Usdaw and DHL Morrisons launch innovative centre at the Morrisons distribution centre in Coventry

Retail union Usdaw and distribution company DHL are celebrating Learning at Work Day in style with the launch of an innovative learning centre aimed at boosting essential skills at the Morrison's depot at Prologis Park in Coventry.

Usdaw has been a pioneer of lifelong learning in the UK with more than 14,000 of their members passing courses and the new learning centre is being fully supported by DHL.

The learning centre has been newly refurbished and equipped with the latest high-tech IT equipment offering a range of courses to the 300 staff who work at the site.

Usdaw will be providing three fully trained Union learning reps on-site to recruit colleagues on to a range of courses aimed at encouraging staff back into learning.

All the Usdaw learning reps have taken their National Tests in literacy and Daljit Lal was inspired to join up after passing his course.

“The tests were challenging but with the learning facilities offered by the company and the support and encouragement of the tutor I was able to get a literacy level 2 pass,” Lal said. This positive experience has made me more motivated to learn more and to promote these learning opportunities to my colleagues.

“Many of the people here left school at 16 and haven't stepped back into a classroom since so our mission is to make learning fun and also develop self-confidence.”

The courses are being delivered by North Warwickshire and Hinckley College who have developed close links with the Usdaw reps and DHL managers.

Depot General Manager Peter Campbell has been a driving force behind the creation of the new learning suite and will be formally opening the centre on 25th May, National Learning at Work Day.

“We are committed to developing our colleagues' skills and recognise the importance of their personal development and attaining nationally recognised qualifications,” said Peter Campbell. “As a site we are proud to encourage and support our staff in accessing lifelong learning opportunities and are keen to endorse the value of learning and the benefits it undoubtedly brings in improving our colleagues futures.”

Notes to Editors:

• Contacts for newsdesks: Usdaw's Media Officer, Paul Clarke, can be contacted on 0161 249 2469 or e-mail paul.clarke@usdaw.org.uk.
• Usdaw (the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest trade union, with over 340,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
• More information and news releases are available at our online Newsroom.
• Journalists can subscribe to receive Usdaw news releases via our online e-news service.

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