BSU and unionlearn building for the future

On 24 March 2010 Co-op Financial Services (CFS) announced that following a strategic review of their premises they were proposing to close the Tower Wharf site in August and 91 members of staff were notified that they were at risk of redundancy.
Britannia Staff Union's (BSU) Ulf Project Manager Vikki Botham and workplace Union Learning Rep (ULR) Ali Holly set about organising a learning programme for their members.

Ali said: 'it was imperative that people had the support they needed. The finance sector has been hit hard in the South West, we couldn't let people down'. Particularly important was ensuring staff had industry recognised qualifications for their skills.
The biggest challenge was the timescale. Vikki's negotiations with the employer secured the learning programme and agreement for Ali, the ULR, to have unlimited facilities time to deliver the learning program. Ali drew on her previous experience and contacts as a BSU ULF project worker. Together with driving force Vikki and support from ULRs Kim Elms and Jason Wall, Ali energetically rose to the challenge.

  
ULR, Ali Holly and BSU's Ulf Project Manager Vikki Botham successfully applied for unionlearn Skills for the Future project funding, and worked closely with their chosen provider, City of Bristol College. This included individual Information, advice and guidance sessions, skills assessments and enrolment on appropriate courses. 72 people attended CV writing workshops and short courses on minute taking, report writing and time management were also very popular.
Many staff wanted to undertake several 'response to redundancy' courses, which involved learning skills outside of their normal work, such as food safety in catering, first aid and health and safety.

'It was non-stop! We only achieved it by being locked in a room for 10 days!' said Ali.
Finding tutors at short notice was a challenge, but thankfully the College rearranged some of their own work to deliver NVQ assessments and some courses were run during weekends.

Union negotiations with the employer culminated in staff being allowed to undertake training in work time for all NVQ, ITQ and 'Skills for Life' courses. The 'response to redundancy' courses, were undertaken in staff's own time, generally using TOIL and annual leave, which had to be taken before the site closed in August. 7 staff members followed up on higher education opportunities offered by the University of West of England. These are courses for graduates with discounts on offer for take up by September.

Unionlearn Development Worker Alan Shearn put Ali in touch with Tim Cowley at Jobcentre Plus (JCP), then Redundancy Manager for West of England. Tim discussed the nature of JCP support with the College and the union.
Tim said: 'The whole logistics, level, format and timing of the approach meant that I could pitch the response at the appropriate level'.

52 staff benefited from the advice offered by JCP. This included details about the nature of support offered by JCP, redundancy packs, job search, CV writing, information on tax credits, benefits and for those deciding to take their pensions. Some took advantage of the offer of individual follow-up and found the information invaluable. 35 staff also attended a subsequent session by the Consumer Financial Education Body, organised through JCP.
Staff members have gained new qualifications, and several have taken the opportunity to gain skills and experience in new areas, such as in catering and with St John's Ambulance.

The company has congratulated BSU for helping to motivate staff through this difficult period which has seen one of the lowest sickness absence levels recorded. More good news is that the majority of people seeking employment have now secured new jobs. Marian Mann, unionlearn's South West Regional Recession and Recovery Worker, is delighted with the results at Tower Wharf. She said 'This is a model which is a credit to BSU. They have worked hard in the past to embed the learning agenda within the workplace and established a good relationship with the provider. The time frame here enabled a no-nonsense approach to delivery, with the result that an extraordinarily high proportion of staff have benefitted from training when faced with job loss, many learning skills they wouldn't normally have considered.'

A bonus has been the partnership working, not only with the City of Bristol College, but additionally with consultants CMC, JCP and CFEB, all complementing each other and reinforcing the learning experience.
An interesting development for the Skills Recession and Recovery Project is joint work with JCP on a destination tracking exercise which BSU are now piloting with their members at Tower Wharf. This will help to ensure that appropriate support is provided in redundancy situations and assist our understanding of what is happening in the labour market.