Welsh Learning Rep Sam Rawlinson is top of the class

Usdaw's Sam Rawlinson has been voted Wales TUC Union Learning Rep of the year recognising her efforts in creating a high-tech learning centre at First Milk Cheese Company in Wrexham.

Sam's award recognised her skills in developing a pro-active relationship with her employers to expand the learning centre and offer a wide range of courses to union members from basic skills through to English for Speakers of Other Languages.

Usdaw's Lifelong Learning programme provided Sam with full training so she was able to encourage union members to take up courses.

"When I first became a Union Learning Rep there was a small learning centre on site which was established a few years previously and no courses were being run," says Sam. "The site now has a state of the art, busy and vibrant centre and we are giving many members a second chance at learning as well as the confidence to go on to other things.

"I couldn't have done all this without the support of my team of Usdaw Lifelong Learning Reps across the site and we have made a genuine difference to many people's working lives and opportunities.

"But we have also had great support from First Milk who have been totally behind the expansion of the learning centre. We all recognise that the learning programme has been instrumental in reducing high staff turnover.

"We've been lucky to work with a college like Yale to provide courses as they really understand the needs of workers who are returning to education after a long break and see the benefit of working with the union and the employer out in the workplace.

"We have received financial support from a number of sources including projects run by the college but as a Union Learning Rep I am particularly pleased that Usdaw was successful in their bid to the Wales Union Learning Fund which supports the work we do here and in workplaces across Wales.''

Usdaw has been a pioneer of workplace based leaning with more than 20,000 union members passing courses and the union's General Secretary John Hannett says Sam is a classic example of how a well-trained Learning Rep can change lives.

"Usdaw is incredibly proud of our Lifelong Learning projects and I'm delighted that Sam's efforts have been recognised by the Welsh TUC as the best in Wales," says John Hannett. "She has completely transformed the learning centre making it a place where people feel comfortable easing themselves back into learning.

"Sam has developed a positive relationship with the employer who understands that a well-trained workforce is better motivated and has less absenteeism.

"Sam has been a pioneer of creating learning centres on our manufacturing sites but we are using the lessons she learnt to extend Lifelong Learning to Usdaw members in retail outlets across the UK through our new Checkout Learning project.

"But ultimately Sam has demonstrated exactly how modern trade unions can train their Reps to develop partnerships that literally transform the lives and aspirations of our members which is why she is top of the class in Wales."

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.
• Subscribe/unsubscribe to Usdaw news releases via our online e-news service.

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