North West Quality Award winners

North West Quality Award winners

Provider: PCS HMRC Call Centre Litherland (Bootle)

Programme: Information, Advice and Guidance

Further information: Details of the work are available on the PCS website linked above.

Provider: Rhino Training

Programme: NVQ

Further information: Rhino Training is a private training provider is based in Glasgow and has in total 28 staff, and is focussed on delivery of vocational qualifications across the UK. Learning delivery at Hovis, Wigan is in functional skills, employability skills, NVQs and Apprenticeships for the last two years with the URTU at a joint union site (BFAWU). Learning and training has been undertaken on site, and supported by the learning centre and ULRs.

Provider: Joint Learning

Programme: Apprenticeships programmes

Further information: Joint Learning is well into its second decade of operation throughout England. The company’s tailored training solutions lead to Apprenticeship qualifications with achievement rates far in excess of the national average throughout the UK. Planning and provision of the apprenticeship programmes of delivery is undertaken by a partnership approach and jointly agreeing through union negotiation.

Provider: The Skills Company (formerly Skills Solutions)

Programme: NVQs to the USDAW/McVitie's Learning Centre in Manchester

Further information: The Skills Company specialises in assisting people with training programmes and career development opportunities across a wide range of sectors & industries. They are the largest work based learning provider in Greater Manchester and one of the largest providers of Apprenticeships in the North West, working with over 1,200 employers directly generating Apprenticeship vacancies and currently look after over 2,500 learners on a variety of Apprenticeship programmes.

Provider: West Cheshire College

Programme: Apprenticeships

Further information: West Cheshire College is a leading vocational college with two main campuses located in Chester and Ellesmere Port. They combine the very highest standards of tuition and work-based skills development with a flexible and responsive approach, ensuring that learners can access opportunity and achieve their full potential.

Provider: Blackpool and The Fylde College

Programme/s: 4 awards: Apprenticeships delivery; Functional Skills/Skills for Life; Careers Information and Advice;

Further information: Blackpool and The Fylde College works in partnership with unionlearn's North West region to raise awareness on Skills for Life opportunities, Functional Skills, and employability courses. They provide Skills for Life and ICT tutor support for all learners as required. They provide high quality impartial Information Advice and Guidance to all learners and sign-post learners to other providers where the College cannot meet a learner's needs. The College actively works with ULRs to train, support and implement strategies for engaging their members and employers in learning, increasing learning opportunities for employees that may have been previously disadvantaged in accessing learning or their learning journey progression.

The College works in partnership with TUC Education offering learner support qualifications to ULRs and other members of organisations to assist the apprenticeship programme.

Provider: Blackburn College

Programme: Trade union studies

Further information: The TUED Unit is open to all Trade Union Affiliates . The Unit is a provider of Unite, UNISON, PCS and UCATT courses as part of their respective NW Regional training programmes. Following careful content planning with local representatives it has also offered on-site courses for local branches.

Provider: Burnley College

Programme: Trade union studies and Skills for Life

Further information: Burnley College Trade Union Education Unit is a support centre located in Burnley town centre in the Centre for Higher Education and Professional Studies. The centre offers access to 40 computers in a shared facility, interactive white-boards, printers, and photocopying facilities and a mini-library of Quick Reads and Classics are available to learners. Since 2004, the provision has expanded to include Skills for Life. The target group is Trade Union members (in employment, or facing redundancy). The profile of their learners has evolved and a good proportion are in engineering and aerospace as opposed to textile manufacturing as was previously the norm.

Provider: Warrington Collegiate

Programme: Trade union studies

Further information: Warrington Collegiate is a general further education college specialising in vocational education. The College has a purpose built main campus, situated just to the north of Warrington, as well as a town centre site where the Trade Union Education Unit is based. Provision is also delivered in a variety of community based locations throughout the town. The College provides both learner responsive and employer responsive provision, delivering a wide range of qualifications from Entry to Higher Education level spanning 14 of the 15 sector subject areas.

Provider: South Cheshire College

Programme: Trade union studies

Further information: South Cheshire College was established in 1843. The College has a diverse curriculum ranging in levels from pre-entry to higher education and covering a wide range of curriculum areas. The Trade Union Education Unit, Work Related Training Team and the College organisation believe that learning and skills can best be delivered collectively with trade union organisations. The College organisation is committed to continuously developing good practices with workplace trade union organisations and TUC affiliated unions so that life chances of all can be transformed through access to learning.

Provider: The Manchester College

Programme: Trade union studies

Further information: The College's Trade Union Education Centre include 10-week programmes, short 3-5 day courses and year-long diplomas. Training is offered for trade union representatives, members and officers, and courses are accredited by the National Open College Network (NOCN) and lead to nationally-recognised qualifications.

Provider: Wigan and Leigh College

Programme: Trade union studies

Further information: The Wigan Trade Union Education unit provides learning programmes to all TUC affiliate unions. However, the unit is a main provider to UCATT and UNISON as part of their Trade Union Education programme and unionlearn projects. Programmes are arranged by union agreement to ensure flexibility and to meet learner needs.

Provider: Stockport College

Programme: Digital Divide/LearnDirect and TUC Education

Further information: The Trade Union Education Unit was established at Stockport College in October 2004. The unit was set up to provide training for union representatives and learning opportunities for trade union members, their friends and families. Since then over 450 union reps have been trained. The centre has attracted learners from a variety of workplaces with a wide variety of trade unions including Unison, Unite, FBU, PFA, CWU, GMB, PCS and NATFHE (UCU). Courses are delivered in the town centre learning centre , within the main college site or in workplaces or trade union centres as requested.

Provider: St Anthony's Centre, Trafford Park

Programme: Trade union studies, Skills for Life and ICT

Further information: St Anthony's Learning Centre is based on the Trafford Park industrial estate in Manchester. The centre delivers work based learning programmes to a variety of learners from Trafford Park and the surrounding areas of Greater Manchester. The programme includes learners using the centre and staff delivering programmes in the workplace.

Provider: Mantra Learning

Programmes: Work-based Learning in Logistics, Automotive and Advice and Guidance/L1 L2 Numeracy Literacy Apprenticeships

Further information: Mantra Learning is a private sector work based learning provider with a history in logistics and transport sector training. Their provision has expanded to include more generic non-sector specific training targeted at workplaces in the Greater Manchester and surrounding areas. The company has worked with the POA, CWU, FBU, GMB, USDAW and URTU on NVQ programmes and Lifelong Learning CPD programmes.

Provider: [email protected] Merseyside

Programme: Advice, Support and Training for Workplace Reps involved in Health & Safety and Occupational Health issues.

Further information: Starting in 1990, [email protected]'s agenda has focused on reducing and preventing work related ill-health. They have a reputation for effective service provision and play a positive role in testing and launching innovative approaches to workplace health issues, for example, work around smoking policies, alcohol and drugs misuse. They are Independent of the statutory enforcement and health sectors. They do not represent employers but work with them and with unions and individuals to improve health at work. Benefits to members include:

• Improved productivity and performance
• Reduced sickness absence and additional costs
• Fewer injuries, accidents and insurance/compensation claims
• Improved business reputation
• Increase staff retention and reduce recruitment/ training costs
• Nicer work environment
• Better mental well-being, reduced stress and improved employee morale
• Access to specialist support in or outside of the workplace and improved personal knowledge

Provider: CWU 1^stClass Learning Centre Warrington

Programme: Skills for Life, Maths English, ICT/ECDL, and Apprenticeship = HGV = Key Skills

Further information: The Centre is within the Royal Mail premises and offers Mathematics and English, ECDL and NVQs, and is gearing up to offer functional skills through a local provider. ULRs in the Centre are well qualified and strive to provide an enjoyable learning experience that best suits the needs of the learner/member, whether that learning is in the form of up-skilling or a new qualification. The target group is trade union members (in employment, or facing job relocation or redundancy). The profile of their learners has evolved from Entry learners to a good proportion are now L2 qualified in Mathematics and English.

Provider: Bolton University

Programme: Short courses, CPD Modules, Work-based learning and e-learning and H&S Qualifications using a blended approach, and Pttls and Dttls

Further information: Bolton University works in partnership with unionlearn and affiliate unions to raise awareness and knowledge of courses and qualifications with a specific emphasis on Degree opportunities. The centre actively works with ULRs to train, support and implement strategies for engaging their members and employers in learning, increasing learning opportunities for the workforce and those groups of employees that may have been previously disadvantaged in accessing learning opportunities. Unions the provider has or is working with are Unite, FBU, CWU, Usdaw and Unison.

Provider: Mercia Partnership

Programme: Functional Skills/Skills for Life, ICT, Business Administration Customer Service, Apprenticeships

Further information: Historically, Mercia Partnership has worked on programmes that have been devised jointly with employers and have over many years worked closely with trade unions. They are a highly regarded organisation and have received many accolades for their innovative work promoting learning and skills in the workplace.

Provider: CWU Stockport Learning Centre

Programme: Skills for Life, information advice and guidance

Further information: The Learning Centre delivers Skills for Life and Information Advice & Guidance to CWU members/learners, as well as other trade unions members working in partnership with unionlearn. The centre offers non-accredited and accredited courses to Trade Union members within Stockport and surrounding areas. All staff are well qualified and a friendly team that strives to provide an enjoyable learning experience that best meets the needs of the learner, whether that learning is in the form of up-skilling or a new qualification.

Provider: Liverpool Community College

Programme: Skills for Life, Sign Language, Taxi programme

Further information: Liverpool Community College is highly experienced in the delivery of learning to adults through a wide variety of methods. They are one of the largest further education colleges in England with 5 main centres and numerous outreach facilities in neighbourhood venues. The learning offer is the full NVQ Level 2 in Road Passenger Transport incorporating the BTEC Level 2 Award Transporting Passengers by Taxi and Private Hire with Skills for Life embedded into this programme. Training is offered in a flexible and responsive manner offering, peak and off peak sessions at locations to suit the individual learner, taking into account current knowledge, experience and skills.

Provider: Unite First Bus

Programme: ESOL

Further information:

Provider: Asset Training and Consultancy Ltd

Programme: Apprenticeships

Further information: Asset Training & Consultancy was established in 1996 and has enjoyed continual growth over the years to become one of the largest training companies in Greater Merseyside and one of the leading for quality of provision (the Ofsted report indicates outstanding for delivery of learning outcomes and support for learners). Asset Training specialises in the delivery of Apprenticeships and customised courses to suit employer and employee needs. They work with sole traders, SMEs, local authorities and blue chip companies on one off programmes up to corporate development plans.

Provider: McVitie's USDAW Learning Centre, Stockport

Programme: Skills for Life and Information advice and guidance

Further information: The centre provides Skills for Life and Information Advice & Guidance to Usdaw members and agency workers as well as other trade unions members working in partnership with unionlearn. The Centre works with Unite the Union, through an ESOL programme; Unite supports and provides ESOL courses in partnership with 1st Bus for their migrant workers, a partnership was developed with USDAW/McVitie's to provide ESOL for their migrant workers. They have an open door policy for all union members to access IAG and SfL.

Provider: Merseycare/POA Learning Zone

Programme: Skills for Life

Further information: The Centre provides Skills for Life and Information Advice & Guidance to members, agency, contract workers and other trade union members working in partnership with unionlearn. Non-accredited and accredited courses are offered to all employees. Other unions within the NHS Trust are also supported – Unison, GMB, RCN and PCS. The Centre offers on-site support as well as link centre support to 10 satellites, 1-2-1 support, Skype and telephone communication for remote learners.

Provider: Trinity House, PCS Learning Centre (Manchester) HMRC

Bootle Call Centre, PCS HMRC

Programme: Information, advice and guidance

Further information: PCS is the main union within HMRC, however, the union does partnership work with Unite and Usdaw. The Centre staff attend regional and national learning events. They offer IAG and learning support to all on-site union members. There is a provider partnership with Mercia Partnership, an independent training provider, delivering Apprenticeship programmes.

Provider: Lancashire Adult Learning

Programme: Apprenticeship

Further information: The core objectives of Lancashire Adult Learning are to enable all adults in Lancashire to achieve success in learning so as to improve their skills for employment, the quality of their personal and family lives, and to enhance the social and economic well-being of their communities, and to support local employers and Lancashire's economy through provision of high-quality, responsive training. Current work on L2 Apprenticeships with South Ribble Council is the focus of this Award. Other current work is with a Tier 1 Supplier to the Aerospace industry for Literacy and Informal Adult Learning needs. All this has been delivered either on site in Union learning centres or at their local venues as demanded by the learners.

Provider: Oldham College

Programme: ILM Qualification @ Level 2 – 3

Further information: The Oldham College has a track record of success in providing business and skills learning needs for a wide variety of industry sectors at local, national, and international levels. It has built strong working partnerships by developing real solutions for organisations and on-site trade unions. The provider works with Blue Arrow, DHL, Arriva, Eddie Stobart, local councils and NHS Trusts. Union partnerships include Unite, GMB, Usdaw, PCS, Unison and the FBU.

Provider: Rochdale Council

Programme: Open University—Access to Success. Mental Health First Aid, Certificate in Mental Health support (at levels 2 or 3), Team leading Skills, ILM Level 2, PTTLS, Assessor award.

Further information: Rochdale Borough Council's award-winning Community Champions come from across the Borough and make a positive difference by helping others. The Community Champions have a wide variety of skills, some having professional backgrounds using those skills as volunteers. Others are "expert by experience" or have developed their skills through training. Partnerships have been developed with Unite the union, working together to support community members gain skills. Most of the community champions have now joined Unite as members and access courses through the Unite offer (free of charge, up to Level 2). In partnership they have run events and workshops and, working with unionlearn, they are looking at ways of how both ULRs and Champions can work together on the learning agenda.

Provider: USDAW/Unite Sainsbury's Haydock

Programme: Information advice and guidance

Further information: Sainsbury's Logistics, Haydock has approximately 2,000 employees. The learning centre has 10 computers, 2 lap-tops and 1 multi-tasking printer, i.e. fax, scanner and document organiser, 1 whiteboard and ergonomic desks and chairs, supported by unionlearn. The Lifelong Learning Co-ordinator and the team of Reps are helping to change people's lives by supporting them through their individual learning paths.

Provider: The Learning Curve (working in Partnership with USDAW and Home Retail Group)

Programme: IAG, Touch Typing, CV and Letter Writing (informal Adult Learning)

Further information: The Learning Curve Learning Centre is based in the canteen of a call centre at Argos Widnes (Home Base Group). The site is in the middle of a large housing estate and most of the employees are local to the area. The Learning Curve, with a full time ULR coordinator, gives members and employees information, advice and guidance on all areas relating to skills and also offers individuals business-related training. The coordinator has established a programme directly relating to individual business needs such as Touch Typing and Letter Writing; these areas are directly linked to core business. Call centre employees need to accurately type whist listening to calls at a speed that is constantly being challenged. They regularly have to write and respond to customers and therefore accurate information is crucial. The programme ensures that employees meet all the challenges they face and overcome any learning barriers they might have, which enhances their work skills. The coordinator has also put together a CV writing course to enable individuals to actively look at their skills and identify ways they can advance or achieve promotion.

Provider: North West Community Services Training Ltd

Programme: Functional Skills in Maths English and ICT at levels 1 and 2; Business Administration at level 2 and 3; Customer Service at level 2 and 3; Team Leading at Level 2; Management at Level 3

Further information: NWCST Limited is the training arm of a private sector learning provider North West Community Service Group (NWCSG), which was established in 1986 to provide a range of residential and domiciliary care services across the region. Since its inception NWCST Ltd. has extended its scope and remit and now provides a range of training programmes for people of all ages, specialising in Childcare, Health and Social Care, Customer Services, Cleaning and Leadership & Management. Recently they have expanded their provision to include more generic-non-sector specific training targeted at workplaces in the North West region.

Provider: CWU, Royal Mail Chester

Programme: Skills for Life, Maths English, ICT/ECDL, and Apprenticeship = HGV = Key Skills

Further information: The [email protected] is a work based learning centre run by ULRs from the Communication Workers Union. It is based in Royal Mail's main sorting office in Chester and provides a varied range of learning opportunities for its members within the sorting office. The Centre is now a UK-Online centre.

Provider: Merseylearn

Programme: ICT and Skills for Life

Further information: Merseylearn is a learning provider within a larger organisation called Merseytravel, an integrated transport authority responsible for the public transport infrastructure of Merseyside covering Rail, Bus, Ferries and underground network and tunnels running under the Mersey. Merseylearn is a partnership project conceived by the appreciation of the united unions and management that learning supports both union membership and corporate objectives; this has led to a wider engagement with the transport community in taxi, bus, airport and Merseyrail. Merseylearn has a network of ULRs supported by the project team, two tutors and a well developed infrastructure including a Joint Learning Forum.

Provider: Wirral Met

Programme: Workforce development, skills for life and trade union studies

Further information: Wirral Metropolitan College is a large further education college with several campuses covering all areas of further education. The Trade Union Education unit is based outside of the main campus at the Liverpool city centre site (Cotton Exchange). The Unit is open to all Trade Union affiliates and delivers training to over 2,000 Reps per year as well as delivering NEBOSH and Home Study courses for Trade Union members and Reps.