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

‘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

‘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

‘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

‘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

‘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

‘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

‘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

‘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.

‘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

‘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