Leigh Moss is a Package Configuration Analyst with the Co-Operative Bank based in Leek, Staffordshire. The Brittiana Staff Union (BSU) has recently been supporting Leigh as he looks to gain new skills and qualifications.

Leigh explained his workplace and learning journey to unionlearn.

I started working for what is now the Cooperative Bank in January 2001. I worked in Mailing Operations & Image Processing for 2 years, then moved to Mortgage Services as a Customer Service Advisor and later moved into the audit team within the department as a Technical Specialist. 

In 2006 I obtained a role within the Application Support Improvement Service Team (ASIST) where I became a developer for the mortgage business areas. This position I held for 2 years.  In 2008 I moved into my present role in IT as a Package Configuration Analyst, supporting and making business and regulatory changes to our mortgage systems."

During Leigh's time with the Britannia he has always actively looked to gain extra qualifications to help with his roles.

So far I've been successful in completing my Microsoft Office Specialist qualifications in Word, Excel and Powerpoint and  ISEB qualification in Systems Development Essentials. My latest course was the NCFE Functional Skills online in mathematics level 2."

Leigh recently studied for Level 2 maths, a functional skill which he had been using at work for years but he felt that a refresher would be helpful, which proved correct as he explained:

I studied maths to demonstrate that I could still operate at an A-C grade, due to the amount of time that had passed since I left school.  The course identified areas I had forgotten, which enabled me to refresh my knowledge and understanding of how useful certain aspects of maths were in my day to day role inside work and my life in general.

The help my Union Learning Rep gave me was invaluable. Again with the support of the union I've currently applied to carry out my ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) Foundation qualification, which will help in my current role and afterwards I intend to start the NCFE Functional Skills in English level 2."

Paul Humphreys is the local BSU Youlearn Project Worker and has been helping Leigh. Paul said:

Leigh is an example of how, with support from his local Union Learning Rep and the union, he can progress and be an inspiration to others. Leigh has just been offered a secondment opportunity within the company and we wish him all the best."