Usdaw’s Lifelong Learning Campaign supports people who want to learn for many different reasons: for fun, for personal development, for work and for career change and development. So, when Sainsbury’s introduced a new system of appraisal, called “Be Your Best,” Union Learning Reps (ULRs) at the Leek and Biddulph stores in Staffordshire saw the opportunities it offered for staff.​

Under the new performance review, the emphasis is on future progress within the business and how staff can use the training and development available within the company. These opportunities are highlighted through week long promotions which are run three times a year and show colleagues the varied career paths that are available.

Usdaw Mobile ULR Chris Harrison said:

They are a good idea, but we thought that some colleagues may not have been aware of the opportunities they offered and wondered how we could play a part.”

The promotions are run by the business but both store management and Usdaw recognised that it could be much more successful if it was run as a joint promotion with the active support of the store reps and ULRs.

Chris said: 

We support staff who want to learn to improve their career. It’s all lifelong learning to us.”

In both stores there were prominent displays of the courses available and support that could be accessed through ULR’s and Chris.

Overall, it was a great success with well over 100 colleagues having one to one interviews with their line managers on how they could best advance their careers. It was also a great success for Lifelong Learning in that several colleagues were sign posted to digital courses, advice given on apprenticeships and colleagues signed up for other courses.

Chris summed up saying: 

Everybody put a great deal of effort into the events. Not only the HR manager and Training officer but also the Usdaw ULR’s and local officials who helped to raise the profile of the event. It has been a real eye opener and highlights the contribution that the active involvement of Usdaw Reps and ULR’s can make.

We hope it can be extended in future events and help raise the profile of ULR’s in the business and the benefits they can give to colleagues.”