Smurfit Kappa is a company making boxes and packaging. It
operates worldwide with sites throughout the UK, with support from
Unite the Union it has recently set up its own brand new learning
centre for its employees at the Stalybridge site.
Alan Alcock has worked on site for over 13years and was the
Father of the Chapel (FOC – senior union convenor). He is now the
Unite union learning rep (ULR). During his years at the site, he
has continually been pushing to get training and skills for the
workforce on the industrial and workplace agenda. Opening the
learning centre was a big day for him.
Alan is one of those human dynamos as his partner Julie and son
Mathew (22) well know. As well as the day job; his union work and
family life he admits to supporting Manchester United. He plays for
the local veterans’ soccer team and goes sea fishing with his
workmates when time allows.
For years Alan, with a team of like minded people at the
company, has been pushing to set up a training room. During the
various management changes over the years he had varying support
from the company. When the new smoking rules came in Alan spotted
an opportunity. He was straight in negotiating to put the room to
new and better use for the benefit of the workforce.
Members of the Unite workforce team led by Alan put a
presentation together for Andrew Burrows the current MD. They were
supported in this by Unite regional learning organiser Geoff
Southern.
So successful was the presentation, that the Andrew pledged
£3,500 from the company towards establishing the learning centre on
site. With company management support, Alan co-opted the help of
Chris Sagar a site maintenance engineer. This despite Chris
following Manchester City. Like many at Smurfit Kappa he too has
worked there for many years. He told me that, given the chance, he
and Elaine, with their 2 boys enjoy family holidays like
cruising.
Mick Pollard, another married local man, was another of Alan’s
fishing colleagues was co-opted onto the project. He is one of the
three Unite ULRs on site, along with Wes Wier and Tony Wray. When
asked about the learning centre Mick told me “I am proud of the
achievements we have all made together, along with the input of the
company. I hope that our workmates will make good use of it.”
Between them all, they removed years of nicotine abuse from the
room and installed broadband along with computers supplied by
Unite.
Much of the management support was funnelled through Dale
Roberts the company training manager. Like many of the workforce he
too is a local lad and sports fan. He plays Rugby Union for Ashton
under Lyne when away from work. When asked how the company felt
about this new venture, he said “Smurfit Kappa is a forward
thinking and progressive company. The management here are looking
to the future through training – especially in these difficult
economic times.”
The centre will be used to help employees of Smurfit Kappa take
forward Key Skills and vocational training as well as being used as
a base to run company courses. Unite Regional Learning Organiser
Geoff Southern said “We look forward to taking this experience
forward to show the benefits union activity can bring to other
workers and sites in the group across the UK and encourage people
to join Unite and get involved.”
To celebrate the culmination of all this hard work by both the
company and the union team, at the end of October a formal opening
ceremony was held.
As well as the MD Andrew Burrows for the company, Unite were
represented by Tom Beattie – Head of Lifelong Learning and by
Bernard Rutter who coordinates Unite work with Sector Skills
councils. Tom told me that “Unite supports companies who have such
a positive attitude to workforce training and upskilling.”
Local Colleges and education providers were invited, along with
the local MP, James Purnell – currently Secretary of State, at the
Department for Work and Pensions. All those who came along to the
opening were clearly impressed and said so.
Many in the workforce also took the opportunity to come and look
at the range of facilities and courses available now through the
learning centre.
It really put the cherry on top of the Smurfit Kappa – Unite
learning cake box.
Ian Scott – Unite Learning Development Coordinator
