Elstree laboratory tests out learning at work
Staff at Bio Products Laboratory (BPL) in Elstree will be celebrating Learning at Work Day (Thursday 22 May) by organising a whole range of activities in the workplace, aimed at making learning fun. Union learning reps from Unite the Union will be helping people to tackle their literacy and numeracy problems through running Sudoku and crossword competitions. A version of popular TV favourite 'Countdown' will also be run to test people's skills with numbers and spelling.
BPL has a very diverse workforce and so a quiz on languages and foreign language taster sessions will enable everyone to join in the day. However, this day is a launch for basic numeracy, literacy and IT courses which will be run at BPL in the summer and throughout the year. The union also aims to recruits more Learning Champions, who support lifelong learning at the company.
The event is funded through unionlearn*, the TUC's learning and skills organisation, and is one of hundreds of events all over the country being run during Adult Learners' Week* (17-23 May). Learning at Work Day is run by the Campaign for Learning* and Adult Learners' Week is organised by NIACE*, the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education.
Iain Bradbury, one of the two union learning reps at BPL said: 'This is the fourth year BPL has run a Learning at Work Day event. As well as motivating staff and raising morale, this event reinforces the benefits learning can bring to a business such as BPL.'
BPL HR Director, Pam Glover said: 'The Bio Products Laboratory has really seen a benefit from working together with Unite the Union to create a culture of learning here in Elstree.'
Barry Francis, unionlearn Regional Manager said: 'Learning at Work Day is a great opportunity for employers such as the Bio Products Laboratory and trade unions, such as Unite, to work in partnership for the benefit of both their staff and the company. Research has shown that people who do taster sessions of learning are far more likely to then go on to do a course, and I am sure that staff at the Bio Products Laboratory will really make the most of these opportunities.'
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: wwyporska@tuc.org.uk
Mike Power T: 020 7079 6942 M: 07900 914322 E: mpower@tuc.org.uk
Press release (500 words) issued 21 May 2008
