The Union Learning Fund supported Usdaw Lifelong Learning Project has been working to support apprentices for a number of years. Across the Midlands Usdaw reps at Tesco’s stores are playing a vital role working with employers and providers to ensure apprentices programmes are a success.

Lifetime Training are a national training provider that has been working with Tesco’s delivering their Retail Apprenticeship Program. Now in its second year Usdaw Union Learning Reps (ULRs), Mobile Union Learning Reps (MULRs) and Project Workers have been liaising with Lifetimes Coach from the start.

This has been in order to support them with identifying potential apprenticeships and also being able to support colleagues going forward. Though the union feels it has been a little hit and miss at the beginning, they have been working closely with the provider and Tesco to bring about improvements.

Usdaw is keen to review the process and explore ways to improve it. To do this they are looking at the successful work of Midlands MULR Denise Evans and use this as a model that could be develop in the future.

As a Mobile ULR Denise covers a number of stores across the Midlands. They include Tesco’s stores in New Oscott, Hodgehill, Springhill, Walsall, Rugeley / Cannock, Lichfield, Solihull and Yardley. Covering such a large area has resulted in Denise building up very good links and rapport with the rep teams in her patch.

Denise has been busy promoting Lifetime Trainings “On Boarding Days” where workers are given an opportunity to find out more about apprenticeships on offer, what they involve and the benefits of join the scheme.

Neil Chapman is an Usdaw Project Worker as explained the benefits of good links with stores. Neil said:

Denise local knowledge is extremely useful as not all stores have a union learning rep and it really is about getting wider participation, and more information out to colleagues.”

Denise is perfectly placed to explain exactly what exactly the apprenticeships are about, how do staff can find out more information, how do they sign up and others questions about the scheme.”

Reps can talk to colleagues about this and Denise links in with the Lifetime Coaches and informs the Rep teams when the coaches are due instore, this makes it easier and less stressful for members to have conversations with Lifetime Coaches as they are aware of why they are there and the way they can help workers develop their skills - breaking down barriers between the provider and the staff.

Neil added:

This model is now being used by the other three MULRs across E (Midlands) Division, along with information and support cascaded out through Tesco forum meetings.”

Usdaw Area organisers are sent information about future “On Boarding Days” with a request to raise this during rep team meetings and encourage wider involvement. Neil feels that not only does this cascade the information to the reps and the importance of their involvement, it also reinforces the conversations that the mobiles have had with the rep teams previously.

Following the work of Denise working to support apprentices across the Midlands Neil is now using this example to drive home the lessons to Usdaw Reps and teams and the import role that they have in apprenticeships process.

Neil said;

We are now looking to follow this up with our rep teams in stores, giving information on why supporting apprenticeships is so important to Usdaw, contact details of local Lifetimes Coaches, Mobile ULR or Project Worker.

All Mobile ULRs have bought into this process and are using this going forward in order to give better support not only to the Lifetimes Coaches but also our ULRs, rep teams and officials, but most importantly to ensure that members benefit from union support whilst completing their apprenticeships.”

TUC Midlands Regional Secretary Lee Barron said:

The fantastic work of Denise and Usdaw in building partnerships between the union, employer and apprenticeship provider demonstrates the vital role that the Union Learning Fund plays funding projects that support workplace learners and reach workers that might miss out on life changing learning opportunities.”

I’d like to congratulate Denise on the success she has had building up such a positive partnership, and wish the apprentices good luck as their schemes develop their skills.