Workshop 18: ‘Truly Reactive : Responding to the Needs of those being made Redundant’

1. Meeting the Challenge for Higher Level Skills, 16/17 February 2011 Workshop 18: ‘Truly Reactive : Responding to the Needs of those being made Redundant’ - Mike Lomas, Phil Lawton, University of Bolton - Janet Valentine, unionlearn

2. ‘Truly Reactive : Responding to the Needs of those being made Redundant’ Overall objective of the project: The project partners: - the University of Bolton, through its Business Support and Development Unit and the Unit’s links with its Schools and - unionlearn, through its network of Union Learning Representatives (ULRs) within the workplace identified and provided targeted support for those employees being made redundant or facing potential redundancy

3. ‘Truly Reactive : Responding to the Needs of those being made Redundant’ • Project outcomes: • Support for employees was provided through: • an increased awareness of their existing personal and professional knowledge and skills • the development of enhanced job seeking capabilities • personal development planning to identify immediate skills gaps • the provision of workshops, short courses and professional development modules – both accredited and non-accredited to meet individual development needs

4. ‘Truly Reactive : Responding to the Needs of those being made Redundant’ • Project management: • The project Steering Group, chaired by unionlearn, comprised representation from: • The project partners • the NWUA • Job Centre Plus • the LSC / SFA • ULRs and Trade Union representatives

5. ‘Truly Reactive : Responding to the Needs of those being made Redundant’ • Beneficiaries: • Over 220 employees benefited from the project, against a target of 70. These were mainly drawn from the public sector, including the organisations shown below, together with their trade union support • The Forensic Science Service - Prospect • Bolton PCT - UNISON • Tameside and Oldham Councils – GMB, Unite, UNISON • GM Fire and Rescue Service - Fire Brigade Union; UNISON • Standards for England - PCS • Mosscare Housing - Unite • NWUA and NWDA

6. ‘Truly Reactive : Responding to the Needs of those being made Redundant’ • Activities undertaken within individual workplaces included workshops in: • Enhanced skills development • CV clinics / Careers advice • Enhanced self-esteem / personal reflection using the STEPS programme • Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment), TUPE

7. ‘Truly Reactive : Responding to the Needs of those being made Redundant’ • Project funding was used to adjust the following professional development programmes for delivery off-campus, within the workplace: • IOSH accredited health and safety training • Risk management workshop • The accredited PTLL (Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector) module • HE7 modules in project management, self refection, advanced business information systems, leadership • ECIF/ HEFCE/ ESF funding supported delivery of the above

8. ‘Truly Reactive : Responding to the Needs of those being made Redundant’ • Project funding was also used to validate a suite of career management modules, which : • create provision at HE4 to HE7 • comprise a generic core of career support materials, created through the project • each embed a personal development project to meet the learners’ specific needs • are well supported through a Moodle site to facilitate blended learning

9. ‘Truly Reactive : Responding to the Needs of those being made Redundant’ • Impact: • Apart from the use of beneficiary feedback forms on individual activities, the project forms part of the impact study commissioned by the NWUA with KSA • Through the use of a specifically tailored web-based questionnaire, beneficiaries will be asked to assess the usefulness of the interventions undertaken.

10. ‘Truly Reactive : Responding to the Needs of those being made Redundant’ • Lessons Learned: • the partnership with unionlearn was crucial in being able to identify beneficiaries and facilitate support within the workplace • although employers were able to provide significant in-kind support for the activities, the provision of project funding was crucial to minimise any cost to the learner • the composition of the Steering Group enabled this HE focussed provision to add value to other support services available to those facing redundancy

11. ‘Truly Reactive : Responding to the Needs of those being made Redundant’ • Group-based activity: • In your allocated groups discuss how truly responsive to individual employer / employee needs HE provision can be, particularly with respect to: • delivery costs and the need for viable learner cohorts • the value derived from work-based learning • the need to secure an effective HE experience • whether accreditation is always desirable or required • the role of the employer in supporting the learning