Midlands update magazine - Autumn 2011

unionlearn Midlands Region

ISSUE 11 >> AUTUMN 2011

o t s l l i k s e Th

n e e r g go

www.unionlearn.org.uk

Welcome to update!

Welcome to our now twice yearly edition of the Midlands update. Our focus for this autumn edition is on Digital Inclusion. Many ULRs have already had great success in opening up the digital world to colleagues, friends and families, so we are celebrating their work by highlighting the work of Digital Champions. Unions will be participating in Get Online week at the end of October and on pages 4–5 you will also find some useful information to support your Get Online activities.

Learners across the region continue, in ever growing numbers, to choose the trade union route for their learning and on page 3 you can read what some of them have to say about their experiences. You can also read about one apprentice’s experience, this time at JCB. ULRs are creating opportunities for their colleagues in the workplace to progress but it’s vital that ULRs themselves get the opportunity to train and update themselves for their role. On page 6 our Regional Education Officer, Pete Try, outlines the new ULR course offer. You’ll also find forthcoming course dates, so book now to secure your place.

Green Skills in the workplace are a new area of union learning, one which we need to understand better and develop so that ULRs continue to support their colleagues at work in upskilling or re skilling to help them meet the challenges of the future. We have included an insert with this edition that will tell you more about this area of learning and skills and highlight for you why green skills are union business. Unionlearn, in partnership with Stephenson College in Coalville, is holding a conference to explore this new agenda on 21 October. Details are on the back page and I hope you will join us.

I do hope you enjoy reading this magazine.

Mary Alys Regional Manager

update unionlearn Midlands region ISSUE 11 >> AUTUMN 2011

2

Writer

Astrid Stubbs

Design

wave.coop

Printers

ZetaColour

Cover pic

At the centre of success South Birmingham College Trade Union Education Centre is enjoying a successful year having just trained 2,000 reps – the most Assistant Director Bob Anderson, has seen in 16 years.

“We are extremely proud of that,” remarks Bob, who explains that the centre works with unions, including Unite, PCS, USDAW, GMB, ASLEF, RMT and UNISON, offering core and affiliate courses.

As a result, it works with a vast number of local employers, among them Pilkington, Wincanton Focus, Coors Brewery, ACC Frozen Foods and Argos. “Unions are providing an effective conduit in getting the college into these places so that we can do training,” says Bob. But 18 months ago it was agreed to link the centre with workforce development when it became increasingly obvious that the centre was a major conduit for the college in upping skills in everything from Skills for Life to high grade IT, says Bob. As a result the centre is now the main coordinator of IAG throughout the college and is the first port of call for people being made redundant in the area.

The centre is at the hub of college life, making an impact at all levels.

In addition it has now taken over the college’s Highgate Centre, working with large numbers of unemployed people to improve their employability – and as a result 25 per cent have been able to find work.

Bob praises his flexible and committed staff for their work along with college principal: “Mike Hopkins, being a progressive college principal, understands that the trade unions provide another route into working with local employers.”

WRAP

www.unionlearn.org.uk

Travellers’ tales Learning Journeys: trade union learners in their own words is a new publication from unionlearn in which learners speak about the huge difference learning has made to their lives.

And it proves once again that union learning provides a second chance for workers who have had negative experiences of compulsory education.

It explores the extent to which union learning facilitates equality and diversity in access to learning and leads to further personal development, job progression and/or employability.

Find out more Download your copy at www.unionlearn.org.uk/files/publications/documents/213.pdf

Here’s what learners in the Midlands region say about the courses they have been on: Mentoring and Coaching course

Disabled Workers Workshop

“I didn't know anything about mentoring but since I have used this to get the best out of people I have progressed from supervisor to production manager and know now that I can delegate and know the job will get done.”

“I had a lack of clarity allowing a mind-set which stopped me moving on. Knowing what my strengths are is very useful, I feel better already.”

As a result this learner has moved from a Team Leader Role to that of Production Manager.

Disabled Workers Facing Redundancy workshop

NVQ2 Vocational Spanish

One worker who participated came to the workshop facing redundancy or redeployment to a job on a lower grade, but left seeing a middle-management post as a realistic prospect.

“I came for 12 weeks and stayed for three years, if I could carry on for three more years I would!”

“The practice giving presentations and feedback were great preparation for interviews for management posts, and the session on disability discrimination legislation was really useful.”

Black Workers Facing Redundancy course

Matt’s

“Thanks for organising such a valuable workshop. I really feel a lot more positive about my future now.”

“The course has increased my motivation to look for alternative employment as well as the drive to save our service despite the threat of redundancy.”

mastery Becoming an apprentice at JCB in Rocester has meant more than learning new skills for Matt Walker – he says it has changed his life.

Matt left school with poor qualifications but says he was lucky enough to be taken on in an advanced modern apprenticeship in mechanical engineering with the company.

Gaining new skills has increased his abilities in all areas and he has now been taken on by the company full time as well as embarking on a degree in manufacturing,

www.unionlearn.org.uk

given a day off a week by his company to attend Staffordshire University.

To top it all he has a new baby son, Riley.

“I’ve gained in confidence and taken on challenges that I can adapt to my own life now,” he says.

GMB Convenor Gordon Richardson says he has been campaigning for more craft apprenticeships like Matt’s. “It’s a good way to bring young people and mould them to what the company wants. From a trade union point of view it works because they gain permanent, meaningful jobs,” he adds.

3

Feature > Digital Champions A growing army of champions is encouraging friends, family and

Barry’s a Digital Champion

Have you

Barry Marks admits he’s of a generation that still ‘thinks in feet and inches’ so joining the digital generation and getting online has been an exciting change in his life.

A digital champion is someone who supports their family, friends, colleagues or customers to get all the benefits that the internet can bring.

The URTU transport union Education Project Worker and Digital Champion says:“To me it’s fascinating to learn another skill and if I can pass that onto someone else it’s wonderful.”

Barry is responsible for encouraging and supporting Union Learning Reps in URTU learning centres across the country, who help members, including drivers and warehouse staff, take their first steps into learning.

They can inspire people to take their first steps online by telling them about a site or service that matches their interests, showing them how to use the web, and helping people to gain internet access. Anyone can join the Digital Champion network.

Digital Champions can help people find low cost, local internet courses, show them online training guides and videos, or take the time to teach them personally.

Barry Marks, pictured left with URTU ULR Peter Roe, has embraced technology and is now helping others follow his lead.

“It’s worth it all when you see someone smile when they click and understand it all.”

For Barry that has involved introducing myguide, which is a website designed to help people take their first steps with computers and the internet.

In the Midlands he has helped oversee the introduction of myguide into centres at Warburtons, Homebase, Hovis and Clipper Logistics in Ollerton, where URTU has signed up 180 learners, more new people than any other union.

“It’s worth it all when you see someone smile when they click and understand it all,” he says.

4

Become a digital champion like Ann Hughes

www.unionlearn.org.uk

colleagues to take that first click and get online.

got what it takes?

Job description: Digital Champions Digital Champions should have: ❚ basic computer skills (being able to connect to the internet and use a web browser) ❚ confidence with the internet, including knowing where to go to find information ❚ basic organisational skills to co-ordinate trainees ❚ exceptional communications and people skills.

They should be able to get to know people and understand their interests and motivations and have patience with people who are learning something for the first time.

Most importantly, they should have an enthusiasm about the huge difference the Internet can make to someone’s life.

Give an hour Go ON, Give an Hour is a campaign to encourage people to make a pledge to transform someone’s life by showing them all the wonderful things about the internet i.e. to become a digital champion.

Showing someone you know the wonders of the web is a small thing to do, yet makes a big difference to their life.

Give an Hour takes place on the weekend of 29–30 October when the clocks go back and everyone in Britain has an extra hour on that day. Sunday is also a day where family and friends are more likely to be able to get together and so spend some time with someone.

Find out more Details are available at www.go-on.co.uk where people can: ❚ pledge to help someone ❚ see their impact and an interactive map of all the people that are making pledges ❚ find exciting and useful tools to use in that hour such as videos, animations, and demonstrations.

www.unionlearn.org.uk

'SYPH ]SY FI (MKMXEP 'LE E ZSPYRXIIV QTMSR#

±-´Q E (MKM XEP 'LEQTMSR

- MRWTMVI TI STPI XS KIX QSV I SYX SJ PMJI

SRPMRI²

Find out more

To register as a digital

champion visit

www.unionlearn.org.uk/

ict/learn-4013-f0.cfm/

formbuilder/257/p/ 1?theme=getonline

For a Digital Champion Toolkit visit www.ukonlinecentres.com/ digital-champions/digitalchampion-toolkit.html which is full of useful downloadable materials.

The Pass it on website has further ideas for how to be a digital champion www.helppassiton.co.uk or for more help visit www.ukonlinecentres.com/ pass-it-on/i-want-to-helpsomeone-else-getonline.html

Race Online 2012 at http://raceonline2012.org aims to bring people and organisations together to improve the life chances of the millions of people who have never been online.

BBC’s First Click Campaign has lots to help support those encouraging others to get online www.bbc.co.uk/ connect/campaigns/ first_click.shtml Go On helps make online easy www.go-on.co.uk

5

Q+A Q I understand that there have been funding changes for Skills for Life learning. What does this mean for learners?

A Literacy and numeracy remain free to the learner where the majority of identified learning needs are at level 1 or below. Public funding is directed at learners who need to increase their skills by one full level. Learners who want to undertake learning to fill gaps ie. ‘brush up’ should be offered opportunities to do so by providers but the learner or employer will need to pay for the test certification.

Q Is funding still available for ESOL learning at work?

A There is no public funding for ESOL in the workplace and employers are expected to pay.

Outside the workplace ESOL provision is directed at settled communities with full funding only for those on benefits actively seeking employment and cofunding for others.

Q What is IACL? A IACL stands for Informal Adult and Community Learning and includes many of the learning activities that ULRs have been involved in over a number of years. It can include Employee Development Schemes, workplace libraries and book groups, courses for personal development, taster sessions as first steps to learning, visits to museums and theatres, activities that promote citizenship, hobby/interest clubs. ULRs who have put on such opportunities in the workplace have ranged across languages, health and well-being, culture and heritage, environmental issues, arts, dancing, family history, gardening and more. Bringing IACL into the workplace helps engage new learners, facilitates ‘free learning’ and develops partnerships beyond the workplace.

Q What is a Community Learning Champion?

A Community Learning Champions are people who become active in their community by promoting the value of learning to others. They may be promoting learning with their friends, neighbours, relatives, or workmates, but they could also be supporting people they meet at the school gates, at the local shops or in groups or clubs. Champions speak from personal experience and act as role models for learning. By working together ULRs and local community learning champions can help open up opportunities for each other.

6

FOCUS ON

Bargaining for skills

Developing yourself as a ULR REO Pete Try wants more people to think about stepping up as a ULR

The role of the Union Learning Representative (ULR) is not about making speeches or running union meetings but it is a job for determined people who like to see things through to successful conclusions. This is reflected in the nature of the training, which takes the issues on step by step in order to build the confidence needed.

ULRs have been able to make huge contributions in situations where their members are faced with unavoidable redundancies. As union learning reps they have initiated, supported and helped to develop schemes to get their members’ skills formally recognised, qualifications in place and new training opened up.

The TUC introduction training programme for ULRs consists of two 5 day courses – ULR Stage 1 and ULR Stage 2. New ULRs planning their training programme should think about requesting time off for both parts.

This involves gathering knowledge and developing skills around a range of issues that are so important to the future of workplace learning. In total this is a key part of the contribution trade unionists all over the country are making to the recovery of the UK economy. For the union this creates another opportunity to get into meaningful dialogue with employers and to represent their members effectively. For the members the work of the ULR regularly and genuinely results in chances to get back into learning and training. This helps enormously with future job security.

For help in negotiating facilities and time off for training you should contact your union officer or workplace learning coordinator. For other help contact unionlearn Midlands Region.

Find out more Pete Try, TUC Unionlearn Regional Education Officer E: ptry@tuc.org.uk T: 0121 236 4454

www.unionlearn.org.uk

Midland ULR courses // Autumn/Winter 2011 Birmingham Derby Leicester Kettering Nottingham Solihull Stoke on Trent Derby Leicester Kettering Nottingham Stoke on Trent Wolverhampton

FOCUS ON

Union Learning Reps Stage 1 Union Learning Reps Stage 1 Union Learning Reps Stage 1 Union Learning Reps Stage 1 Union Learning Reps Stage 1 Union Learning Reps Stage 1 Union Learning Reps Stage 1 Union Learning Reps Stage 2 Union Learning Reps Stage 2 Union Learning Reps Stage 2 Union Learning Reps Stage 2 Union Learning Reps Stage 2 Union Learning Reps Stage 2

5 Wednesdays from 2 November 5 Fridays from 23 September 5 Fridays from 23 September 5 days from 19 or 20 September 5 Wednesdays from 21 September 5 Fridays from 23 September 5 Mondays from 24 October 5 Fridays from 4 November 5 Fridays from 4 November 5 days from 31 Oct or 1 Nov 5 Wednesdays from 2 November 5 Mondays from 19 September 5 Tues from 27 Sept (not 11 Oct)

Learning centres

Paul wins them over When Paul Wardle became a ULR for USDAW at The Co-operative Supply Chain, Nottingham he brought with him some exciting ideas.

Within months Paul had organised for all staff to have 15 minutes off to attend information, advice and guidance sessions on their learning needs.

As a result some 120 people have signed up to take Skills for Life courses, starting this summer. In addition Paul is also involved in the delivery of NVQs to staff.

Neil Chapman, Usdaw Lifelong Learning Project Worker, says Paul has also ensured that ULRs and other union reps are working closely together, which has led to 19 new members being recruited to the union.

www.unionlearn.org.uk

“It was a really rewarding experience for everyone involved.”

Commented Paul, “Running three lifelong learning days out of the learning suite on a one-to-one basis proved to be a very successful format.

The informal meetings made every employee feel comfortable, making it easier to ascertain each individual’s learning needs and goals.

It was a really rewarding experience for everyone involved and it is good to know that a lot of fellow staff members share my own passion for adult learning.

We have great learning facilities here and the data recorded at our open days will enable us to run courses specific to our staff’s learning needs and use the facilities that we have on site to their full potential.”

Paths to progress Progression pathways for all trade union reps is a new guide about progression in the work that reps do to support union learners. It will help them think about gaining skills and knowledge in advice and guidance, coaching, mentoring and facilitating learning.

The guide includes a number of inspiring case studies of union members who have progressed through their involvement with their union and through TUC Education courses. Many have moved on to achieve qualifications that have provided them with the skills and knowledge to support union learners with their personal and career development.

Find out more Download a copy at www.unionlearn.org.uk/ files/publications/ documents/210.pdf

Get online week The theme of Get online week 2011 is Give an Hour and the campaign will take place from 30 October – 6 November, with activity taking place throughout November.

Partners include the BBC and Race Online 2012 to make sure the campaign will be bigger than ever.

Organisers are now seeking volunteers to sign up to run an event between 30 October and 30 November to get new people online using the www.go-on.co.uk site.

Find out more www.ukonlinecentres.com /get-online-free-courseshelp-support/get-onlineweek-2011.html

7

7

In brief

Contacts

Book your place now to learn more about unionlearn Midlands Region 24 Livery Street Birmingham B3 2PA 0121 236 4454 unionlearnmidlands@tuc.org.uk Regional manager Mary Alys

malys@tuc.org.uk

Regional Education Officer Pete Try

ptry@tuc.org.uk

Regional union development coordinator Gary O’Donnell

godonnell@tuc.org.uk

Senior Union Support Officers Mick Brightman mbrightman@tuc.org.uk Lisa Stones lstones@tuc.org.uk

the vital area of green skills at the unionlearn Skills for Greener Industries conference.

The event takes place on Friday October 21 from 10am–3.30pm at Stephenson College, Coalville.

It will include speakers, workshops and demonstrations, offering the opportunity to learn more on this important and developing area.

Speakers will be Tim Balcon, E&U Skills, Keith Marshall, Summit Skills and Tom Wilson, Director of unionlearn. Other participants are expected to include Mike Peverill, Climate East Midlands, Graham Petersen of the UCU union Greener Jobs Alliance, Dr Jenny Pickerill, Leicester University and Dr Richard Greenhough of De Montfort University.

Find out more To book your place contact Surjit Chohan on 0121 262 6384 or schohan@tuc.org.uk

Union Support Officers Alan Cook acook@tuc.org.uk Paul Humphreys phumphreys@tuc.org.uk Jurgita Pranculyte jpranculyte@tuc.org.uk Administrative Assistants Louise Power lpower@tuc.org.uk Surjit Kaur Chohan schohan@tuc.org.uk

Register for complimentary tickets to UK’s largest ever skills event which Union learning works for individuals, employers and unions. That’s the finding of the most extensive and in-depth assessment since the ULF was introduced in 2006.

Union Learning Adding Value is available at www.unionlearn.org.uk/ files/publications/ documents/214.pdf

promises to inspire, engage and amaze the next generation.

Taking place at ExCeL London from 5–8 October, WorldSkills London 2011 will see almost 1,000 young people from across the globe compete for Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in skills as diverse as hairdressing and hospitality to floristry and graphic design. 150,000 visitors are expected to attend the event and allocated visitor slots are fast running out so schools and colleges are being urged to confirm their attendance to avoid disappointment.

Find out more For further information on WorldSkills London 2011 and to register for tickets go to www.worldskillslondon2011.com/visit

8