 12 development days a year by the company to allow them to gain the skills to support their colleagues.

The union’s success in forging learning agreements with Rolls-Royce is well documented and is now being considered as a blueprint for other company plants south of the border.

Hard work by Helen Douglas (above) has helped 90 per cent of Remploy Clydebank staff to take up learning while an initiative

by Unite the union means hundreds of Dounreay staff are now taking IT courses (below)

Less well known is the fact that Unite has also taken learning to the Highlands where hundreds of staff at the Dounreay UKAEA decommissioning and regenerating nuclear site are now being offered learning in IT. Lyn says that the union has also made excellent headway in improving learning opportunities for NHS staff with Unite leading the multi-union approach to learning at Tayside.

“Through learning we have signed up 300 new members to Unite,” reports Lyn. “As a result the branch is stronger and more organised.”

“There is a distinct lack of funding in Scotland but, working with Stow College, and using ESF funding, we have been able to deliver a wide range of learning activities,” says Lyn. He sees Unite working in the future to expand on its existing base and moving to new areas, creating new partnerships with employers and recruiting and developing more ULRs.

Scottish Union Learning « Feature «

No retiring thoughts for Penny Trade union education tutor Penny Gower has no plans to retire despite working in the field for over 30 years. The reason? The students she calls “fantastic.”

Penny was trained in trade union education at Stow College in Glasgow after many years’ experience as a lecturer and trade union activist. She’s now a parttime tutor at Stevenson College TUC Education Department in Edinburgh.

“The TUC is very keen that people who teach trade union education are not just talking in the abstract but have been reps and have practical hands-on experience, which informs their teaching,” she explains.

And the reps she teaches help her stay passionate about her work. “They are absolutely fantastic, so motivated,“ she says.

“Many of them have had to fight to get release to come onto courses and I see them grow in confidence from being new reps to becoming recognised in their own unions and being very much valued in the workplace.”

Penny also acknowledges the commitment the reps make in travelling from all over Scotland to take the range of TUC courses offered by the college.

Many are non-traditional learners, and “for some of them, the last time they were in an educational institution they were getting six of the best!” says Penny.

“I see them at their graduation ceremonies receiving academic recognition in front of their families and it brings a tear to my eye.”

Penny hopes her continuing career will see TUC Education offering a growing programme at Stevenson and in the Falkirk region.

“I want to keep teaching till I’m 75 or over – and when it’s suggested I retire, then I’ll teach online!

“This is more than a job: reps ring you up between courses – they are very energising to be with.

“I have friends who have been doing teaching jobs for the same amount of time and they are just counting the days until they retire but it doesn’t have to be like that” she says.

Photo: Walter Neilson

A wee dram for Pauline You have to raise a glass to Pauline Russell, the only female union convenor in the Scottish whisky industry.

But for Pauline, being a union member and a rep is as natural as breathing.

“My dad was a miner, so it’s in the blood,” says Pauline, who has worked for global drinks giant Diageo in Fife for 29 years.

“I was always a union member but about six weeks after I started there was a strike for wages. I was quite young and that’s something I realised I was interested in.”

After becoming a shop steward in 1987, Pauline became a convenor for the GMB union in 2000, representing members on an individual basis and at national level.

“I never really thought about being the only woman. I go to meetings and I’m treated with respect but, hopefully, it encourages other women to see me as a role model and I hope to see more women take my lead,” she says.

Wouldn’t that be worth a wee dram? Not for Pauline. “The older you get the wiser you get – anyway, I’m too old to get hangovers now!” she says.

winter 2009 « 31

» Feature » Scottish Union Learning

If new tech work Stow far, Stow good With some 2,000 students passing through its doors each year, Glasgow’s Stow College is Scotland’s largest provider of trade union education.

Eighteen years ago things were very different when college principal Bob McGrory and Brian Corrigan set up the trade union department, which Brian now heads.

“There was just Brian running and teaching at that time. It came from nothing because both Brian and I believe very firmly in it as a means whereby we can reach an audience that definitely needs our help. Now we have 15 tutors!” says Bob. As well as the full range of TUC Education courses, the college is also responsible for all the fulltime officer education for

Smart use of new technology helped Barack Obama become US President and now it could make a real difference to how unions campaign and organise.

That’s the thinking behind a new two-day course, Make Your Own Film, designed to provide organisers, learning organisers, officers and staff with the knowledge and tools to make short films for use in organising and campaigning work, particularly for YouTube.

The Lights, Camera, Action! course being run by TUC Education with unionlearn has been hugely popular, says unionlearn Organising Officer Anna Burton.

“We appear to have picked up on the current zeitgeist among union professionals for the need for the skills to use this medium for campaigning and organising work.”

Intelligent use of the internet – from web traffic and social networking to user-generated video

Scotland. And all online learning for Scotland comes through Stow, explains Brian.

In addition, the department offers membership training through workplace learning agreements with ULRs and it runs specific courses for unions, including the PCS, GMB, USDAW, CWU, UNISON, ASLEF and the FBU. It’s also piloting a Unite 10-day shop steward programme.

“We’re thriving and growing,” says Brian.

And to prove it, the college invited Scotland’s Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to help it mark 40 of its students receiving their graduation certificates at a glittering celebration at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall in December.

It’s a team game, says Harry

32 » winter 2009

Should you

Photo: Rod Leon

For Harry Cunningham, one of the best things about being TUC Education Regional Education Officer for Scotland is working with a fantastic team of tutors located right across the country.

TUC courses are delivered from John O’Groats in the north to Dumfries in the south by an extensive team of dedicated tutors working in Scottish further education colleges.

“Although many of the tutors are geographically isolated from each other, their professionalism and the quality of service they provide for their union learners enables TUC Education courses to receive constant acclaim from TUC affiliates,” Harry says.

“TUC Education goes from strength to strength in Scotland as it does in the rest of the UK, and we continue putting all our resources at the disposal of union reps and learners wherever they are based in Scotland.”

Are you a workplace union representative or activist? Are you interested in making the union stronger and more effective where you work?

Would you like to get new skills and additional resources to help you to recruit more members, get more people involved, develop new reps and raise the profile of the union?

If so, then the new Activist Academy is for you!

The Academy is a new programme from the TUC and unionlearn aimed exclusively at union reps and activists. By linking training to activity and action, it will help reps develop their skills and provide them with support and resources to build a stronger union in their workplace, branch or beyond.

TUC Education with unionlearn « Roundup «

ked for Obama, then it can work for union learning, too – is credited with helping Barack Obama’s recent election victory in the US. “Barack Obama is successful because he is Barack Obama, and his message is spot-on with Democrats,” says David All, a Republican strategist specialising in new media.

“But he is leveraging that with the most effective, comprehensive online strategy of any campaign. He’s using the tools that help you find and mobilise new voters.”

Andrew Rasiej, a leading analyst of online politics, says the Obama campaign “has come the closest to achieving the Holy Grail of politics on the internet – converting online enthusiasm to offline action.”

Now unions can find out how to use the same technology to raise and convert enthusiasm for learning and organising.

YouTube has been used in the UK

for trade union campaigns. The FBU were one of the first to utilise the phenomenon (www.youtube.com/ fbutube) to help win campaigns. But YouTube is still under-used by many unions.

Experienced trade union film maker Alan Miles of Mad Inertia productions (www.youtube.com/ madinertiafilms) leads the Make Your Own Film course and brings his knowledge and experience in a way that trade unionists can readily relate to.

“He contextualises the course immediately and demonstrates in an inspirational way how to use film in organising and campaigning work, evidencing some of his own film work and experience,” says Anna.

The course is hands-on, and all participants make a film for use on YouTube by the end of the two days.

The next course is in London on Tuesday 3 and Wednesday 4 February.

For details, email Anna Burton: aburton@tuc.org.uk

Course participants interview students about what they know about unions (left) and pick up tips from course leader Alan Miles (right, with camera)

be enrolling at the Activist Academy?

Activist Academy courses will be delivered via a national network of Centres of Organising and Recruitment Excellence (COREs) based at specially selected TUC Education centres. All training will be linked to an on-going workplace or branch-based campaign. Most courses will last six days and will be delivered in three two-day blocks.

Because reps are volunteers, the Activist Academy aims to give them new and additional skills, together with extra support to make the union stronger in their workplace or branch.

Reps attending Activist Academy courses will get: » specialist accredited training in organising and campaigning delivered by experienced and specially briefed TUC tutors

» support from the TUC Activist » »

Academy and their union linked to the workplace or branch campaign they bring to the course. a nominated mentor from their union and additional support from their tutor a route into the Organising Academy for those interested in becoming full-time union

organisers via the TUC’s prestigious Organising Academy Trainee Organiser programme.

Pilot courses were held last Autumn and new course dates details are available at www.tuc.org.uk/activistacademy.

For more details, email activistacademy@tuc.org.uk.

“The Activist Academy has helped us provide new skills, additional support and resources to our reps.

Such help has obviously benefited the reps, but it also increases our capacity to address the union’s organising challenges. I would recommend the Activist Academy to any union wanting to do the same.”

Fire Brigades’ Union General Secretary Matt Wrack

winter 2009 « 33

» contacts

unionlearn contacts All TUC email addresses are first initial followed by surname@tuc.org.uk

» Unionlearn

» Southern and Eastern

Tel: 020 7079 6920 Fax: 020 7079 6921 unionlearn@tuc.org.uk www.unionlearn.org.uk Director Liz Smith Tel: 020 7079 6922 lsmith@tuc.org.uk

Tel: 020 7467 1251 Regional manager Barry Francis Union Development Coordinator Jon Tennison Regional Education Officers Rob Hancock Angela Perry

» National unionlearn managers

» Midlands

Standards and Quality Ian Borkett Tel: 020 7079 6940 iborkett@tuc.org.uk Research and Strategy Bert Clough Tel: 020 7079 6925 bclough@tuc.org.uk Business and Finance Matthew Fernandez-Graham Tel: 020 7079 6936 mfernandez-graham@tuc.org.uk Communications Mike Power Tel: 020 7079 6942 mpower@tuc.org.uk Trade Union Education Liz Rees Tel: 020 7079 6923 lrees@tuc.org.uk Union Development Judith Swift Tel: 0151 243 2568 jswift@tuc.org.uk Development Officer (ULF) Catherine McClennan Tel: 07795 606 982 cmcclennan@tuc.org.uk

Tel: 0121 236 4454 Regional manager Mary Alys Union Development Coordinator Gary O’Donnell Regional Education Officer Pete Try

» Northern Regional manager Barney McGill Tel: 0191 227 5552 Union Development Coordinator Elizabeth Killoran Tel: 0191 227 5557 Regional Education Officer Ian West Tel: 0191 227 5572

» North West

Helen Gagliasso Tel: 0191 227 5567 hgagliasso@tuc.org.uk

Regional Manager Dave Eva Tel: 0151 236 5366 Union Development Coordinator Tony Saunders Liverpool office Tel: 0151 243 2574 Manchester office Tel: 0161 445 0077 Regional Education Officer Peter Holland Tel: 0151 243 2564

» Website

» South West

Jay Sreedharan Tel: 020 7079 6943 jsreedharan@tuc.org.uk

Regional Manager Tel: 0117 947 0521 Helen Cole Union Development Coordinator Ros Etheridge

» U-Net centres

34 » winter 2009

Regional Development Workers: Bristol Alan Shearn Tel: 0117 947 0521 Cornwall Geoff Hale Tel: 01209 611 604 Regional Education Officer Marie Hughes Tel: 0117 933 4443

» Yorkshire and the Humber Tel: 0113 242 9296 Regional Manager Alan Roe Union Development Coordinator Sharon Burke Regional Education Officer Trevor Sargison Tel: 0113 200 1071

» Union contacts Aspect Judith Hibbert Tel: 07968 322 969 judith.hibbert@ntlworld.com ATL Mark Holding Tel: 020 7782 1596 mholding@atl.org.uk BECTU Brian Kelly Tel: 020 7346 0900 bkelly@bectu.org.uk BFAWU Dorban Ippoma Tel: 020 8801 0980 dorban58@yahoo BSU Vikki Botham Tel: 07717 805 521 vikki.powell@britannia.co.uk Connect Kirsi Kekki Tel: 020 8971 6052 kirsi.kekki@connectuk.org CWU Trish Lavelle Tel: 020 8971 7340 tlavelle@cwu.org Equity Louise Grainger Tel: 020 7670 0214 lgrainger@equity.org.uk FBU Trevor Shanahan Tel: 07917 75 9473 trevor.shanahan@fbu.org.uk FDA Neil Rider Tel: 020 7401 5575 neil@fda.org.uk

resources «

Jay knows MU Pauline Dalby Tel: 020 7840 5516 pd1@musiciansunion.org.uk NAPO Ranjit Singh Tel: 07943 827 353 rsingh@napo.org.uk NASUWT Jennifer Moses, Stephen Smith Tel: 0121 453 6150 lifelong.learning@mail.nasuwt.org.uk NUJ Linda King Tel: 020 7843 3717 lindak@nuj.org.uk NUT Andrew Parry Williams Tel: 020 7380 4800/4780 learning.reps@nut.org.uk PCS David McEvoy Tel: 020 7801 2727 ext 2360 david.mcevoy@pcs.org.uk PFA Alan Irwin Tel: 07717 467 718 ieteuk@yahoo.co.uk POA Andy Rowett Tel: 07917 699 210 poaulf@yahoo.co.uk Prospect Rachel Bennett Tel: 020 7902 6687 Rachel.Bennett@prospect.org.uk RCN Linda McBride Tel: 020 7647 3855 linda.mcbride@rcn.org.uk RMT Teresa Williams Tel: 020 7529 8820 t.williams@rmt.org.uk TSSA Jon Clark Tel: 020 7387 2101 clarkj@tssa.org.uk UCATT Jeff Hopewell Tel: 01302 360 725 jhopewell@ucatt.org.uk UNISON Pam Johnson Tel: 020 7551 1267 pam.johnson@unison.co.uk Unite Tom Beattie Tel: 020 8462 7755 tom.beattie@unitetheunion.org Unite Jim Mowatt Tel: 020 7611 2628 jmowatt@unitetheunion.org Unity Gerald Crookes Tel: 01782 280 588 geraldcrookes@unitytheunion.org.uk URTU Graham Cooper Tel: 07795 562 874 grahamcurtu@yahoo.co.uk USDAW Ann Murphy Tel: 0161 224 2804 ann.murphy@usdaw.org.uk

Jay Sreedharan, unionlearn’s website officer, answers some recent questions raised by site visitors Q There is often confusion between union reps and management about how much the employer should contribute to training costs/material/support etc.

I don’t want to go through this every time I’m arranging training for my colleagues. What shall I do?

A Many of the problems that reps experience with management could be overcome by a learning agreement. A formal agreement between a union and an employer on facility time and resources such as setting up a learning centre or time off for ULRs/learners can avoid misunderstanding and ensure fair and reasonable treatment. More information about learning agreement and a model framework learning agreement can be found at http://tinyurl.com/65h6a Once you have negotiated on a learning agreement you can set up a steering

group (or learning committee). This group would comprise union and employer representatives who seek to reach agreement on training costs, materials, and support for learning.

In the current climate with the financial crisis in the UK economy, time off for training may not be high up on the employer’s priority list. But now is the time employers should be investing in their staff. We all know that greater investment in training benefits both employers and employees and leads to high performance practices.

So I hope this helps and the next step for you is to talk to your senior rep or your union officer and plan ahead. It is important to adopt a team approach.

To find out more, visit www.unionlearn.org.uk/agreeements

Do you know a Quick Read role model?

In the run-up to World Book Day, Quick Reads and unionlearn are looking for outstanding examples of learners using Quick Reads to stimulate their interest in learning, move on to take courses or spur them on. » Do you know someone whose first book was a Quick Read? » Do you know someone who has used

a Quick Read to learn to read or to really develop their skills? » Have you used Quick Reads to teach your classes?

If so, we would like to hear from you.

For every entry we’ll send you a set of nine Sandstone Vista books absolutely free (that’s a saving of nearly £56).

winter 2009 «

35

Resources « Roundup «

Free resources for ULRs

Get your orders in now www.unionlearn.org.uk/freebooks And postage and packing is also free NEW – raw money NEW – Making the most

of Investors in People This guide for trade unionists explains in detail how IIP works.

It also reveals how ULRs and other union reps can recognise and promote their role and that of unions in supporting their colleagues’ development.

NEW – It’s time to talk training

Kate and Umar’s incredible learning journey Our 10-minute animated film of ULR Kate and how she takes Umar on a vital learning journey adds a new dimension to meetings and learning sessions.

Read the case studies and top tips from examples of 10 successful workplace dialogues in this new publication featured on p15 of this issue. The publication is aimed at helping union reps and human resources staff to develop a dialogue on training at work.

The TUC, CBI and two government departments BERR and DIUS came together to publish this new document.

Online learning with TUC Education – a guide to courses This booklet tells you all need to know about TUC Education’s online courses.

The publication also answers frequently asked questions.

It also anwers the question, ‘Is online learning for me?’

Working for Learners A must for all ULRs: get your copy before stocks run out again! This publication has it all: learning and organising, benefits of ULRs, functions and rights, ULR agreements, ULR activities, ULR training, and support for learning. Plus a jargon buster, resources list and contacts.

magazine from the bbc.co.uk/raw This magazine, which is enclosed with this edition of The Learning Rep, provides top savings tips from money experts. This new publication from one of unionlearn’s key partners says it will help to “plan a debt-free future.”

Charter for workplace learning This NIACE publication gives learners’ views on what works. The 10-point charter lists the key factors that people in workplace learning say are the most important.

Order more copies of this edition of The Learning Rep and spread the word about the work of ULRs and learning project workers.

Distribute the magazine to colleagues at work, learners and anyone interested in union learning.