ULR Chris Nagy initiates a library facility at work
Chris Nagy, Assistant Advisor at Job Centre Plus in Hessle, became a PCS union learning rep (ULR) because he wanted to provide encouragement to colleagues to venture into further learning.
As a member of PCS, Chris realised that a number of staff members were missing out on some fantastic learning opportunities and he wanted to help those colleagues to take advantage of what was on offer.
Earlier this year Chris organised a fantastic Learning at Work Day, which received a positive endorsement from management, who remarked that it had an excellent effect on the staff in the office and was a big boost to morale.
So when it came to negotiating with management for a library facility for staff, Chris utilised the skills he had attained from his ULR course with East Riding College as well as the productive engagement that came from the Learning at Work Day, when negotiate the facility with management, and they happily agreed.
Off the back of the success of the Learning at Work Day and based on the positive feedback from management, Chris decided to set his sights even higher and negotiate with management to set up an onsite library. Chris asked both the Chief Executive of the department and the Permanent Secretary at the Department for Works and Pensions (DWP) to donate books towards the library initiative. Much to Chris's delight they were more than happy to do so.
Chris said: 'Whilst thinking about the library project I also wanted some recognition for role that Union Learning Reps (ULRs) play and also some support with learning so I consulted colleagues to see if they thought of any inspirational people that we could ask to support our learning agenda and especially our library. Armed with a list of prominent people, suggested by colleagues and PCS members, I began to write to people to ask for their support with learning and to donate a book to the library project.'
Chris received a fantastic response to his request, and below are a list of those that contributed and expressed their personal support to the Library project:
Books donated by:
Former Prime Minister Rt. Hon Gordon Brown
Former Prime Minister Rt. Hon Tony Blair
Former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Prescott of Hull
Hull West MP Alan Johnson
DWP Chief Executive Darra Singh
DWP Permanent Secretary Leigh Lewis
Lecturer Dave Prodham
Entrepreneur and Dragons Dens Peter Jones
Entrepreneur and Dragons Dens Theo Paphitis
Explorer and Adventurer Sir Ranulph Fiennes
TV. Chef Heston Blumenthal
TV. Chef Nick Nairn
TV. Chef Michel Roux Jnr.
Retail and Business Guru Mary Portas
Television Presenter and Host Sir Michael Parkinson
Television survivalist Ray Mears
The library project even had a book donated all the way from Australia by Mrs Terri Irwin the wife of naturalist and Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin.
Letters of support from:
His Royal Highness the Prince Of Wales
The Governor of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
It is evident that not only has the library project been a success in regards to colleagues using it regularly, but it has attracted a great deal of support for the role of ULRs in the workplace and how they promote and encourage learning to take place.
