In 2017 Unite opened a new learning centre for members in the University of the West of England (UWE), and it's proved very popular with staff wanting to improve their IT skills.

Unite Learning Rep Martyn Gwyther, with the support of Branch Secretary Angie Dixon, has been keen to make as much use as possible of the bright and well-resourced new facilities. Recently Unite, along with UNISON, signed a Learning Agreement to ensure everyone has access to training if they want it.

In particular Martyn has been running Introductory IT sessions - something that is really important to staff as many aspects of their jobs are becoming more reliant on computer skills.

Angie said:

These courses in the Unite Learning Centre are proving a great benefit to the staff we represent. Next year UWE is rolling out the introduction of online pay slips - so it's vital that everyone knows how to use computers."

Martyn points out that many of the people Unite represents are finding computers becoming more common in everyday use.

Martyn said:

From security to grounds staff, cleaners to hospitality - most people working in the Universities facilities department are using IT more often. At the Learning Centre we are offering everyone Introductory IT, which can move onto Level 1 and Level 2 qualifications if they are interested - and many are."

There are nearly 300 members of staff working in facilities, and Martyn is making sure all of them have the opportunity to attend an IT course. One learner make use of the union learning facilities is cleaner Debbie Hill. 

Debbie said:

I've found being able to use the learning centre really useful. I've just completed the introduction to IT and plan to work up to the Level 1 and 2 courses soon."

Catering Assistant Katrina Cooks has also been using the centre and said:

The IT courses have been very helpful, I have used laptops before but having access to the computers in the learning centre has really helped me build my confidence. It has also meant I'm able to find information I'd not normally hear about, which is useful for both work and home."

Though the centre is focusing mainly on IT at the moment in the future Martyn plans to run Equality and Diversity courses and is working in partnership with the university to set up Data Protection training.

He is also planning a Breakfast Club for cleaning staff to access training in the early mornings and sessions outside the centre at IT points that are being set up around the campus at the moment. 

UWE has a number of sites - the main one is Frenchay, but Martyn is using IT suites at the Glenside and Bower Ashton sites to support more learners. This approach of reaching out across the wider university has paid dividends.

Martyn highlighted one example in particular. “We had one learner who we found didn’t like coming in on Monday because it was a training day. But with someone to one support she has not only passed her Introductory IT course, but has been really bitten by the learning bug and is now and advocate - talking to colleagues across the campus and encouraging them to sign up for courses in the learning centre.”

All this has had the added benefit that some staff are enrolling on the courses and then joining the union as they see the benefits of membership.

Chris Abbott is Director of Estates and Facilities at UWE and is also very positive about the work the union is carrying out to support staff develop skills.

Chris said:

The implementation of HR online presented a significant challenge for our manual staff members. In recognising the need to enable these staff to gain the full benefit of the new system an initiative was launched in partnership with our TU rep Martyn Gwyther to deliver key training to this group of staff.”

“This initiative has been very well received and hugely successful. I am delighted with the outcome and feel very proud of everyone who has felt enabled to embrace this. Thinking ahead, this model will be carried forward to enable all manual staff training on any topic to be delivered in this way.”

Unite Regional Officer Matt Gillett added:

Through the tremendous efforts of Martyn Gwyther, supported by Angie Dixon, we have been able to offer basic computing training to, so far, over a hundred mainly cleaning workers at UWE. It's a huge contribution to workplace learning that has been fully recognised by the employer and there are plans to extend it to even more people, as well as adding equality and diversity and other training.”

It's further demonstration of how union engagement is essential to the success of these projects. There has been a significant growth in Unite membership on site as workers experience the positive role we can play in supporting them.”