Unilever has learning licked

Trade union members at a West Country ice cream maker have the chance to move off the factory floor after a learning centre was opened on site. The recently-renovated training room, complete with shiny new computers, at Unilever in Gloucester was opened by local MP Parmjit Dhanda at the end of November. 'Trade unions have recognised for a very long time that the opportunity to reskill and learn has benefited their members, and employers are beginning to get it as well,' said Parmjit Dhanda. 'I'm delighted to come along and celebrate this partnership between union and employer because it's also going to benefit my constituents.'

Partnership is very much the name of the game, with Unilever working closely with unionlearn, unite the union and Gloucestershire College to ensure the learning centre went ahead. 'It used to be a training room but it was never utilised, especially not by shop floor people,' said Kevin Preest, unite steward and union learning rep (ULR). 'It was used more for office training, but now it's been opened up for individuals to come in and upgrade themselves and make their prospects better within the company.'

'It's a no-brainer, really,' added Jo Kelly, Unilever's HR Business Partner. 'We're asking our operators to upskill in everything they do, so it benefits us to help them learn. It's easier for them to learn here, with their mates, than it is going to college or night school. 'We're asking our operators to do more reports, to look at more breakdowns, to analyse pinchpoints, so having the learning centre helps us no end - it's phenomenal.'

The take-up for the centre has already impressed Kevin Preest, who said: 'It's pleasantly surprising because I thought we'd face reluctance from people, saying 'No, I'm not capable of doing that', but they've been asking 'What's this course about?' and saying 'Oh yes, I would be interested in that'. 'It's opened my eyes to the fact that people are looking for help and they didn't know where to turn to before we started. I know we're providing a worthwhile service.'

It's also good for the union's profile, as fellow steward and ULR Kev Jones explains: 'We've had people join the union since we started. We had a good membership anyway, but now we've got even more.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

All unionlearn press releases can be found at www.unionlearn.org.uk

Media enquiries:

Tim Lezard

07810 641 459

Press release (500 words) issued 8 Dec 2009

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