English for Everyone
Unite ULR’s Paul Brown, Stuart Smith and Bob Holt have worked tirelessly over the last five years to design and deliver customised English language courses for migrant workers at bus firm First Manchester.
They started the programme to help colleagues who were having trouble understanding the local dialect and needed support with their English.
“It’s important that all colleagues understand the regulations that apply to their particular role, especially in the area of safety and injury prevention,” says Stuart.
“These key issues for the business were the initial motive for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) materials we developed to support mainstream training.”
Stuart and Bob’s material initially focussed on workplace hazards and industry regulations, as well as encouraging staff to become more comfortable in speaking English in an everyday context.
They have focussed their attention on fostering a relaxed learning environment in the onsite learning centre, where the company covers the running costs and the union supplies the computers, with support from the Union Learning Fund.
To fit in with shift patterns, the ULRs run ESOL sessions on Wednesdays and Saturday mornings, with ‘drop- in’ sessions available most days.
One of 30 plus migrant workers at the company, depot support worker Gosia Piasecka couldn’t speak a word of English when she moved to Manchester 5 years ago.
“I started attending the ESOL classes on Saturdays and found the relaxed and friendly environment made it easier to learn: here you are encouraged and supported every step of the way by the ULRs,” she says.
“My confidence has improved greatly and I am now able to communicate without the need for a translator and I can converse with confidence in English with my mum and sister.”
As her English has improved, Gosia has been given more opportunities at work, including a recent appointment to the First UK Bus North Region Charity & Sponsorship Committee, where her role includes reading lengthy charity applications and engaging in regular committee meetings.
Gosia has Level 2 qualifications in Maths, English and ECDL, and is currently taking a Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Sector (PTLLS0 qualification.
The company has been supportive throughout.”First Manchester has a positive attitude approach to lifelong learning and the senior management team appreciates the benefits that have been brought to the business,” Stuart says.
