Michael Cosby is a Community union Branch Secretary at TATA Steel in Corby, Northamptonshire and has been supporting his membership having identified skills issues across his departments, particularly with IT skills.

Michael negotiated and organised the paid release for all learners and has begun to build a follow up list for future courses.

Mick Brightman is a Project Officer with Communitas – the learning arm of Community and has been really impressed with the work Michael has done supporting IT skills at TATA.

Mick said:

Eight people came forward to join a basic IT course to improve their skills and prospects within the business. Mick negotiated their release to attend during working time, this being 6 one hour sessions.”

It was agreed with the company what level learners could achieve within that time frame, using the “Learn My Way” platform, the 3 modules identified, “Using the Internet Safely”, “Understanding Computers” & “Creating Documents”.

Upon completion of these 3 modules their learning experience was recognised in the TATA News newsletter and captured by Community. The success of these courses has developed increased interest in more courses and Michael is co-ordinating future training.

However Michael hasn’t only inspired colleagues at work – he decided it was time for him to improve his IT skills so he could support the branch in more ways. He joined fellow workers as a learner on the course and said he is more confident in using IT and is much better at utilising a computer and its programs.

Michael said:

Several years ago, I was given the privilege to become Branch Secretary of the Corby 11 Community branch. At the time I thought to myself I have no IT skills, so I approached Communitas abort receiving some training.”

In the meantime I asked several of my members about their IT skills and was surprised of the numbers who were the same as me, this is when I decided to set up a training course.”

At the beginning the learners found it a bit of a challenge, but Michael said they sound found their feet and they thoroughly enjoyed and course and gained a lot from the training.

This is just the start at Michael is using the IT courses to encourage people back into training and is planning English and maths courses in the future, as well as more IT training.

The benefits have been huge to skills and confidence as Michael explained:

Recently one of my members said to me that now he now understands the basics he can sit with his kids at night and help with their homework. So it’s not just benefit him and work, but also his family.”

The course has also helped me I had no IT skills whatsoever beforehand, but now I can sit down, find my way round a keyboard, send and receive emails which is a great help in the position that I hold.”

Michael thanks Communitas, and Mick Brightman, for all the support and feels it is important that everyone build up their IT skills:

You’re never too old to learn as the saying goes, myself at 54 never thought I would never move forward and learn IT skills, but I did and, and well as the benefits for my role, I have really enjoyed it.”