Organising learning at Kier Stoke
Ambitious plans for learning and training are taking shape at Kier Stoke now that a new on-site learning centre has been opened. The centre was made possible through partnership working between Kier and the construction union UCATT, with support from the Union Learning Fund.
Kier Stoke is a joint venture company formed between Stoke- on- Trent City Council and Kier Building Maintenance to deliver a repairs and maintenance service for the city’s social housing and public buildings.
A joint learning agreement was signed back in 2008 and Kier Stoke and UCATT work in partnership on learning and training through a joint management and union training committee. The union’s ten shop stewards are also union learning representatives and have under gone their ULR level 1 and 2 training courses.
The union has also worked closely with the local Trade Union Education Centre at Stoke on Trent College, signposting workers to training and learning opportunities both inside and outside the workplace.
UCATT Convenor and ULR Martin Hurley say’s that a particular skill of ULRs at Stoke Kier is breaking down barriers to learning by finding solutions through networking and research.
“They have successfully identified people with dyslexia and other learning difficulties and helped them find suitable training courses by liaising with trained career advisors and college professionals,” he says.
Making a difference
Equipped with fifteen lap tops, a desktop computer, an overhead projector, a smart board, a mobile projector and screen, video and camera equipment, the learning centre is facilitating learning opportunities at Kier and seeking to engage with workers, their families and friends in the local community.
Martin explains the difference having the learning centre makes.
“We had been restricted as to what we could offer because of lack of space, “he says. “Having an on-site learning centre means that there are new and easily accessible learning and training opportunities on offer and the ULRs are working hard to promote them.”
Last year, UCATT ran two open days with the help of tutors from Stoke-on-Trent College. These gave workers the chance to look around the learning centre and see what opportunities are on offer. Most of the IT equipment is portable so it will be used in both the learning centre and other sites and community centres around the city on order to provide maximum access to learning.
Martin believes this is crucial in the current economic climate.
“Like many organisations working in the public sector, we are facing redundancies and we really want to promote the learning and training opportunities on offer in the learning centre. In a redundancy situation, morale can fall through the floor so it is a good time to encourage people to take up learning opportunities and increase their skills and employability. We are really pushing IT training, from introductory to higher level, and we asked Stoke-on-Trent College tutors to gauge interest in other subjects at the recruitment event.” he said.
Around 75 people came along to the open days and workers signed up to courses in numeracy, literacy and IT. These are currently running from 3pm to 5pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, on a ‘give-an-hour, take-an-hour’ basis; and a third course runs from 5pm to 7pm on a ‘banked hours’ basis.
And further opportunities are in the pipeline. Business Improvement Manager, Jenny Donkin, says Kier will also be offering construction skills training in the learning centre. There will be the opportunity to take health and safety touch screen tests to gain the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) cards which demonstrate occupational competence and safety awareness.
Jenny said: “Working with UCATT and the ULRs means that we can engage with a broader range of employees who would not necessarily engage with managers. It has helped us to make sure that the learning opportunities are enjoyed by more people and as an organisation we gain from them increasing their skills.”
