Accelerate
ACCESS TO LEARNING FOR TRADE UNION MEMBERS
The Official Newsletter for Trade Union
Learning Representatives
Accelerate is the newsletter for the AEEU learning fund project. Circulation is to Trade Union learning representatives and members within the Humberside, N.Lincs and Yorkshire Regions. The newsletter
gives you factual information, progress reports and news items about what is happening locally and nationally on personal development and workplace training.
Accelerate goes NATIONAL
Due to the overwhelming success of the Accelerate project its continuation has been supported yet again by money from the Government's second round of Union Learning Fund. The new proposal is called `The Beacon Centre' and seeks to extend Accelerate into a national programme and thus build on our local achievements. To overcome any confusion
we are calling the national project `Accelerate 2 - The Beacon Centre'.
What is expected of
ACCELERATE 2 - THE BEACON CENTRE ?
- To extend the Accelerate concept to other Trade Union branches throughout the country.
- To continue to support and extend the network of Learner Representatives in the Humberside/Lincolnshire and Yorkshire regions, specifically in relation to the implementation of Individual Learning Accounts.
- The development of 6 Accelerate projects in other AEEU regions
- The training of an additional 200 Learner Representatives.
- Continued support of the 50 Learner Representatives already trained and to train an additional 12 Learner Representatives locally.
- The opening of up to 100 Indivi.dual Learning Accounts
- The transfer of the Accelerate concept to other trade unions in the region and tocontinue to produce regular newsletters and Learning manuals.
To enure the success of Accelerate 2 - The Beacon Centre Trade Union Reps need to attend the front-line Advice & Guidance courses.
Results Of Accelerate Part 1
The Accelerate project officially came to an end on March 3lst 1999. The project had a number of targets to meet and the steering group endorsed the successful outcome of them all. By achieving our goals and setting. realistic targets for the next phase Accelerate will continue into the year 2000.Trade Union Learning Representatives have an important role in carrying the progressive policies of the Unions into the next century.
What we set out to do & What we did
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Project Outcomes |
- To establish up to 40 Learner Representative
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- Achieved, we have now trained 50 Learner Representatives
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- Provide Open College accreditation for the Learner representatives
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- All Learning Representatives achieved Open College Accreditation
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- Develop and provide a Learner Representatives manual
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- All Learner Representatives have been provided with a Learner Reps manual
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- Establish a network of support for Learner Representatives
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- A support network is up and running, Training Providers, the Humberside TEC, Careers Centres, Employers and the AEEU Learner Reps have forged
links to benefit our members
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- Improve Communications with employers, Careers services, TECs and Local training Providers
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- Because of the links forged between these organisations Communications are now at an all time high
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- Linkage with other initiatives such as University for Industry, Learning Direct, Individual Learning Accounts and Investors in People
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- Learning Representatives have been leading the way with these initiatives and are ensuring our members get the best out of them
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Successes from Accelerate 1
The Accelerate Project besides meeting all its targets also helped over 200 of its members back into education on vocational and non vocational courses.
Stuart Hempshal senior shop steward at C.S.Martin Ltd in Alford, Lincs, after becoming a Learning Representative identified from his members a need for information technology courses. Usiag 50% funding from an Employee Developmerlt Scheme and 25% funding from CS Martin he negotiated and set up two computer courses for AEEU members. Individual members have also approached Stuart with their learning requirements, this has led to one member taking on an `O' Level in Psychology which Stuart has applied for funding under the Governments Individual Learning Account Scheme.
Steve Kenny senior shop steward at Croda, Rawcliffe. Again using 50% funding from an Employee Development Scheme and 50% paid for by his employer negotiated a computer course for his 15 AEEU maintenance fitters during works time. He also identified a skill shortage and Croda are now systematically sending these fitters onto Corgi Registered Gas pipe fitting courses. So everyone gets something out of it, the employee (our members) the employer and the Trade Union.
Chris Holden senior representative at Anglian Water. Identified a number of extra skills required by his members, 35 Technicians are now embarking on specialised training courses. In addition courses are being set up on Health & Safety awareness as well as individuals wanting Bricklaying courses, Psychology courses etc. etc. A strong link with the Franklin College at Grimsby has enhanced the educational opportunities for AEEU members. In addition to all this Chris has organised a TUC Health & Safety stage I course for all safety representatives.
Other successes As a direct result of Accelerate, USDAW the Shop Workers Union submitted a successful bid from the Union Learning Fund to mirror Accelerate and develop their shop stewards in the Humberside region into Learning Representatives. Birds Eye Walls along with the GMB and AEEU as a direct result of Accelerate have successfully bid to create 20 Learning Representative on the Hull & Grimsby sites. Also In the first year over 500 employees (GMB & AEEU members) will go through a one day training course to look at and develop their personal requirements in regards to Learning/Education/Training.
There are many more examples of AEEU members going back into education and improving their knowledge and skills as a result of being involved in Accelerate.
LEARNING REPRESENTATIVES
on the last course of Accelerate stage 1 (held in April 1999)
Learnmg Representatives who have just completed the three day Front-Line Advice and Guidance course at the Trade Union Studies Centre, Hull College, Park Street.
Tap Database re-named to `On Course'
The extremely useful Training Access Point (TAP) database has been updated and renamed. This database gave our I.earning Representatives information on all training providers and the many courses available to our members. To get your FREE COPY of `On Course' you need to contact The Humberside Partnership, Hull Career Development Centre, Queen Victoria House, Alfred Gelder Street, Hull. HUl 2AY. Telephone 01482-592652 or E-Mail them on The Database is now provided on CD-Rom and needs a computer with a suitable configuration (which is) Pentium Processor (min 120mhz). 32 Bit Operating system (Windows 95, 98 or NT4), 16 Mb RAM, CD-ROM (preferable) Mouse.