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Arena Magazine 2005 Issue 5 |
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Right on course
Opportunities to learn are being snapped up by Usdaw members across the UK with union learning reps playing a pivotal role in helping their colleagues boost their confidence, improve their job prospects and get more out of life. Their efforts are not going unnoticed with two prestigious awards being won by reps Simon Mahoney and Sarah France – Arena took a closer look.
With the growing number of migrant workers in the UK, opportunities to learn English are in great demand and learning rep Simon Mahoney has helped to fill that gap.
The 58 year-old who works at the Christian Salvesen site in Lutterworth, Leicestershire helped negotiate courses using English for Speakers of Other Language (ESOL) training for overseas workers looking to learn English.
"The courses have proved extremely beneficial to the 60 per cent of staff from Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India who participated in courses," said Simon.
Simon was presented with the TUC Union Learning Rep award for the Midlands region at a special ceremony held in Leicester earlier this year. "Although I received the award it was very much a team effort at the site," said Simon. "Without the co-operation of my fellow reps, the company and the local college we couldn't have achieved all this. Usdaw project worker Ed Leach has given us great support.
"The benefits are there for everyone to see. Helping to improve workers' skills in spoken and written English helps them to make the best use of the high-level skills already gained in their own countries. All of this is good for individuals and the company."
Sarah opens doors
More than 200 workers have passed through the learning centre doors at the Co-operative Group's site and rep Sarah France has been there to help them.
Sarah, 23, who works at the company's HQ in Manchester, has not only helped to co-ordinate activity at the on-site learning centre but has also been influential in encouraging hundreds of staff to return to learning.
She is also responsible for the production of the bi-monthly newsletter which highlights the site's success and the variety of courses available.
Sarah was presented with the 'Working in Partnership' award by the Basic Skills Consortium from Manchester City Council's Keith MacLennan, at a special ceremony in the city. "I was delighted to collect the award," she said. "Being involved with Usdaw and Lifelong Learning has helped give me the confidence to believe in my own abilities. This has helped me to encourage and support others back into learning and that's very rewarding."
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