The Learning Rep - ULF conference special (Oct 06)

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learningrep » ULF conference special – October 06

Meet Nikki Simpson, the TUC’s ULR of the Year

» Good clean Fund: » » www.unionlearn.org.uk

unionlearn takes over ULF 2020 vision: getting skills in focus OU: putting the you in uni

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ULF keynote conference Welcome to this special issue of The Learning Rep, which we’ve put together to coincide with the annual Union Learning Fund (ULF) Conference in October and underline what an important event that is.

It’s a day which brings together all partners committed to improving skills and opportunities for people at work to help set the agenda for the year ahead, and offers delegates the chance to share best practice – whether that’s in the workshops or over a coffee in the breaks.

Of course, the year ahead is set to be particularly momentous, with unionlearn taking over the Union Learning Fund, currently standing at £14.5 million, in April 2007. This represents an exciting challenge for everyone involved, as Roy Wildgoose explains in the interview on pages 8 &9.

In addition, we await with interest the outcome of the Leitch review of skills before the end of 2006: there’s no doubt it will set the terms of the debate in the years ahead, which is why we’ve set out our key priorities in the feature on page 12.

Of course, workplace learning is all about the individuals who help drive it forward, which is why we’re very pleased to find out on pages 10 & 11 what made this year’s ULR of the Year, Nikki Simpson, such a deserving recipient of the award at TUC Congress.

Finally, a quick “thank you” for all your feedback about the new magazine: we’re very happy to report that the response from readers throughout the field of workplace learning has been overwhelmingly positive.

Liz Smith Director, unionlearn The Learning Rep, ULF conference special Editor: Mike Power mpower@tuc.org.uk Writers: Astrid Stubbs, Martin Moriarty Design: Redhouse Lane Communications Print: Ancient House Printing Group Distribution: Cavalier mailing Cover photo: Nikki Simpson receiving her ULR award from the Prime Minister by Jess Hurd

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Contents: 13

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Unionlearn at Congress

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News

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Roy Wildgoose interview

10 Nikki Simpson, TUC ULR of the Year 13 Unionlearn and the OU join forces 14 Quick Reads 15 A whole page of giveaways 16 Contacts

TUC Congress news «

Nikki gets her just reward Nikki Simpson of Amicus received the TUC’s Union Learning Rep of the Year award at Congress in Brighton last month. Nikki works for the Royal Bank of Scotland in its Cards Exchange in Southend, Essex.

Since becoming a ULR in 2004 Nikki has provided hundreds of learning opportunities for her colleagues. The courses have ranged wider than basic skills and IT, and have included lessons in Spanish, first aid, yoga, practical parenting and genealogy.

Nikki’s hard work and easy manner have led to her being credited with transforming a dull workplace into an exciting one. She has also won over her management who were sceptical of the value of having union recognition.

Her bosses agreed to introduce a flexible learning centre for staff to use online learning. And they have allowed Amicus officials to recruit in

Nikki Simpson spreads the learning message on the Congress trail to: Ian McCartney MP, foreign trade minister and Ed Sweeney, deputy general secretary Amicus (above); and Derek Simpson general secretary Amicus, and Peter Hain MP, Northern Ireland secretary (below)

the workplace. Nikki has personally recruited over 200 new members to the union. Management has declared that they need 15 more ULRs, like Nikki, in the company.

Liz Smith, director of unionlearn, said: “Nikki Simpson represents a new breed of union workplace rep.

Learning reps are more likely to be women, from ethnic minorities and younger than traditional workplace reps. Nikki is one of a growing army of nearly 15,000 ULRs in the country.

These ULRs have the confidence of their workmates and are able to help people decide what training they need in a way that no one else can.

People like Nikki are in a unique place to help solve our country’s crisis in skills and productivity.” » See pages 10 and 11 for Nikki’s story.

Nikki Simpson said: “I was delighted the award was presented by the Prime Minister for whom I have the utmost respect. It was fascinating to see how the trade unions all work together to lobby for better pay and working conditions, they truly are changing lives and I was delighted to be recognised as part of this.

Coming to congress was certainly something to tell the grandchildren about and everyone I met was genuinely pleased for me.”

October 2006 – ULF conference special «

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» TUC Congress news

Hope and joy What happens when you’ve been successful and you want to be even more successful?

This was the happy concern ULRs put to skills minister Phil Hope when they met him at a reception during TUC Congress in Brighton.

The unionlearn event was organised to give 15 ULRs from across all regions of the country the opportunity to tell the minister how life is at the sharp end of lifelong learning.

Progression and allowing learners to take the next step on the learning ladder – right up to higher education and degree qualifications – are among the major challenges facing ULRs, they told Mr Hope.

Roger Irvine and fellow Unison ULR and award winning Modern

Left to right, Maria Adams, Phil Hope and Roger Irvine

Left to right: Frances O’Grady, deputy general secretary TUC, Phil Hope, minister for skills, and Liz Smith, director of unionlearn at the Congress reception

Apprentice Maria Adams from Merseytravel told the minister of the huge success learning had been in their company. “It’s led to huge cultural change and now we want to expand and develop – funding is a constant issue,” commented Roger.

Zoi Kakouris of ASLEF and a train driver in Brighton told the minister that as well as lack of funding she was concerned that too many courses still kept to term times.

“We need to find a way round this because our work is not organised around school and college

“We want the world to be union learners’ oyster” Liz Smith, director of unionlearn

Widening the goal posts The only certainties in life are death, taxes and, if you’re a footballer, the need to find a new career.

That’s the reason the Professional Footballers’ Association wholeheartedly embraces lifelong learning and the chance to offer its members the opportunity to make a smooth transition to a new life once their playing days are over.

Some 50 players a year are forced to leave the game because of injury and nearly all find their careers over by the time they hit

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their 30s, Gordon Taylor, PFA chief executive, told Congress.

He was supporting the PFA’s successful motion on unionlearn and new opportunities for members, which celebrated the work of unions on

Phil Hope and Zoi Kakouris

term times,” she added.

Cynthia Skervin, a bus driver with Metroline in London, told the minister of the joy she had as a ULR to see colleagues without any previous qualifications proudly stepping up to receive certificates for their efforts.

Mr Hope told the ULRs he was energised from talking to them and finding out whether policies worked in the workplace.

“You are having a phenomenal impact on the ground. You are doing things other people cannot do because you are part of the trade union movement.”

And he pledged: “We’ve only just started!”

With the UK’s nine million high skilled jobs needing to rise to 14 million by 2020 he said: “We have the whole adult workforce to reach out to.”

learning and called on the TUC General Council to continue to develop and promote the delivery of learning services through unionlearn.

Mr Taylor introduced former players who have taken courses through the union and made progress. These include Oshor Williams, (Manchester United, Preston, Southampton, Port Vale) who now has a degree in politics and history and is the PFA’s ULF project worker and Earl Barrett, (Aston Villa, Oldham, Manchester City and Everton), who has a BA in sports science.

Lifelong learning benefitted members and unions alike, he stressed.

TUC Congress news «

The TUC presented the architect of a review of the UK’s skills needs with a five-point list of its demands during Congress in Brighton last month.

Officers and trade union members met Lord Leitch, who is carrying out a review set up by the Chancellor Gordon Brown to consider the UK's long-term ambition to maximise economic and social justice goals.

TUC demands include the need for training to feature as part of collective bargaining agreements.

But while Lord Leitch stressed that his team was still receptive to all ideas, he told the fringe meeting he had some reservations about the TUC proposal.

Tom Wilson of the TUC responded strongly, saying that evidence showed that including training in collective bargaining agreements would drive up investment in training in unionised workplaces and positively influence training strategies in other workplaces.

The key demands: Employers and the government must invest more in adult skills. A serious examination is needed into how employers can increase skills investment Stronger skills social partnership arrangements must be made between unions and government at national, regional and sector levels.

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Adult workers without a Level 2 qualification (A level equivalent) should have a universal right to paid time off to achieve it The government should work with partners to develop concrete proposals to tackle skills discrimination. Such proposals should cover women, black and minority ethnic workers, disabled employees and older workers Employers and unions should be encouraged to negotiate on training with it being included as a collective bargaining issue in the statutory union recognition procedure.

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Background feature see page 12

Liz Smith, director of unionlearn, speaking at the PCS/Business Services Association meeting at TUC Congress with, from left: Hugh Lanning, deputy general secretary PCS; Alex Fryer, acting chief executive of Haden Building Management; and Norman Rose, director general, BSA, who said: “This is a real practical project that will really make a difference. We are facing one of the biggest gaps in skills, so we jumped at the chance to work on this project.”

October 2006 – ULF conference special « 5

Conference photos by Jess Hurd and Rod Leon

2020 vision for skills

Debating skills (from the left): Bill Rammell, lifelong learning minister; Jeannie Drake, TUC vicepresident; Frances O’Grady, TUC deputy general secretary; Lord Leitch, Chair of the Skills Review

» news

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber and Investors in People UK chief executive Ruth Spellman have signed a memorandum of understanding outlining how they aim to work together to promote the workplace learning and skills agenda.

“There has always been a good cordial relationship between the TUC and IiPUK,” says Brendan.

“The memorandum aims to build on this solid foundation by providing a strategic framework for developing future joint work to deliver the key shared priorities.”

Under the memorandum: » unionlearn will raise awareness of IiP among unions and ULRs » IiPUK will promote the role of unions and ULRs inside its own networks » the TUC will get involved in the IiP

Photo: Jess Hurd

Investing in people

Ambassadors and Champions programme » both organisations will share good practice.

Relations between IiPUK and the trade union movement have been close since the Standard was launched 20 years ago to recognise good practice in training and

Just sign here: Ruth Spellman and Brendan Barber put their names to the MoU

development at work.

Several individual unions have already achieved or are working towards IiP status, while the TUC itself has a union nominee on the IiPUK board (currently Amicus joint deputy general secretary Ed Sweeney), and has been involved in revising the Standard.

Switched on at BNFL Open to all

Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling dropped in on the learning centre at Sellafield this summer to see first-hand how it’s opened doors for workers at the nuclear plant.

Opened in August 2003, the Centre has two full-time ULRs, who are GMB members, and another three full-time staff are to be appointed thanks to further investment from British

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Nuclear Fuels management.

Unionlearn director Liz Smith said BNFL had led the way in increasing Skills for Life and investing in the workforce.

“The company is clearly feeling the benefits of a workforce which is engaged and feels valued, and management has earmarked further investment for both the Sellafield and Risley sites,” she said.

ULF conference special – October 2006

Alistair Darling meets BNFL learners

“Over 750 learners have accessed more than 1,800 courses since this centre was opened and that is fantastic,” said full-time union learning rep Dave Riley of the GMB, who was delighted with the minister’s visit.

“We have people who have learnt basic IT skills and others who are trained professionals with degrees who have improved their management and business skills: it’s a great investment which is open to everyone.”

news «

Whole in one The prestigious Skills for Life Whole Organisation Approach project run by unionlearn learndirect officer Zoë Davies has picked up a DfES award presented by lifelong learning minister Bill Rammell. “'The project has provided the necessary focus for Skills for Life to become infused throughout the organisation, and centres are beginning to see Skills for Life as everyone's business,” says unionlearn's union development manager Judith Swift.

“The award from the Department for Education, and the recognition from the Quality Improvement Agency, is testament to how hard our learndirect centres have worked to implement all the new ways of working.”

Initially aimed at raising the profile of Skills for Life, the project now wants to ensure that Skills for Life are no longer regarded as add-on activities, but become integral to organisations at all levels.

Unionlearn’s learndirect centres have nearly doubled Skills for Life provision they have delivered across the country in the past year – up from 24 per cent of

Skills for Life are everyone’s business

total enrolments in 2004/05 to 44 per cent in 2005/06.

Along with unionlearn, the project involves 35 pathfinder organisations, including: » FE colleges including Newcastle college, who have played a key role and the Workers’ Educational Association » work-based training providers » voluntary and community organisations and schools » prisons and the probation service » large employers, such as Walkers snack foods and Cummins engineering.

Find out more online: www.unionlearn.org.uk /skills/learn-861-f0.cfm

News in brief

Family affairs To help mark Family Learning Week (11-17 October), the BBC Reading and Writing (RaW) campaign is producing a brand new RaW Comedy DVD, using classic BBC comedy clips to pose literacy questions. You can order your free copies of the fun, familyfriendly resource from www.bbc.co.uk/learning/proms along with family posters and postcards.

Scots lead the way!

The learning rep programme run by Scottish teaching union EIS has secured a positive evaluation from an independent academic.

"This is a very positive report,” says EIS general secretary Ronnie Smith said. “But it’s clear that there’s still a considerable amount of work to be done at local authority and school level to promote the work of learning reps and their key role in supporting continuing professional development.”

Change your life Find out what unionlearn is all about in our launch brochure Changing lives through learning, which is packed full of details on everything from unionlearn’s structure and function to its plans for the future. »To order your copy, see Giveaways on page 15.

Together in Unison Public service union Unison has had a positive response to the full-colour report of its Organising for Success, Organising for Learning conference held earlier this year.

“It’s been circulated to all branches, officers, Sector Skills Councils reps and Unison MPs, and it’s generated a lot of interest across the union to support ongoing activity,” says head of learning and organising services Pam Johnson.

Diary date This year’s World of Learning Awards take place on Tuesday 14 November at the NEC in Birmingham during the World of Learning conference and exhibition.

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» Interview » Roy Wildgoose

The

After years of working alongside the TUC, the ULF is to take its rightful place at the centre of the unionlearn team

heart of the matter

By Astrid Stubbs

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toast will no doubt be raised during this year’s conference to new partners transferring from ULF. Roy Wildgoose, ULF manager, and his team of two will be transferring from the Learning and Skills Council to the unionlearn team next year. It’s a move that is overdue as far as Roy is concerned.

“We’re all excited – this has been a long time coming. It’s been on the drawing board for years. From now on we will be inside the organisation we’ve been a partner to for such a long time and we’re looking forward to it,” he says.

In practical terms the transfer will involve the ULF team – Roy, finance officer Richard Overton and development officer Ingrid Ludolph – moving from the LSC offices in Coventry to unionlearn’s regional office in Birmingham next April.

But the transfer has much further reaching implications for unionlearn as Roy explains.

“The transfer means that instead of just

“The transfer will allow the board of unionlearn to influence the priorities of the fund”

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Roy Wildgoose « Interview«

supporting the ULF process unionlearn will have overall responsibilites to play from start to finish. It will be managing and supporting contracts – it will own the whole thing.“ Roy adds this will give unions a stronger influence on the strategic direction of ULF, within the priorities for public funding.

“ULF will be the engine of delivering the objectives and aims of unionlearn,” he says. And Roy stresses that the aims set by the government in creating ULF in 1998 will remain the same in unionlearn.

“The aim then was to promote activity by trade unions in support of creating a learning society. This is still a key purpose of unionlearn,” he says. All of which should make this year’s ULF conference a cause for celebration.

Roy and his team have attended the event for the last five years – this year Roy and Richard will attend.

Roy says the conference offers the opportunity to meet various union learning officers and education officers and to find out and help them meet their priorities.

The conference also offers the ULF team the chance meet officers of unions and help them work out how ULF can help them with their learning agenda.

There is the chance to meet ULRs and listen to their important feedback on how the fund is doing; catch up with project managers; and arrange visits to projects and learning centres.

It’s also an opportunity to meet colleagues and to attend workshops to find out what the latest issues are, says Roy. And because ULF is still involved with LSC it will continue to promote LSC initiatives such as Train To Gain and Skills for Life, he adds.

What’s ULF done for us?

» Worked with 50 unions since 1998 » Funded over 500 projects to the value of » » » » »

£75m since 1998 Supported over 100,000 individuals accessing learning since 2005 – more than 270,000 since 1998 Supported 25,000 individuals accessing Skills for Life between 2005/6 Contributed to 175 learning centres being opened in 2005/6 making a total of over 800 since 1998 Involved over 7,000 employers in projects since 1998 Trained over 3,000 ULRs in 2005/6 – over 15,000 since 1998.

Want to apply?

The Round 10 Prospectus was published to on 1 September and unions wishing to apply can do so by registering online at www.unionlearningfund.org.uk The final date for applications is 31 October after which there is a period of negotiation between the ULF team and unions, which completes on 15 December.

The assessment panel, which is likely to be comprised of

unionlearn officials, the DfES, LSC and reps from three unions, meets in January to assess all bids against the criteria laid down in the prospectus.

By the end of January decisions are ratified by the unionlearn management board and contracts issued for projects to commence in April 2007.

This year’s themes against which bids will be assessed are:

Supporting Sector-Based Union Initiatives ● Developing sectoral approaches to union-led learning ● Linking the work of ULF and ULRs with union officers on SSCs ● Working with other unions in the same sector on learning ● Considering how ULF experiences can be mainstreamed in SSCs

and SSAs.

Progression and Professional Development ● NVQ Level 3 and beyond ● HE programmes ● Continuing professional development via the union route.

ICT and e-learning ● Nationally recognised ICT programmes of learning ● learndirect programmes ● Other e-learning opportunities.

Technical Infrastructure Development ● Equipment such as laptops or PDAs to improve communications and access to learning ● Web-based tools to assist communications ● Training for ULF teams on how to effectively use ICT and e-learning tools.

Skills for Work (addressing low skills and promoting progression and progression pathways, e.g. no qualifications to first full Level 2) ● Skills for Life ● NVQ 1 ● NVQ 2.

ULRs – Training and Development ● Identification of new ULRs and arranging initial training ● Supporting ULRs through network arrangements ● Assisting ULRs to access existing follow on training ● Devising new training for ULRs to reflect changes and developments.

Cross-cutting Themes ● Work with employers and others to agree partnership approaches to learning and skills and secure commitment ● Access to high quality, information advice and guidance for all learners ● Promoting and demonstrating commitment to equality and/or diversity in learning.

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» Feature » Nikki Simpson Nikki Simpson has been encouraging people into education since she was a little girl, and it’s all paid off now with her winning the TUC ULR of the year award at this year’s Congress.

By Martin Moriarty

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Photo: Peter Arkell

ikki Simpson, this year’s TUC union learning rep of the year, has been keen to help people get learning for as long as she can remember – literally.

“When I was little, I used to play schools with the girls next door,” says the Amicus learning activist, now 36 years old. “They were younger than me, and I’d sit them down, set them Maths and English, mark their work and even tell them off!”

That sort of early enthusiasm for all aspects of education might have led her into teaching later on, were it not for the rather restricted careers support available in 1980s Southend, where she grew up.

“I think that if I’d been given the right advice, I probably would have gone into teaching, but at that time, you worked in a bank or a factory or a shop, and I chose the Royal Bank of Scotland,” she says.

But the yen to help people learn never left her, which is

How Nikki’s always had

LESSONS in her life 10 » ULF conference special – October 06

why she signed up for the first wave of ULR training Amicus ran in 2004.

The problem was that her manager at the time was hostile to all things union, so when she returned from her course, he made it very difficult for her to get much done.

“Initially, I couldn’t do much more than one-to-one advice and guidance sessions with individuals in my lunchtimes, which I trialled in my work team of 40 or 50 people,” she says.

But everything changed when she returned to her work as a project manager after the birth of her second child last September.

While she’d been away, another Amicus member, Annie Jarchow, had also been trained as a ULR and her former manager had been replaced by one Patrick New, who certainly lived up to his name when it came to relations with the union.

“Patrick saw lifelong learning as a great way of supporting the Bank’s commitment to looking after its staff so they look after its customers, and to giving people additional skills that might help them in their home life, their hobbies or their interests.”

After meeting Nikki and Annie to talk about the project, Patrick said “go for it!” – and go for it they most definitely have. In just 12 months, the pair of them have already reached around 10 per cent of the 2,500 staff in the RBS Southend office by: » Promoting language learning with a stall at the work Christmas fair » Setting up lunchtime and afterwork Spanish classes onsite » Putting on First Aid courses » Organising a writing competition and promoting reading on World Book Day » Running a wide range of bitesized courses during Adult Learners’ Week this year.

Nikki’s also built up a library of language learning CD-Roms, which Amicus members can borrow for free, another element in the learning offer which has helped raise the profile of the union at RBS (where membership is low at the moment).

“The other day, someone told me they associate the Amicus brand with learning more than representation: I’m not sure it should be that way, but at least people know the brand now.” she says.

Photos: Jess Hurd

Nikki Simpson « Feature «

What makes Nikki’s achievement that much more extraordinary is how she’s managed to get everything done while using no more than three hours a month of the bank’s time.

But this is clearly not sufficient time to do the job properly.

She says: “I decided to invest my own time so that when they could see the benefit it was bringing to them as an organisation, they’d start to give me the time off in work to do it.”

The benefits are clear, according to the bank’s own surveys of staff engagement.

“Since we’ve been doing this, the engagement scores have improved – it’s not all to do with the lifelong learning, but it definitely has contributed to that improvement.”

Small wonder that other enlightened managers have been getting in touch since news of her TUC award has spread through the organisation: she’s already been contacted by two different RBS offices keen lift their engagement scores by following a similar path.

However, she feels most proud of some of the achievements that she won’t talk about – supporting coworkers who have approached her in confidence for help with their dyslexia.

“They’ve been some of my best success stories, because they’ve been able to trust me and I’ve been

Nikki chatting to unionlearn director Liz Smith

able to get help, which has also benefited the employer – although they’ll obviously never know about it.” she says.

Her advice to other ULRs is simple: don’t give up, whatever obstacles you come across along the way.

“When I came back from my training, I could have given up and I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing today and I wouldn’t have achieved this award,” she says.

“Obstacles are put in your way, sometimes deliberately, and sometimes you can’t believe what they’re doing but you have to take it on the chin and find a way round.”

For Nikki, it’s all about working with the management team and getting them on side, she says.

One man who definitely agrees is head of operations, Patrick New. “This is a great example of how businesses and unions can and should work together effectively,” he says.

Nikki admits it can be hard to manage her work, ULR and family commitments, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. “I’m one of those people who fills my life with stuff, and if it goes a bit quiet I’ll find something to fill it up again!”

October 2006 – ULF conference special «

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» Update » Skills and training

Raising the game

Photo: Jess Hurd

Britain’s voluntary skills framework is not fit for purpose.

So how can we improve training for the millions who miss out?

Lord Leitch “Unions need to be in the forefront of eradicating low skills in the workplace”

Millions of employees, particularly those in most need, are not receiving any training in the workplace. And the key reason for this is that too many employers are not offering training to their staff even though the government offers a range of incentives to help them.

That’s the grim warning contained in a TUC report to Lord Leitch, who is carrying out a review of skills and training with the aim of providing a blueprint to radically improve the situation by 2020.

Lord Leitch’s legacy The Leitch Review remit is to identify the policies needed to ensure the UK has the best skills mix by 2020 to ensure maximum economic growth, productivity and social justice.

He is due to submit his final report in November.

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But, warns the TUC’s Brendan Barber, nothing will improve “unless we come to accept that the existing voluntary skills framework is no longer fit for purpose.”

Government initiatives, such as the Train to Gain programme, are now offering free training for all employees in England without the qualifications or skills up to NVQ Level 2. And the new network of Sector Skills Councils is beginning to give employers and trade unions the opportunity to work together to develop sectoral skills strategies.

But in spite of this, over a third of employers admit to not providing any training at all and two-fifths of the workforce – over eight million employees – say they have not received any training over the past year.

In an interim report, Lord Leitch, who is due to submit his final findings in November, admitted “the scale of the challenge is daunting” and that the “UK must raise its game” to a huge extent.

But the UK will not raise its game while so many employers simply refuse to train their staff,

says Brendan Barber.

“Employers should stop complaining so much about the skills levels of their staff and spend more on training them. Despite many government incentives, one in three employers are denying training to millions of workers who need it most.

And the government must legislate to make sure that workers get paid time off to train. Britain's unions are already working in partnership with large numbers of employers, through their army of 14,000 union learning representatives, to reskill their workforces. Government investment has helped this process and it must be increased, ” he says.

The TUC believes the Leitch Review offers a golden opportunity to develop a new policy framework that will build on the government’s skills strategy and enshrine a new national consensus on meeting the skills challenge facing the nation.

At a fringe meeting at Congress last month attended by Lord Leitch, the TUC set out five key demands on skills (see page 5) that are necessary to significantly raise the demand for skills among employers and workers and ensure that high quality, flexible provision is in place to meet this demand.

These include more investment by employers and government, a new legal right to paid time off to train and initiatives to tackle the skills discrimination experienced by women, black and minority ethnic workers as well as disabled and older employees.

The challenge

» Six million working age » »

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people have significant literacy needs Many more have majority numeracy needs In the next 15 years some 20 million people will need higher skills levels than at present if we are to close the country’s productivity gap with France and Germany More than one third of employers in England do not provide any training, even though the government has put in place a range of incentives to help them do so.

Higher education « Update «

Memo to self: Unionlearn and the Open University have joined forces to help more union learners into higher education.

Whether you want to boost your career prospects or train for a new start in life, it’s going to be easier and cheaper now that unionlearn has joined with the Open University to help more union members into higher education.

“This is an incredible opportunity to bring together The Open University’s expertise in delivering supported distance learning and the unions’ lifelong learning agenda,” says OU strategic partnership manager Bethan Norfor.

The partnership project aims to encourage 4,000 union members a year into taking one of the wide range of courses on offer from the OU, from

look into OU

What’s in the memo?

Priorities identified in the Memorandum of Understanding include: Working with employers and Sector Skills Councils to close skills gaps Developing progression pathways for workforce development Providing access courses for potential OU students in the union movement.

» » »

The collaboration is being overseen by a national steering group, comprising members of both organisations, who will meet regularly to prioritise, review and manage the joint work.

beginners’ French or computing to working in primary schools and business studies.

And to help attract more people, union learners will get a 10 per cent discount on fees for all OU Level 1 courses at 30 and 60 points (which provide core knowledge and study skills).

“The idea is to widen participation in higher education by increasing the number of union learners using the OU route,” explains unionlearn standards and quality manager Ian Borkett.

Details of the joint project are set out in a memorandum of understanding between unionlearn and the OU, which was unveiled at the ULF conference in October.

As the memorandum explains, the two organisations make natural partners, sharing as they do a common mission to support lifelong learning, and a particular commitment to helping those who’ve benefited least from education and training opportunities in the past.

One of the first items on the agenda is a joint research project with The Open University and a number of affiliate unions investigating the nuts and

bolts of widening participation: the findings are likely to be ready by the end of this year.

“We’re looking at what qualifications union members have at the moment, what barriers they feel there are to further study and what support they need to take up study opportunities,” Ian explains.

“As a result of the research, we’ll be able to make some well-informed decisions about the kind of offer the OU can make to cater for the needs of unions and their members.”

ULRs and union members shouldn’t think the OU is for only professionals and specialists, Ian emphasises.

“The OU is about offering new opportunities to adult learners which aren’t available through traditional routes, and it has a very good reputation for getting adult learners into higher education through the flexible mode of learning they use,” he points out.

“Signing the memorandum of understanding with The Open University takes us one step closer to unionlearn’s goal of offering union learners the chance to go as far as they would like to progress.”

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» 2007 » Quick Reads

Quick Reads A new batch is coming out next year

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uick Reads – the initiative to make books and reading available to all – launches its 2007 titles on World Book Day, 1 March, with the active involvement of unionlearn.

Quick Reads provides fast-paced, bite-sized books by bestselling writers to anyone who had lost the reading habit. A remarkable collaboration between authors, publishers, book retailers, libraries, the education sector and a range of partners, including unionlearn, it was backed by a significant DfESfunded outreach campaign, a major PR campaign and widespread activity. Union Learning Reps helped to spread the word about Quick Reads to workers, and many learning centres now have Quick Reads titles and display materials.

Liz Smith, Director of unionlearn, said: “We are very keen to help this valuable project to get into as many workplaces as possible. I This Quick Read was one of the first books I have sat and read cover to cover. I did not want to put it down. More books like this, please, these are just what I need.

Terry, Blackburn Excellent . . . after reading the first few pages I was hooked. This is the first book I have read in a very long time and I will continue to read.

David, London I’ve never liked reading since leaving school, but after reading this book I felt I have to start reading again.

I found this book positive and uplifting.

Emma, Manchester

Allen Carr hope that ULRs will organise a wide range of activities to promote the books and make sure that they are on all workplace bookshelves”.

The 2007 authors will be a blend of well-known writers and authors known outside the world of books.

Confirmed authors include Ricky Tomlinson, with a novel about a young man’s decision to explore Adele Geras

the world and how reading helps him on his quest.

Adele Geras provides a masterful and heart-rending modern ghost story. Leading romantic novelist Maureen Lee has written a touching novel of love and self-discovery. A blend of biography and self-help comes from Kerry Katona. John Simpson writes about his most hair-raising experiences on the front-line of war zones. And Allen Carr, whose bestselling books help millions of people to stop smoking, has produced his first book since his diagnosis with lung cancer, emphasizing how important it is to quit and how this gave him years of healthy life.

Quick Reads 2007 will again be backed by a major outreach campaign to anyone who works with emergent or reluctant readers; nationwide PR; and bus and radio advertising to potential new readers in the 20 per cent most deprived wards in the country.

Kerry Katona

How you can get involved: Speak to anyone in your workplace who might be interested in improving their reading skills about Quick Reads Register your interest and order free promotional packs on www.quickreads.org.uk or by calling the Quick Reads team at NIACE on 0116 204 7072. Packs will include posters, pens, pencils, mugs and bookmarks and you can order as many as you can distribute and use Consider setting up a bookshelf or display space in your learning centre about Quick Reads – encourage your employer to order the books For further details, see www.quickreads.org.uk or call the Quick Reads team on 0116 204 7072.

Maureen Lee

Ricky Tomlinson

John Simpson

14 » ULF conference special – October 2006

Giveaways « feature «

Free books and DVD for Learning Rep readers Go to www.unionlearn.org.uk/freebooks Here’s your chance as a reader of The Learning Rep to get some current and recent publications free of charge. With this edition you can get a pack of books in the Quick Reads range. These are from among the titles that came out in March this year.

You can also order our new DVD, unionlearn’s directory, our launch brochure and more copies of this edition of The Learning Rep. All these publications will be invaluable for use in seminars, meeting and briefings: in learning centres and for your workplace bookshelves.

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The Learning Rep You can order more copies of this edition: if you like it, please pass it on to your colleagues.

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rn.org.uk www.unionlea

Welcome to unionlearn

Unionlearn directory This is a valuable guide to TUC Education’s programmes and courses. It explains the role and work of TUC Education, lists courses available, tells you who the providers are, and has a helpful list of contacts.

Changing lives through learning: a guide to unionlearn Everything you ever wanted to know about unionlearn from its launch brochure. Brendan Barber, TUC general secretary said: “I hope this publication will encourage unions and their partners to take up and benefit from the services offered by unionlearn”.

Quick Reads Unionlearn has packs of seven Quick Reads titles. These are remainders from the list of books that came out in March this year.

Only one pack of seven books is available per order. And they will be sent to you separately from anything else ordered in this list.

Giveaways

Order our nine minute DVD which covers our launch event in May this year. It features the Chancellor Gordon Brown; Brendan Barber, TUC general secretary; Frances O’Grady, TUC deputy general secretary; Liz Smith, director unionlearn; and contributions from among others Union Learning Reps, and Project Workers.

October 2006 – ULF conference Special «

15

» contacts

unionlearn contacts All TUC email addresses are letter/surname@tuc.org.uk eg: lsmith@tuc.org.uk All Congress House numbers begin with 020 7079 followed by four digits

» unionlearn

» Midlands team

» Union contacts

Tel: 020 7079 6920 Fax: 020 7079 6921 Liz Smith, Director Denise Doherty, Secretary, 020 7079 6926

0121 236 3327 Mary Alys, Regional Manager Gary O’Donnell, Union Development Coordinator Pete Try, Regional Education Officer

Tom Beattie Amicus 020 8462 7755 tom.beattie@amicustheunion.org Mark Holding ATL 020 7782 1596 mholding@atl.org.uk Kirsi Kekki Connect 020 8971 6052 kirsi.kekki@connectuk.org Trish Lavelle CWU 020 8971 7340 tlavelle@cwu.org Trevor Shanahan FBU 07917 759473 trevor.shanahan@fbu.org.uk Jennifer Moses, Stephen Smith NASUWT 0121 453 6150 lifelong.learning@mail.nasuwt.org.uk Andrew Parry Williams NUT 020 7380 4800/4780 learning.reps@nut.org.uk David McEvoy PCS 020 7801 2727 ext 5208 david.mcevoy@pcs.org.uk Andy Rowett POA 07917 699210 poaulf@yahoo.co.uk Rachel Bennett Prospect 020 7902 6287 Rachel.Bennett@prospect.org.uk Andrew Barton RCN 01962 868332 andrew.barton@rcn.org.uk Jim Mowatt TGWU 020 7611 2500 jmowatt@tgwu.org.uk Steve Hayes Rail unions 07720 840 276 stevehayes@rul.org.uk Jeff Hopewell UCATT 01302 360 725 jhopewell@ucatt.org.uk Pam Johnson Unison 020 7551 1267 pam.johnson@unison.org.uk Barry Faulkner URTU 07795 562 873 barryfurtu@yahoo.co.uk Ann Murphy USDAW 0161 224 2804 ann.murphy@usdaw.org.uk

» National unionlearn managers

» Northern team

Ian Borkett, Standards and Quality Manager, x 6940 Bert Clough, Research and Strategy Manager, x 6925 Matthew Fernandez-Graham Business and Finance Manager, x 6936 Mike Power, Communications and Marketing Manager, x 6942 Liz Rees, Trade Union Education Manager, x 6922 Judith Swift, Union Development Manager, 0151 243 2568

Barney McGill, Regional Manager 0191 227 5552 Elizabeth Killoran, Union Development Coordinator 0191 227 5557 Ian West, Regional Education Officer 0191 232 3175

» Learndirect centres 0191 227 5567 Helen Gagliasso

» Equal 0151 243 2571 Joe Fearnehough, Equal National Project Manager

» Website 020 7079 6943 Jay Sreedharan, Web Officer www.unionlearn.org.uk

» Southern and Eastern team 020 7467 1251 Barry Francis, Regional Manager Jon Tennison, Union Development Coordinator, Maggie Foy, Rob Hancock, Regional Education Officers

Supported by:

» North West team Dave Eva, Regional Manager 0151 236 2321 Tony Saunders, Union Development Coordinator, Liverpool office 0151 236 2321 Manchester office 0161 877 4407 Peter Holland, Regional Education Officer 0151 243 2564

» South West team Helen Cole, Regional Manager, 0117 947 0521 Regional Development Workers: Alan Shearn, Bristol 0117 947 0521 Geoff Hale, Cornwall 01209 611 604 Marie Hughes, Regional Education Officer 0117 933 4443

» Yorkshire and Humberside team 0113 245 4909 Alan Roe, Regional Manager Marion Simon, Union Development Coordinator Trevor Sargison, Regional Education Officer