Lifelong Learning at Aylesford Newsprint
It all started for us here at Aylesford
Newsprint in November 2004 when it was agreed at an Operations
Meeting between the Union and Company Representatives that 4 Union
Representatives would be training to be Union Learning Reps
(ULRs).
Four reps came forward and took part in
training at West Kent College with Frank Crompton from the TUC.
After the training, we then developed a Learning Agreement with the
Company to ensure support and provision of workplace learning,
although I must say, there has always been a high emphasis on
training and skills at Aylesford Newsprint. I am pleased to say
that that company saw it as a way of enhancing the current training
offered, and also a way of developing people that had essential
skills problems, who perhaps did not feel confident in approaching
the Company to help address their needs.
We launched the role of the ULR with “Bite
Size Learning Week”. A week involving language, PC, digital camera
and Indian head massage taster courses. It was a high profile event
with a local MP, Unite Official and the Executive of Aylesford all
getting involved and it culminated in what we saw as a very
successful week. From then, we then went on to get more involved
with Kent Adult Education and even formed a local network group of
ULRs from Paper Mills in the South East.
Since the launch 5 years ago, programmes have
successfully been run in the mill on Italian Language, PCs, Adult
Literacy and Adult Numeracy (Level 1 and 2), all of them lead by
the ULRs with the support of the company. Attendees have come from
operators, engineers, office workers, lab workers and even the odd
member of management!
A particular highlight for me was when 2
colleagues with very basic reading and writing skills went on to
gain an Adult Literacy qualification. Both of them took absolute
pride in their achievement and their hard work (and bravery) and so
did we! After all, that is what the role is all about.
And for the future? I must be honest and say
that us ULRs have been distracted by the economic climate and the
uncertainties that it brings – overtime and government funding are
a concern to us which has slowed
