Skills for Life case studies

1
Skills for Lifecase studies

• Ways of improving reading, writing, language,
  maths and computing skills in the workforce

2
Introduction

• Learn from other employers in the public and
  private sectors, then find an approach that suits
  your organisation.
• Common elements of best practice
• management recognition of the problem
• sensitivity in assessing skills needs
• easily accessed learning opportunities
• training relevant to employees day-to-day work
• involvement of union learning representatives
• Common outcomes
• improved retention and recruitment
• fewer staff absences
• more motivated and confident staff

3
The Army

• The challenge
• 50 of recruits have literacy and numeracy skills
  equivalent to a nine-year-old
• Skills for Life provision has to be available to
  personnel wherever they are stationed
• The solution
• Specialist basic skills tutors
• Education centres in the UK and overseas
• Discrete programmes for troops on operations or
  in remote areas
• Awareness training to identify potential learners
• The outcome
• Improved confidence and self-esteem
• Improved skills and greater operational efficiency

4
Immigration and Nationality Directorate

• The challenge
• Communication with the public requires good
  levels of literacy
• Need to provide written explanations to MPs,
  clients and others
• The solution
• Awareness raising events
• Skills for Life assessment
• E-learning at Heathrow learning centre
• Round the clock availability for shift workers
• The outcome
• Able to develop skills of rapidly growing
  workforce
• Improvement in quality and cost-efficiency of IND
  service
• Supports Investors in People status

5
Norfolk County Services

• The challenge
• Frequent requests for help with paperwork
• Low staff morale and high sickness absence rates
• Recruitment and retention problems
• The solution
• Working closely with unions and union learning
  representatives
• Learning Lift-Off programmes offering
  qualifications
• Integrating basic skills in NVQ and CLAIT
  computing courses
• The outcome
• Staff feel supported and committed to the
  organisation
• More requests for personal development interviews
• Improved response to recruitment advertising

6
Public and Commercial Services Union

• The challenge
• Basic skills gaps identified in Civil Service
• Stigma associated with literacy and numeracy
  difficulties
• The solution
• Union learning reps trained in basic skills
  awareness and screening
• Tutors involved in developing courses
• Literacy and numeracy skills taught through
  medium of IT
• Courses offer credits towards CLAIT computing
  qualification
• The outcome
• Union learning representatives put the case for
  skills screening and encourage take-up
• Getting a qualification boosts learners
  confidence

7
First UK Bus

• The challenge
• Local access to learning required by drivers
  across the UK
• Tackle recruitment and retention by becoming
  employer of choice
• Safety and customer satisfaction issues
• The solution
• Learning centre network, including mobile units
  in remote areas
• Ensure balance between operational needs and
  workplace learning
• The outcome
• Retention of recruits, especially from new EU
  states
• Driver turnover well below industry average
• Fall in staff injuries and time lost due to
  sickness absence
• Improved customer satisfaction with quality of
  service

8
Serco

• The challenge
• Deliver learning at the right time, place and
  pace for staff
• Deliver learning that meets the needs of managers
• The solution
• Essential skills training alongside work-based
  learning
• Site specific implementation, taking into account
  the needs of each contract
• Relevant personal and life skills training
• The outcome
• Improved staff motivation and confidence
• Increasing numbers applying for supervisory roles
  or promotion
• Positive impact on learners lives outside work

9
Walkers Snack Foods

• The challenge
• Located in deprived area
• High number of local job applicants with poor
  basic skills
• Skills gaps in workforce
• The solution
• Community learning centre, open to workers and
  local people
• Range of courses including learndirect and Skills
  for Life
• Skills for Life tutors available on and off site
• Laptop loan scheme for home learning
• The outcome
• Improved efficiency in data usage and following
  instructions
• Drop in absenteeism