Learning project is top of the class

Usdaw union learning reps at Boots Logistics are celebrating news that their workplace project, the Phoenix Learning Centre, is to receive a major award from the Midlands Region TUC.

The Lifelong Learning project at Beeston, a partnership of trade union Usdaw and the four companies who make up the logistics operation at Boots, has been selected as East Midlands Project of the Year. This award comes less than seven months since the centre opened.

The project has its own fully-equipped learning centre on site at Beeston, staffed by a full-time union learning rep (ULR) and supported by a team of learning reps and tutors from The People's College, Nottingham. Workers at Boots Logistics can improve their skills and knowledge through a range of courses, although there is a specific focus on basic skills.

A learning agreement is in place between Usdaw and the four companies (Boots Logistics, Unipart, Tibbett & Britten and PEFM) and a steering group meets regularly to co-ordinate activities. Over 170 workers have used the centre so far, opting for courses as varied as IT, Spanish, literacy, numeracy, counselling and learndirect courses.

They include Sheila Mayfield, a 45-year-old warehouse operative, who wanted to brush up on her basic maths and English so she can help her daughter Bethan, five, with her homework. "It's a long time since I was at school and things are changing all the time. I thought that if I got back in to learning it would help me to help Bethan," said Sheila.

Learning reps will receive their award from TUC Deputy General Secretary Frances O'Grady at a ceremony at The Albert Hall in Nottingham on 23rd March.

Margaret Coyle, full-time ULR at the centre, said: 'We are really pleased to receive this award as recognition of all the hard work which the learning reps and the steering group are putting into making the project a success. Usdaw, Boots and The People's College work really well together to make sure that learners get access to good quality courses at times that suit them."

Peter Scriven, director of logistics, said: "As a responsible employer, we are committed to staff development. We realise that there are barriers to learning, but through partnering with Usdaw and The People's College, we are able to offer learning opportunities that are convenient, accessible and relevant to our people."

Notes to Editors:

Usdaw is the UK's fifth largest trade union, with over 330,000 members. Most of Usdaw's members are shopworkers, but the union has members in several industries including home shopping, call centres, road transport, factory workers, chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

An amendment to The Employment Act 2002 gives union learning reps (ULRs) the same rights in the workplace as other reps. Usdaw has hundreds of ULRs across the UK. They play a central role in Usdaw's Lifelong Learning campaign, which aims to break down barriers to returning to education and help workers to improve their skills, knowledge and qualifications.

Usdaw launched its Lifelong Learning campaign five years ago. Since then:

• Over 5,000 members have returned to some form of learning.

• Over 25 workplace Learning Centres have been set up.

• Over 400 union learning reps have been trained.

For more information on Lifelong Learning opportunities available through Usdaw.

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