 |
|
 Find related Union learning reps training courses. See all courses.  Unionlearn ‘The Equality & Diversity Forum’ Unionlearn ‘The Equality & Diversity Forum’ Unionlearn ‘The Equality & Diversity Forum’ Unionlearn ‘The Equality & Diversity Forum’ Unionlearn ‘The Equality & Diversity Forum’ Sussex ULRs local network meeting East of England Regional Network Meeting Northwest Learning Centre Strategy Norfolk and Suffolk unionlearn forum Essex and Herts unionlearn forum Unions and Employers helping to build Working Communities Maths Messengers - A fun and interactive training session Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire unionlearn forum South East Regional Network Meeting  |
Opening up learning opportunities for allOrganisation: Barclaycard StocktonAttending a unionlearn conference highlighting the issue of vulnerable workers in the workplace was the start of a whole new chapter for the Union Learning Representatives (ULRs) at Barclaycard Stockton and they used the experience to set up their own project to tackle the potential issue. Sean Green and Andy Bakes, both ULRs with Unite, identified a number of areas within Barclaycard where workers could potentially be vulnerable due to the circumstances they found themselves in, either through lack of qualifications or because of structural changes in the organisation. This included the consumer sales telephony staff that had begun to see some of their work being managed abroad, as well as the foreign languages team (whose first language isn't English) who had been recently re-located to the Stockton site to support International services within the Commercial business. Potential vulnerable workers were also identified among the third party contract workers at the Barclaycard site including those used to provide the site's catering, cleaning and maintenance functions. Unite have been running the Insight Learning Centre in partnership with Barclaycard Stockton for the last three years. Tackling vulnerable workers became the focus of unionlearn Learning for All funding application for year four of the project which received a written letter from senior Barclaycard Management supporting the application. The project is now helping workers with CV preparation and interview techniques so that they can take advantage of internal job opportunities with more confidence, helping contract cleaners gain Level 1 and 2 in Literacy and Numeracy and helping the contract caterers gain their NVQs*. Sean Green said: 'We worked with Carol Burlison who manages the relationship with all the onsite contractors at Barclaycard. Carol's enthusiasm and support of the project has been fantastic and it has meant all contractors have been offered the choice of getting involved if they want to and I'm delighted to say, many have taken up the opportunity.' Brazilian born Lillian Scott was one of the foreign language team members and although she had been in the UK for some time, she struggled with spoken English. Through the project and with lots of determination Lillian has been able to complete her Level 1 and 2 English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) qualification. Sean said: 'For Lillian and the other members of the foreign languages team, having an English qualification behind them means a great deal so we're delighted this project came along at the right time - just as the team were relocating to Stockton, and we've been able to use the project to their benefit.' Lillian said: 'I was very happy when I achieved my English Literacy Level 2. It made me feel more confident with English as it is not my first language and it's also been a great help for my daily work. 'I am grateful to have had the opportunity to do this English course. The teacher and the Insight Centre were very supportive as they helped me achieve this qualification.' As the project covers both Barclaycard and non Barclaycard workers, one of the biggest challenges Sean and Andy faced was getting the computers in the Learning Centre taken off the secure Barclaycard network so that learners could use them to support their learning activities. They've just had the green light from the business to de-network one PC to allow an Internet Learning Café with open access internet facilities. Sean and Andy both agree that the hard work of the last 12 months is starting to pay dividends and the benefits are being felt not only by those being helped by the project but also by Barclaycard as a whole. They were overjoyed to hear that due to the success, Barclaycard is hoping to extend the project and the Insight Learning Centre to other areas of its operation in the UK. Talks regarding this are ongoing between the business and Unite through their Partnership Agreement and they hope to have a decision soon. Ray Harrison, Head of Training and Development for Barclaycard, said: 'The partnership between Unite and Barclaycard has provided greater visibility of the learning agenda across the business whilst enhancing the options available to all colleagues. The relationship has helped us to pursue our ambition of being an 'employer of choice'.' Case studies and projects (800 words) issued 15 Jul 2010 |
|
unionlearn Telephone 020 7079 6920 |
|
