Sign Up Now
Core-funded by the European Social Fund and the Department of Innovation, Universities & Skills
Sign Up Now is the sister campaign of Adult Learners’ Week and runs throughout September and January, aiming to motivate potential learners to sign up for courses.
Sign Up Now September has now ended, but we’re busily preparing for January when we will be offering learning providers free promotional packs including posters, postcards and pens.
January is a time for New Year’s resolutions, and therefore a key time to get new and different people involved in your learning activities.
If you would like to order materials in time for January, please fill out an order form, download Sign Up Now customizable posters, or email alw@niace.org for more information.
If you used our materials for your learning activities during September we’d love to know how it went, please take a minute to fill out our evaluation Form.
Learning in the workplace can be provided in a variety of forms:
- Providing reading materials
- IT suites, and computer classes
- Skills for Life classes – Literacy, Numeracy and IT
- Providing funding for independent learning
- Setting up classes for people to follow their own interests.
There are lots of courses that you could try out with your staff, that would be fun and engaging such as dance classes or learning a new type of sport.
Take a look at some of our adult learners who have benefited from learning in or for the workplace ….
Learning in Work - Case studies
Cityclean
Learning has had excellent results for the workers at Cityclean in
Brighton.
The project has offered staff the chance to learn again, improve
their lives both at work and at home through skills for life courses
– literacy, numeracy and ESOL as well as basic IT, ECDL and Sign
Language.
‘This is changing the culture here, allowing people to feel more
confident and empowered and more in control of their lives.’
Some employees have provided classes to teach their co – workers new
skills such as Polish, Spanish and Kickboxing, which has had
extremely positive results.
It has even improved the home lives of staff as parents who have
been able to use their new found skills by helping their children
with their homework.
The staff are given paid leave in order to study for adult literacy
and numeracy. They are also offered basic IT classes and provided
with the opportunity to take ECDL which is funded by the Union
Learning Representatives and this has proved to have a positive
influence on other staff.
After three years there has been significant progress with almost
half the staff taking part in some form of learning. An open and co
– operative relationship between management, unions and staff is
practiced.
Bob Lawrence
Bob had had a break from education for 35 years. Working at West
Midlands Safari Park he has worked his way up to Director of
Wildlife as a result of his long years of service.
He had always encouraged his staff to take courses to improve their
qualifications so he decided to lead by example.
‘Your learning curve never levels out … it has been a revelationary
eye – opener. It has helped me to see my vocation in an entirely new
perspective and opened up new horizons.’
His story shows that even in the ideal job you can never stop
learning, and how gaining qualifications enabled him to enhance his
working life further.
Course sponsored by the council - social work
Christine had been working for the council care sector for many
years, and was 53 when she began a course in social work to gain the
qualifications to fulfill her ambitions.
‘ I liked the idea of being ‘a social worker’ but didn’t think I
would ever have the ability. ‘I thought my age would be against me,
but I decided to give it a go.’
‘Every obstacle helped me understand myself better. I had to develop
new skills along the way and that also boosted my confidence.’
She attended council sponsored courses to prepare for studying at a
higher level, learning how to write essays and improve her IT skills
‘I have a lot of experience that I had taken for granted in the
past. I also seem able to see the ‘whole picture’ easier than some
younger students and this has helped me make a contribution in
debates and group work.’
Professional certificate in effective practice.
Isiah works at Coventry Youth Offending Service and has
completed an open learning programme developed by Open University in
partnership with the Youth Offending Board, leading to the
Professional Certificate in Effective Practice.
He previously had no formal qualifications following a difficult
school life, and so struggled with basic skills. He feels his recent
achievement of PCEP has given him credibility as a role model for
young black males and others with similar experiences of the school
system.