Celebration of the Unite Taxi Drivers’ NVQ
On Friday 21st August 2009 there was a celebration event at
Unite the Union’s Jack Jones House in Liverpool. The event was to
recognise the thousandth NVQ qualification since the Unite Taxi
provision was started in 2007.
The event was chaired by Maria Smyth Regional Education Officer
North West and we were pleased to welcome Len McCluskey Unite
Assistant General Secretary. . The highlight of the day was Len
McCluskey presenting the NVQ certificate to Mick Groom a taxi
driver and member of Unite for a number of years. Mick was the
thousandth NVQ learner.
Speakers at the event included Maria and Len along with Gary
Woodward and Shelley Johnson. Gary and Shelly are part of the Unite
Taxi project and are responsible for tutoring the NVQ. They spoke
about how through training and upskilling taxi drivers, along with
their colleagues had made great strides in recruiting and the
representation members within the taxi trade. They also spoke about
how this included becoming part of the union in other aspects
including the recent fight the BNP meeting in Liverpool.
Other bodies who attended the event included the TUC, Go Skills,
EDI the awarding body and the various providers used to carry out
the NVQ.
