Southern Print - November 2008
Southernprint is a dedicated single site
magazine & Commercial printer based in Poole Dorset. If you
shop at Sainsbury’s then you will have seen the Sainsbury’s
magazine that Southernprint produce for them.
The company is proud of having a well trained
and motivated workforce of 320 employees. Maggie Thorpe is one of
these, and has worked there over 20 years.
Maggie is developing her skills in woodwork at
the moment. She has successfully made a door for the garden, housed
her rabbit and is in the process of collecting tools & bits of
wood for future projects. As a Unite ULR, Maggie says she really
must get herself on a course.
In her role as Unite ULR, she has been
actively ensuring that her colleagues maintain their skills level
through a programme of NVQ and Technical Certificate Courses
provided by Yeovil College. People were reluctant to come forward
at first, but with perseverance the numbers gradually increased,
and a culture of training and learning now exists at Southernprint.
It can be particularly difficult to set up training as shifts are
set up around the work.
For Adult Learners Week she organised some
taster & introductory sessions, in the boardroom, based on a
sport & fitness theme in partnership with Yeovil College.
Many of the workers came along to get
involved. The day was a real success and Maggie now looks forward
to the company signing off on a Skills Pledge. All in all a real
successful pay off for Maggie’s hard work.
