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 Add a comment to General Chat discussion. Add a comment to Trade Union learning centre discussion. See all discussion topics.  Learning in Union, 11 December 2008, Plymouth Illuminating Learning: a celebration for unions across the North West  |
BNFL Union Learning Centre - A Partnership ArrangementI'm sure it's a challenge that we've all risen to - the art of ensuring that you've asked the right questions to make sure there are no nasty surprises regarding the real staffing levels of an organisation when you arrive - 'Ah yes, the 26 volunteers we didn't mention on the form - sorry do they count?' However, I'm discovering that there may be equally challenging issues regarding the true ownership of a service provider - which of course is vital to establishing where and how the strategic direction is established and monitored. The BNFL Learning Centre is a good example of this. On paper, a single site providing services for staff, from an office on their site and identified as an internal service provider. However, the reality I found was rather different. Having been piloted early in 2003, utilising money from the LSC*, the BNFL Union Learning Centre* officially opened in October 2003. It is in fact managed by a partnership between unionlearn* and BNFL. The Centre is situated within the BNFL perimeter and provides a service to all those working on the site, including contractors. Whilst seeking to support the Government's Life Long Learning Strategy, at a local level the Centre works specifically to encourage the BNFL community to engage in learning and education. At the highest level the Learning Partnership Steering Group is comprised of representatives of the two key partners, BNFL and unionlearn, together with representatives of local colleges. This group provides the direction and strategy for the service. The range of policies which guide the service have been provided by unionlearn and learndirect* and are also consistent with the practices that operate within BNFL. As the centre buildings belong to BNFL and the staff are employed by them they are required to respond to and comply with relevant legislation as directed by the host company. Unionlearn and the learndirect portal also provide a wealth of information relating to relevant legislation and practices. The premises, equipment and staff time have been made available by BNFL whilst the regional unionlearn provides the training and support. There is a full-time Centre Manager, who is a secondee from BNFL and he is supported by a team of union learning representatives (ULRs), who promote the service from within the workforce and who are also employees of BNFL. Unionlearn in the region, through its Project Worker, provides a strong programme of training and development which directly supports the needs of the team providing the service. The Centre Manager provides ongoing support to the ULRs, whilst the Steering Group and its members provide him with support. The Centre Manager ensures that the resources of the Centre are effectively managed at a day-to-day level whilst he provides a quarterly report for the Life Long Learning Steering Group, which provide a forum for the partners to meet together to review the progress of the service, to provide feedback and look at means of improving it. Quarterly update and review meetings also take place with U-Net. Rae Evans Case studies and projects (600 words) issued 9 May 2008  Cumbria 'nets' itself a full agenda Cumbria 'nets' itself a full agenda Stephen Hughes MEP learns his way around the region |
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unionlearn Telephone 020 7079 6920 |
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