Unions and Development Agency join forces to raise managerial levels in the Midlands
Big names in the Midlands industrial world are today celebrating a successful management project with the TUC's learning and skills organisation, unionlearn* . Speakers from Toyota, Bombardier and Skills for Care (the sector skills council for adult social care) will outline how working in partnership with trade unions to provide training and qualifications in management skills has benefited their workforces.
In the past six months, over 700 trade unionists and colleagues have attended one-day workshops or courses in various management skills, with almost 100 completing an Institute of Management Award at the equivalent of A Level. Workshops included: Finance and Numeracy for New First Line Managers and Supervisors; Managing and Supporting Young Apprentices; Stepping up to Management for Black Workers; and Women Stepping Up to Management.
The celebratory event at East Midlands Development Agency ( emda ) in Nottingham today will hear from Alison Bingham, the Agency's Enterprise Development Manager and Mary Alys , Regional Manager, unionlearn with the Midlands TUC, as well as some of the people who took part in the courses. Unionlearn received funding from emda for the development and delivery of one-day workshops and courses via trade unions.
Unions identified that a well-trained manager (particularly at supervisory/team leader level) was vital for the well-being, safety, personal development and general satisfaction at work of union members. Union learning reps also reported that the opportunity to learn at these levels allowed people to progress to the higher levels of attainment to which they aspired.
Mary Alys , Regional Manager, unionlearn with the Midlands TUC said: 'This project has been a huge success not only for individuals who want to progress into management, but also for the organisations for whom they work. These organisations, such as Toyota, Bombardier, and Skills for Care have greatly benefited from developing the skills of their own workforces. It just shows what can be done when trade unions and employers set out to improve skills and work in partnership.'
Andrew Morgan, Skills and Communities Director at emda said: 'This scheme has enabled unionlearn and union learning representatives to take forward skills development within the workplace - ensuring that the learning needs of the individual are matched with appropriate training to meet the needs of the employer. Working through the trade unions to develop management skills in the workplace has been a unique approach. The value of this work has been recognised by employers who are now offering further financial and in-kind support to skills development in this union-led partnership.'
NOTES TO EDITORS:
All unionlearn press releases can be found at www.unionlearn.org.uk
Media enquiries:
Wanda Wyporska T: 020 7079 6950 M: 07795 844728 E: wwwyporska@tuc.org.uk
The event will take place between 9.3am-12.30pm at emda , Apex Court, City Link Nottingham NG2 4LA. Photographs available on request.
ULRs from the following unions took part: USDAW, URTU, UNITE, UNISON, COMMUNITAS, PCS, POA, Britannia Staff Union, CSEU, CONNECT, NASUWT, NUT, ATL, GMB, UCU, BFAWU, RCN, FBU, CWU, ASLEF, and RMT.
emda is one of nine Regional Development Agencies in England, set up in 1999 to bring a regional focus to economic development. Working in partnership with public, private and voluntary organisations, the aim is to deliver the 2006 Regional Economic Strategy (RES) A Flourishing Region, which sets out regional priorities until 2020. The RES, coordinated by emda , highlights the themes of productivity, sustainability and equality and builds on the previous two strategies; Prosperity Through People and Destination 2010. In early 2007 the National Audit Office announced emda had received the highest possible grade of 'performing strongly' in an independent assessment of its work - scoring 22 out of 24. For more details visit www.emda.org.uk
Press release (700 words) issued 11 Sep 2008
