As part of Learning at Work Week the Leeds Local Government Branch of UNISON held and event in the Civic Hall. The target audience was employees on the Leeds City Council graduate scheme who were interested in some of the learning that would develop key skills and experiences in the world of work.

Carol McGrath, Lead UNISON Learning Representative, organised the event and said;

Many of the graduates have come onto the scheme straight from study and their learning needs are quite varied and diverse.

The branch targeted graduates because at a previous event in my department, I presented a session on the learning and development offered through UNISON and a young graduate was at the event.  She told me afterwards that she thought other graduates on her programme would be very interested in what we had to offer.  The majority of graduates on the programme have come straight from years of academic study and following a meeting with the Senior HR Business Partner responsible for the Graduate Programme, we identified a number of areas where our learning would be very useful."

The event was attended by 26 graduates, there was a great deal of interest in some of the learning opportunities. Examples include distance learning, the Value My Skills cards, certain management apprenticeships and the role of the ULR.

The event was supported through a Kick Start grants and is already leading to other potential avenues to further promote learning through UNISON.