Lee Hughes first approached Usdaw in September 2014 when he asked to do the Warehousing and Storage apprenticeship at JD Williams Hadfield. On his initial assessment Lee struggled with his maths, coming out at Entry 2. The Usdaw Mobile Union Learning Rep explained that they felt the apprenticeship functional skills was too high a level (level 1) for him to achieve without first achieving his Entry 3. 

JD Williams allow time from work to complete apprenticeships but stand-alone functional skills courses have to be done in the student’s own time. Lee explained that due to personal issues he didn’t have the time to come to lessons outside of work, and how he had never had any normal schooling during his childhood, and left at 16 with no qualifications. He was very keen to learn “how to do his sums” and was willing to work hard and do everything he was told as he wanted to learn. 

His determination to learn was so clear that the rep said they would talk to the functional skills tutor and see if she was prepared to take Lee on as part of the apprenticeship programme. After discussing the issue the tutor agreed to put Lee on the apprenticeship. Lee understood that there may be homework for him to complete if he wanted to achieve his goal in getting a Level 2 apprenticeship.

Lee was very willing to learn during the lessons, but when he walked out of the Learning Centre and came back the following week he seemed to have forgotten everything he had been taught in the previous week.

This continued for about 12 months and reps started to have doubts as to whether Lee could achieve or not. But whenever they spoke to him throughout the year they were so impressed with his commitment and the fact he wanted this so badly. It made both the union and the tutor more determined to make sure Lee would succeed. 

After six months, Lee passed his Level 1 maths and then completed his Level 2 Warehousing and Storage NVQ and his Employee Rights and Responsibilities Qualification. He is now working towards his Level 1 English so he can complete his apprenticeship and achieve his goal. 

Given his determination his union colleagues have no doubt he will succeed.