Glue 2015

Issue 3

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General Secretary National Coordinator Impact GMB Reach Out NEW PROJECTS    

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Wales Scotland Birmingham Midlands & East Coast

Learning For Work Skills for the Future Contact

GMB Union Learning Funded Projects are vital in creating resources and support for Union Learning Representatives to direct thousands of members into education and training.

With 4 new projects in the GMB, more members than ever are being helped to improve their prospects in the workplace.

Find out more inside.

General Secretary I am delighted to introduce the latest edition of the Glue Magazine which outlines the work of Union Learning projects within the GMB. The figures in relation to the outputs and achievements by the projects to date are very impressive, but only tell part of the story.

“...nothing short of inspirational.”

The articles here reflect the excellent work done by the projects across the GMB; I am only too aware that the successes they relate depend wholly on the dedication, commitment and pure energy of members, Union Learning Representatives and Project Workers across the Union. It is their efforts that help make GMB ULF programmes such a success.

General Secretary, Paul Kenny

Special thanks are owed to Colin, the Regional Project Managers and their teams who have opened up avenues of learning and helped build the confidence and aspirations of thousands of people both in and out of work. Some of the stories I have heard from learners and those who are benefiting from the advice, support and training given are nothing short of inspirational.

I am very proud of what the GMB ULF Projects are delivering and pleased that a new regional project has started this year in order to extend the good work to even more members within the GMB. I hope you will share this magazine with others so they can see how the GMB and access to high-quality learning and skills are changing people’s lives.

National Coordinator On the 1st April 2015 GMB Union Learning Funded projects commenced operation. These projects now operate within the following regions; Yorkshire & North Derbyshire, North West & Irish and Southern. New for this year; Midlands & East Coast and Birmingham.

These are of course all within the boundaries of the English Union Scotland. Learning Fund. There are also projects operating in Wales National Coordinator, Colin Kirkham and Scotland.

Nationally coordinated figures tell us that since April 2010 to March 2015 5,623 new members have been recruited 8,651 GMB members have undertaken learning courses and 642 GMB Union Learning Representatives have been recruited and trained via the Projects.

The Projects will be represented again at GMB Congress 2015 with an exhibitors stall and a fringe meeting on Tuesday 9th June. The fringe meeting will debate how and why we should make lifelong learning independent and sustainable within the GMB. To this end the Projects are endeavouring to create learning committees within branches and regions.

Projects continue to promote a retention service to GMB members who have unfortunately lost employment and at the same time encourage non members to join the GMB through the vehicle of learning.

IMPACT 1630

2470

145

12

New members recruited

Members on courses

New ULRs appointed

New learning agreements

April 2014 - March 2015

“...we are determined to continue developing...”

Project Manager Kevin Flanagan

Reach Out continues to provide support to many members in the Region.

The sector specific training offers pioneered in the Region have proved very popular and are now being used by other Regions.

Work Clubs supporting those who are unemployed or in a redundancy situation are putting the GMB at the forefront of helping members and their families at a time of need.

The start of Reach Out Northern Ireland is good news and means all members in the Region now have access to its services.

My thanks to the team who have responded so well to members’ needs.

2015/16 will be a challenging year, however I am confident we can continue to develop these essential services for our members.

Paul McCarthy, North West & Irish

Regional

Secretary,

The numbers of people seeking assistance from Reach Out continued to grow in 2014/15. In Runcorn, Reach Out has established a local network of work clubs to improve community support and training. We have doubled capacity at our learning facility in Accrington with new Functional skills and IT training rooms.

Basic on-line courses helping people unfamiliar with computers or the internet have proved very popular and are guiding many people back into education and training for the first time since leaving school.

A new ULF Project, funded by the Northern Ireland Department of Education and Learning through the ICTU, and serving our members in the province started in the summer. A new Reach Out Training Room has been established at the GMB Holywood office and a partnership with the Vine Centre in North Belfast is reaching out to an area of need in the city. This includes providing basic IT skills alongside a new GMB Work Club. Welfare and Advice sessions are being run by Andy McCann, our part time project worker in the area.

Three new Union Learning reps have been trained and a further five are expected to complete their training shortly.

Cuts to Union Learn Funding have created challenges, however we are determined to continue developing models of good practice and to secure essential routes to quality education and training to which our members are entitled.

New Learning Agreement Following extensive discussions between ULRs, Project Workers and United Utilities management we have recently signed a learning agreement that covers all 5000 plus people employed by the company.

“GMB ULRs have worked their socks off...”

GMB ULRs, Barry Ruttlidge and Simon Loonan have worked their socks off to get their training completed and help bring the Learning Agreement to the forefront of discussions with the company. Project Worker, Matt Bowe played a major role in getting recognition for the lifelong learning agenda and in helping United Utilities see that engaging with members on learning has positive results for all concerned.

Signing the Learning Agreement

We have had fantastic support from full time Rep Steve Reid and the Branch Secretary, Billy Goulding, who have agreed to host a Learning Forum for all United Utilities GMB Reps later in the summer.

Lead GMB ULR, Simon Loonan said “As a new ULR, I was keen to get learning opportunities out to members. Over the last couple of months, working with REACH OUT, plans have been made to promote learning out in the field. Accompanied with the development of the Lifelong Learning Agreement with United Utilities there is great optimism that we will help many people.“ A steering group has been established which will provide access to learning opportunities across the Region with initial priority being to address skills gaps in Maths, English and I.T.

Promote & Provide We have supported over 600 Learners through our GMB WULF Project; between them they have achieved over 1000 qualifications.

Project Manager Mike Wilson

GMB recently held a celebration of success event in Cardiff where more than 50 learners attended along with Deputy Minister for Skills & Technology, Julie James.

The confidence of our members now that they have acquired new skills has dramatically increased. They now have the self belief to apply for that promotion or to take on new jobs within any organisation.

Members who have completed the Essential Skills qualifications are now looking to progress on to higher levels of learning such as attending evening classes at the Local College.

We also have been able to fund courses for our members who have recently been made redundant at Dewhirst Ladies Wear in Ammanford, West Wales. This was a Celebration of Success Event, Cardiff great way to help our members learn new skills and hopefully regain fulltime employment.

“...fantastic team of Union Learning Reps...”

We at the GMB have a fantastic team of Union Learning Reps who all work very hard supporting our members in the workplace. Without this great team of Reps this project would not have seen the success it has to date, I am very proud of all of them.

Scotland GMB Scotland has a network of union learning reps in a range of workplaces.

They encourage and identify learning demand amongst members and, where this exists, assist in accessing provision through a number of models. This has been supported by workplace organisers and full-time officials, and by a series of projects. Members who are identified by those involved as interested in training to be a union learning rep are backed in doing so by the region.

GMB Scotland also works closely with Scottish Union Learning which has been successful in securing funding for two projects from the European Social Fund (ESF), one for Lowlands and Uplands Scotland and one for Highlands and Islands Scotland, to help develop and embed an infrastructure to support lifelong learning in the workplace throughout Scotland.

The Learning Fund, which is administered by Scottish Union Learning, has been set up to provide innovative training solutions to address the needs identified for individuals, particularly where funding would not otherwise be available for groups of members to participate.

GMB can submit applications to the Learning Fund for specific training courses and those interested are encouraged to contact the Regional Office on 0141 332 8641. Learning plays a key part in members’ personal and career development as well as contributing to job security.

Birmingham & West Midlands The GMB Birmingham and West Midlands region have taken on the ULF funded Learner Support Project that was previously run by our colleagues in Unity.

A big thanks is due to Gerald Crookes who has managed the project so far and is retiring this June.

The project took a big step forward in May with the signing of a major new learning agreement between the union and logistics company Norbert Dentressangle at their Stoke on Trent Distribution centre.

In the picture are: left to right Emma Brown GMB/Unity learning rep, Clare Antrobus HR manager, Sam Warburton GMB/ Unity, Mark Birks Training manager.

Young Workers Engagement

Project Manager Graham Randle

Midland & East Coast Region have been successful in applying for funding through the Union Learning Fund for an exciting project – the ‘Young Workers Engagement Project’ - focussing on the need to ensure GMB involvement in developing workplace apprenticeship schemes.

lead to employment.

GMB intend to establish a clear link between learning and training, leading to sustainable employment for young people entering the world of work, with particular emphasis on those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The project will further progress this by developing an Apprentice Voice network in the region, to run alongside the existing Regional Young Members Forum.

Areas that the project team will focus on are:

“...establish a clear link between learning and training...”

The availability and high level of competition for jobs in general will, in some areas, limit the ability of young disadvantaged people to compete for apprenticeship places. This is compounded by the apprenticeship minimum wage figure which means that for many young apprentices living at home – or in subsidised accommodation – travel costs are prohibitive for opportunities further afield. This project has therefore adopted an industrial message; that all schemes within GMB recognised organisations need to be high quality, subject to good rates of pay, include a high level of health and safety and

future

Our project workers have been trained to develop skills in reaching out and supporting young people – particularly those with numeracy, literacy and language needs.

 Establishing new quality pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship schemes by working with key employers  Encouraging employers to expand on and improve their existing schemes  Developing working partnerships with preferred training providers Using the young workers agenda, the project will also look to reinvigorate training, continuous professional development and progression opportunities for existing workers who would otherwise not be given the opportunity to access them.

We will focus our efforts on encouraging employers to expand their existing schemes and develop progression routes to higher learning opportunities.

Since the introduction of the Apprenticeship scheme and latterly with the formation of Traineeships, GMB in the region have been developing and delivering briefings for new workplace representatives and ULRs on our GMB@Work Induction programme in partnership with Unionlearn. This has greatly raised awareness within the region and it is our intention to continue this work under the umbrella of the project.

This project is unique in the fact that it addresses the need to establish quality pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship schemes within GMB recognised workplaces. It means that we can focus on providing a real opportunity to get onto a meaningful career path – particularly for young people from disadvantaged groups - that is not currently available.

Andy Worth, Regional Secretary, Midland & East Coast

“...encouraging employers to expand their existing schemes...”

“...further integrate learning into the core structure of the GMB.” Project Manager Chris Murphy

There’s nothing more inspiring than when we hear a member tell us that, until recently they couldn’t read or write and their union, the GMB, t h r o u g h i t s magnificent learning projects, changed all that.

Our union’s core purpose is that every G M B m e m b e r s h o u ld h a v e t h e opportunity to discover and develop their talents and that is why having le a r n in g p r o j e c ts a v a i la b le a n d accessible to all is a no brainer.

As the newly appointed manager of an established and successful project team, I am pleased to announce the start of the new ULF funded GMB Project “Learning For Work”.

The “Learning For Work” project will continue our innovative approach to supporting employees through education, training, advice and guidance. Focussing on sustainability, the project will build upon the success of our Regional Learning Fund and Regional Learning Committee (the first of their kind in the UK). The project aims are to broaden involvement in these initiatives and further integrate learning into GMB core structures.

With newly designated areas of operation, the four project workers will reinvigorate the lifelong learning agenda in areas of least activity whilst supporting and consolidating the initiatives that are well established.

I would like to pay tribute to the dedication and commitment of every learner rep, steward and project worker for opening up avenues of learning and self-confidence to literally thousands of people.

I believe that learning must be an integral part of what trade unions offer. As a TUC tutor I have seen what education offers working people. Learning has been GMB business since Eleanor Marx helped Will Thorne improve his reading and writing almost 150 years ago.

He went on to build an organisation you may have heard of!

Long may it continue!

To help workers of today engage with education and to see how that education helps empower them is something this team is looking forward to realising further.

Tim Roache, Regional Secretary, Yorkshire & North Derbyshire

Core Union Business Learning For Work is up and running and the team are already busy in pursuit of its aims. One of these aims is to further embed learning into mainstream union structures. With future funding dependent on the political climate the GMB is wisely looking to establish the learning agenda as a self-sufficient element of the union’s core package.

Learning For Work is keen to build upon the success of the Yorkshire and North Derbyshire Regional Learning Committee and the aim is to widen participation in the committee and have every branch represented. The development of Branch Learning Funds is also an objective, allowing a branch to assist its own members with the costs attached to learning. How this is done will be decided by the branch themselves. The appointment of Branch Learning Officers is also a concept the project is promoting.

Sustaining the GMB learning agenda will be built on these beginnings. To be more self-reliant in how we approach our member s’ edu cation al development will leave the union and its members less vulnerable to political mood swings.

“...be more selfreliant...”

Education is an integral part of trade unionism and has been for as long as unions have been around.

Learning For Work is committed to helping the GMB create a structural safe haven that will protect the concept of lifelong learning for its members.

Working with every branch in the region, project workers will use their considerable expertise to promote the learning agenda and the internal union structures that will allow it to flourish. Education can mean a better life for our members. That is very much core union business.

“...the vital role of the Union Learning Representative...”

Project Manager Phil Caiels

We have been running a lively and successful project across the region for over a decade, benefitting thousands of our members and working in partnership with a wide range of employers, from shipbuilding to retail.

This year, whilst continuing to offer our support wherever it is needed, we have a specific focus on two key sectors, Health and Social Care and Hospitality.

From our base at the Elstead Hotel in Bournemouth our specialist team are working with a provider to promote a wide range of learning opportunities to hotel workers in the Dorset area.

Learners at The Elstead Hotel

In Health and Care our offer of sector specific distance learning courses continues to grow in popularity (see below).

The project retains its commitment to the vital role of the Union Learning Representative, working with the Region's education department to train scores of ULRs every year.

Tony Harvey, GMB ULR at The Elstead

Our project team is always willing to visit branch meetings to explain what the project can offer your members. Do get in touch if you would like to arrange a visit or would like further information. Our contact details can be found on the back cover.

“...it is our job to convince employers...”

Many employers still put profit before people to the detriment of workers.

The learning project in the Southern Region b r i n g s opportunities to a wide spectrum of workers and it is our job to convince employers that learning is very often key to their success.

Many GMB members and activists have realised newfound talents through our learning projects.

Paul Maloney, Regional Secretary, Southern

Engaging with NHS Workers “It was Just over two years ago GMB signed a national learning agreement with NHS Property Services, the first of its kind with a national NHS body.

a great day.”

Since then the partnership has gone from strength to strength. An early pilot at Queen Mary's hospital in Roehampton demonstrated the appeal of the range of Tribal distance learning courses, with Mental Health Awareness proving particularly popular.

This April project workers Paul Simmonds and Piotr Synowiec held a promotional day at Lymington New Forest Hospital.

The day was well attended by non clinical staff representing housekeeping , catering and porter services. Comprehensive information advice and guidance was provided and staff signed up to a range of distance learning courses with interest expressed in other learning programmes including languages and IT. Paul said "It was a great day. We will be rolling out these events across other Trusts in the region to get the learning message out there loud and clear".

Promote and Provide

Young Workers Engagement

(Wales)

(Midlands & East Coast)

Project Manager Mike Wilson

Project Manager Graham Randle

mike.wilson@dwrcymru.com 07774 610636

graham.randle@gmb.org.uk 07980 731621

Scotland

Birmingham & West Midlands

Project Manager Walter Macadam

Regional Education Officer Tom Rigby

walter.macadam@gmb.org.uk 07730 541401

tom.rigby@gmb.org.uk 07813 541982

Reach Out

Learning For Work

Skills for the Future

(North West & Irish)

(Yorkshire & North Derbyshire)

(Southern)

Project Manager Kevin Flanagan kevin@gmbreachout.org.uk 0161 877 9439 www.gmbreachout.org.uk

Project Manager Chris Murphy christopher.murphy@gmb.org.uk

Project Manager Phil Caiels phil.caiels@gmb.org.uk

01924 887279 Ext 1132

01752 660219 07710 618903

@GMBReachout #corebusiness

07813593996

www.gmb-southern.org.uk

YOUR REGION? If your region does not have a ULF Project we may be able to help.

Would you like to recruit Union Learning Representatives to help members in your area?

Speak to your Regional Secretary or contact Colin Kirkham, National ULF Project Coordinator at colin.kirkham@gmb.org.uk or telephone

0845 337 7777 Alternatively contact one of the Project Managers for advice

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