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.

AEEU Accelerate Learner Representatives
receive certificates in the Houses of Parliament

Reps receiving certificates
Leaner Represeratatives receiving their certificates from Richard Caborn MP

Twenty Four AEEU Learner Representatives and their Partners recently visited the Houses of Parliament to receive their Open College Certificates. The Learner Representatives travellcd down to London and stayed overnight close to Cudham Hall the `AEEU's Training Collegc.

Reps were given the opportunity to look around the Houses of Parliament and even sit in, on a session in the Commons. A Parliamentary Committee room overlooking the Thames was the venue for the actual certificate presentation and finally a photo session on the lawns next to Big Ben. The session was well supported by the national education officers of the AEEU and a special thanks has to go to Alan Johnson MP for West Hull & Hessle for organising the whole event.

Accelerate 2 - The Beacon Centre Project Contract

Handing Over Contracts

Handing over of contracts - Richard Caborn hands over the Accelerate 2 - The Beacon Centre ' Contract to Kelvin Mawer (project officer) observed by (left to right) Graham Carpenter (Yorkshire Marine Containers), Trevor Hartley (British Aerospace), Allan Johnson MP, Keith Nicholson (Ideal Standard) and Dave Nevitt (Rockware Glass).

Accelerate (update).

Accelerate 2 - continues to build on the successes of of other union learning fund projects. Targets for Accelerate 2 were to set up 6 Accelerate projects, this target is well on the way we are now organising centres in

Hampshire Newcastle Billingham Chester
Dagenham Sheffield Rotherham Doncaster
North Yorkshire

Individual Learning Accounts, we had to sign up 100 accounts. With Learner Representatives around the region submitting accounts and Stuart Hempshall from C.S.Martin getting 40 and a similar figure from Chris Holden of Anglian Water we have passed that target.

Learner Representatives, we had to recruit 12 more locally and 200 nationally, we have a Front-Line Advice & Guidance course running each term and nationally we have started to get people interested - this target is tough but I have no doubt we will surpass the target.

More & more AEEU convenors and more & more Companies are realising that Accelerate works for the benefit of everyone - Accelerate has created Partnership without conllict. Something for everyone and once again the AEEU is leading the way.

Brush up on your skills

Engineering employees can now keep ahead of the game, by taking advantage of new Engineering Learning Link (ELL) centres, which are springing up around the country. These centres are being set up by the Engineering and Marine Training Authority (EMTA), the National Training Organisation (NTO) for engineering manufacture, along with other partners. This forms an integral part of the Government's University for Industry initiative which aims to equip the country's workers with the skills needed for the new century.

"ELL is a major initiative for EMTA. We are aiming to have 42 centres up and running around the country by early 2000. This will include 5 centres in the North East and Yorkshire and the Humber," explained Lynn Tomkins, Head of EMTA's Lifelong Learning and European Department. "The centres are designed to provide staff with information and guidance on how to keep their current skills up to date or to increase their skills and knowledge. This will ensure employees have the relevant expertise to get and keep available jobs."

The ELL centres offer free access to the latest multi-media and traditional learning materials including television, workstations, Internet access and distance learning. Staff are on hand to give guidance and advice on engineering-related qualifications and courses, and the facilities which the centres offer.

For more information, call the freephone call centre on 0808 100 3682, or visit the ELL website : www ell.org.uk.

45% Grants available to help with training costs.

Does your company want to do some training but it is too expensive or over and above an agreed training budget? The Engineering and Marine Training Authority (EMTA) may be able to help.

EMTA can give 45% grants towards the cost of training for engineering manufacture small and medium-sized companies. This could almost halve the cost of training which is expensive or virtually double your training budget. If your company employs less than 250 employees (and is not part of a larger group) is within the North East (except parts of Northumberland and County Durham) or South Yorkshire (whole) and West Yorkshire (part), you may be able to get assistance with training costs.

"These grants are an excellent opportunity for companies to take advantage of suppport for training and development," says Tamar Reay, Development Manager for EMTA. "The funds will not be available forever, so companies should access them while they can."

For more details, telephone Michelle Henderson / Gary Richardson at EMTA on O l 642 560355.

Accelerate (What is it ?)

For those who have never heard of Accelerate :- Accelerate is an AEEU initiative to give AEEU members, access to high quality education, training, information and support.

Shop Stewards are trained to become Learner Representatives, once trained they advise, guide & support members all the way through their education. The education may be vocational as well as non vocational, there could be problems with shifts, cost, timing etc. Learner Representatives are trained to deal with these issues.

Interested in becoming a Learner Representative:- Call me (Kelvin Mawer) the Project Officer for information on courses or to arrange a full presentation for your union committee, management or start the Partnership off with a joint meeting.

Courses can be arranged in your area or at your workplace as long as there are enough Learner Representatives to make up a course

Apply for a Front Line Advice and Guidance on Learning course, this course is essential for AEEU Learning Representative. All you need to do is e-mail Kelvin!

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