Mary leads the way in learning

Mary Kennedy will be leading by example when she helps to run a new learning centre at Carlisle’s biggest employer. For it’s only a few years since she returned to learning herself.

For the past six years Mary, 54, has been full-time Usdaw co-ordinator at Cavaghan and Gray Ltd, the Northern Foods subsidiary which produces products such as potato topped pies, quiches, recipe dishes, crispbakes and party foods, mainly for Marks and Spencer.

Now she will be heavily involved with the learning centre at the company’s Brunel House headquarters, showing the 1,600 employees just what can be achieved from engaging with the trade union learning agenda.

Mary left school with no qualifications and it was only six years ago, when working as a quality auditor and Shop Steward, that she went on a basic IT course. “I was useless at school,” she says. “But now I’ve started learning you can’t stop me.”

Now Mary has achieved an ICA diploma in IT and passed the European Computer Driving Licence. She has also done evening classes in numeracy and literacy and hopes to be trained in managing the Learning Centre.

It was working to improve her own literacy and numeracy skills that gave her the idea for a Learning Centre at Cavaghan and Gray.“I know there are lots of people who have skills needs, and I thought the Usdaw-led Learning Centre would be an excellent thing for both them and the company,” she says.

The firm provided a room at its Brunel House HQ, and has paid for eight PCs for the learners. But Skills for Life and computer know-how will not be the only subjects on offer.  Already the union has sent out a questionnaire asking staff what other subjects they might like to learn – and such topics as Spanish, digital camera operation and even flower arranging are under consideration. “People ask why I want to start learning at my age,” Mary says. “I say ‘Why not?’

Watch this space for more information...

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© 2003 (USDAW) Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers
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