Growing your own talent
The Co-Operative Retail Logistics in Somerset believe that growing your talent is an investment for the future of both the business and the staff.
All staff at the depot have the opportunity to progress through the company’s in-house training and also the training offered through the onsite Learning centre developed in partnership with Usdaw and the team of Union Learning Representatives, and supported by the Union Learning Fund.
“We indentified gaps in the NVQ provision,” explains Learning & Development Officer Mary Ann Stafford. “We want to plug those gaps, so we are developing bespoke workshops that will give staff the opportunity to learn new skills that enhance their knowledge beyond their current role. Because we always look internally for suitable candidates, before we go externally, it means we have a ready-made pool of skilled people with the confidence and skills to progress.”
One person to benefit in this way is Martin Nicholls, who completed an ITQ Level 2.
Martin says “The skills I learned were very useful; they enhanced my job and made it easier.” Martin is one of a team of ULRs at the warehouse and has helped his colleagues take the first step on the learning ladder.
He explains “The speed in which technology and the internet has come on meant a lot of people were terrified but curious at the same time. Many of them had computers at home for their children, but didn’t know how to use them themselves.
We ran a basic computer course and it was brilliant. They were all middle aged - no youngsters - and afterwards, some people went out to buy their own computer. They now go on the internet regularly and do their emails, where a while ago, they wouldn’t even know how to turn one on!”
Martin went on to explain, “The warehouse is like a community because everyone works so closely together, but you don’t have time to chat. Now on breaks or at the end of their shifts, people are using Twitter or Facebook – they’re communicating all the time, which is a great morale boost.”
Mary Ann has seen the benefits for the company too. “Learning new skills has given staff a lot of confidence,” she says, “because they realise that their job as a warehouse operative requires a vast amount of skills that didn’t realise they had. It’s also given them the confidence to want to develop themselves and want to get ahead, and that helps the company with providing us with a readymade pool of skilled and motivated workers”
