Tutors in Plymouth are benefitting from new vocational qualifications after the joint-union ULF project “Building a Learning Legacy” brought together training providers JT Development Solutions Ltd (JTDS) and Plymouth-based Aspire2Live.

Aspire2Live works with young people with learning difficulties and disabilities. As part of their Continuous Professional Development (CPD) its tutors need to undertake a minimum of 40 hours training each year to maintain their professional qualifications. Training provider JTDS provides a range of vocational qualifications, including apprenticeships, and recently signed a partnership agreement with the ULF project. 

Unite Learning Organiser Sam Quigley brought the two organisations together and five Aspire tutors are now at the beginning of a year-long apprenticeship that will lead to a Level 3 Learning and Development qualification. This will enable them to become assessors for young people working towards diplomas across a variety of vocational trades. They will be able to carry out on-site assessments in workplaces, including kitchens and health and social care settings for example.

JTDS Managing Director Tracy Karim explained that her organisation provides flexible, workplace-based training and qualifications so that learners don’t have to travel to college after a day at work and there are no set hours. It offers a variety of qualifications in logistics, business and finance and is a preferred training provider of a number of trade unions, including Unite. The company delivers qualifications in a range of house hold name companies including Argos, DHL, RBS and Aviva.

Aspire2Live Operations Manager Di Bibby said:

I see Sam as holding a ball of string and bringing together the many different strands! He has links with lots of community interest and other companies and is able to join people together. We would never have found JTDS if it werenʼt for Sam."

In addition, Unite Community member Michelle Blackmore is working with Aspire learners to help improve their maths, English and ICT skills using tablets provided by the ULF project. She visits the college one day a month and facilitates online learning sessions for small groups of two or three learners as well as one-to-one support for those who need it. One of the online learning packages she uses, Learning Heros, although unaccredited allows certificates to be printed off at the end of modules and helps to boost learners’ confidence.

Di added:

Michelle is helping them to build up a portfolio of evidence while also building their self-esteem. Many are achieving something they have never achieved before and it shows them that they wonʼt be thrown on the scrapheap."

At the same time, the sessions Michelle runs as a volunteer are helping her to develop her own skills. After taking time off work to look after her young daughter, she is aiming to become a tutor for children and adults.