Unite the Union is working with Barclaycard at
its Stockton site in the North East of England to prove Skills for
Life really are Finance Sector business. As part of a
unionlearn-funded initiative the company and the union have worked
together to make the innovative Insight project a success.
The Insight project is delivered by a
dedicated team of Union Learning Reps (ULRs) and aims to provide
colleagues at the Teesside site with high-quality learning
opportunities benefitting both individuals and the business. One
such example is that of the successful Skills for Life programme
delivered on site for over 12 months.
Skills for Life are the Literacy and Numeracy
skills needed by individuals to ‘get on’ at work and at home and
are not as basic as some might think. Most of us will need to brush
up on some of them and if you doubt this try a Numeracy Level 2
practice test yourself at http://www.move-on.org.uk/ !
Working with highly-regarded local
provider, City of Sunderland College, the Insight project has
helped almost 20 people achieve Skills for Life qualifications
since November 2009 alone.
One such individual is Claire Harvey (shown in picture on
right). Claire has been an employee of Barclaycard since July 2008
working as a Workflow Data Processor.
Despite having left school with 9 GCSEs Claire
still lacked confidence in her Literacy and Numeracy skills and
felt that improving these would not only improve her confidence but
also make her more effective in her business role. Following
contact from the Insight team of ULRs, Claire jumped at the chance
to attend a Literacy course leading to a National Certificate at
Level 2. The Insight team worked with Barclaycard management to
ensure that all of the course workshops and the tests themselves
are delivered in work time. Both Unite and Barclaycard believe that
this is not a cost to the business, but rather an investment that
the business is making in its most valuable asset, its people.
Claire found the Literacy sessions enjoyable
as, although she lacked confidence, she was always made to feel
relaxed, part of the group and also equal to everybody else.
She felt this was very different to her school days. This helped
her to quickly achieve her first ever Level 2 qualification and she
feel this has given her a real boost.
In Claire’s words “I feel the Literacy course
I attended really improved my confidence and I feel a lot better
about achieving targets within the business now. I will be
attending the mathematics course as I feel this will also improve
my confidence. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be part
of this.”
Barclaycard’s Team Managers also recognise the
benefits of investing in their people through the Skills for Life
programme. One such Manager states: “I’m all for our colleagues
improving their basic skills as the work they produce is right
first time which makes them more work efficient. Whilst this
is measurable, the morale boost they receive having achieved their
qualifications is immeasurable.”
