Home > Resources > Lifelong learning home page > Learning & Skills Case studies > Case Studies - 2009 > Shorts - Belfast May 09

On Tuesday 13^th January 2009 Unite the Union's Regional Learning Organiser Clare Caulfield hosted the launch of a joint learning initiative between Unite the Union and Bombardier/ Shorts.

It was attended by Sir Reg Empy, Minister for Employment & Learning who’s department (DEL NI) provides funding through the Union Learning Fund and senior Bombardier management. Staff from Belfast Metropolitan College, who provide the course tutors also attended.

The launch of this joint initiative involved the introduction of Essential Skills into the workplace, focusing primarily on IT classes, with the possible introduction of numeracy & literacy if the learning needs are identified or required. Classes will be conducted onsite in Newtownabbey, Airport Rd, Dunmurry and Newtownards and will be split 50/50 between company sponsored time and employee voluntary time.

In making workplace learning more accessible and more widely available, classes will be conducted on the Belfast Metropolitan College ‘Learning Bus’ for 2 hours a week spread over 20 weeks. All learners are volunteers and are given learning support by the Union Learning Representative (ULR) based on each site – these are work-place union reps specifically trained to recognise, provide and promote adult learning support which would ideally be complimentary to any established in-house training initiatives.  The ULR is crucial for those learners who have deep rooted fear or learning deficit and who would without the ULR have no one to confide in and therefore seek help.  Throughout this successful partnership Bombardier and Unite have provided the foundation of basic skills to enable Bombardier and their workforce to re skill and up skill, therefore working towards the changing and real needs of the industry within N Ireland especially during this period of economic downturn.

Both organisations believed it to be about providing the workforce with basic skills to enable them to up skill or re skill therefore enhancing and developing transferable skills within the industry and also believed it would promote a highly motivated person who could make an increased contribution to their working and family environments.  Better skills improve the life chances of not only those who learn, but also their families and children.  Skills help people get into work and progress up the ladder.  They also provide a significant stepping stone to yet further qualifications and can help parents play an important role in the support of their children’s’ education.

This is one in a long line of very successful workplace learning initiatives driven by Unite the Union and DEL - in this economic climate it is easy for companies to cut back on training and developing skills, however, employers such as Bombardier/Shorts are still leading the way to enhancing the skills of the NI workforce.