NIACE Annual Review 2011-12Annual Review 2011-12

Learning in and for the workplace

Why we do itImage copyright Minal Photography

Most adults do their learning at work and the workplace is crucially important to creating a society in which all adults can benefit from learning at every stage of their lives. We aim to improve the range and quality of learning in and for work to best equip adults to gain, sustain and progress in work, as well as to participate in society.

What we do

We work towards: widening access to, and take up of, learning as a means of overcoming labour market exclusion; promoting equality of opportunity to take part in learning in and for work; and improving the quality of learning in and for work.

Our achievements in 2011-12

  • We provided support for the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) Employment and Ownership of Skills Pilot scheme offering direct employer funding for apprenticeships.
  • The Apprentices’ Journey was published, voicing the experiences of some of the 81 learners nominated for last year’s Pearson Adult Apprentice of the Year Award for Adult Learners’ Week.
  • With Pearson Work-Based Learning we commissioned a YouGov survey of 1,000 employers, finding tht more than double the number currently doing so would take on an apprentice with the right support package from government and learning providers.
  • To debate how employers, apprentices and the wider public benefit from apprenticeships – and how much the government should invest in them – with Microsoft we facilitated a roundtable discussion, including senior representatives from BT,  NHS, Babcock International Group, BAE Systems Ltd, Pearson Education, McDonald’s, CIPD, the National Apprenticeship Service and Westminster Kingsway College.
  • The NIACE-supported Army Skilled for Health/Healthy Families programme won the Military-Civilian Health Partnership Awards for  Health Improvement and Promotion.
  • We worked with UNISON to develop a range of materials to support learning for its members, in response to the findings of our 2011 survey, which revealed that a significant number weren’t confident to apply for promotion or training courses, or to take on extra work responsibilities.
  • NIACE Dysgu Cymru promoted the value of learning to employers and employees by delivering the Learning@Work Day campaign in Wales, working with the TUC, Agored Cymru and the GMB union.

Armed Forces Basic Skills Longitudinal Study

Through a long-term partnership with the British Army, NIACE has unrivalled expertise in work-based literacy, language and numeracy. The Armed Forces Basic Skills Longitudinal Study, conducted by NIACE and NRDC for the Ministry of Defence and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, illustrated how sound literacy and numeracy skills are essential in helping servicemen and women to carry out their jobs and take advantage of the training and career opportunities on offer. The three-year study showed how the armed forces’ strong commitment to helping those who join the services with low levels of English and maths skills has brought benefts for both the individual and the organisation. The study showed the specific impotance of:

  • adopting a whole-organisation approach to improving workforce literacy and numeracy skills;
  • anchoring minimum literacy and numeracy standards as requirements for promotion to higher rank and to engage both learners and their line managers more effectively;
  • releasing employees to access literacy and numeracy support during work time and making it purposeful and directly relevant to their work and lives;
  • developing a supportive and enabling environment that values individual improvement and development, and cultivates an expectation of success in training across the organisation; and
  • recognising the priority of speaking  and listening skills and their impact on self-esteem.

Our key objectives for 2012-13

  • Support the design, development and implementation of effective learning programmes aimed at improving the employability skills of those out of, but seeking, work by providing advice, guidance and resources to a range of stakeholders including the Department for Work and Pensions, Job Centre Plus and Work Programme providers.
  • Raise the quality and effectiveness of apprenticeships by capturing and using learner voice in a range of events, publications and advocacy activity, including ‘Voice of the Apprentice’ resources, the apprenticeship conference, a seminar at the Ministry of Defence and stage 2 of the Armed Forces Basic Skills Longitudinal Study.
  • Ensure that the ‘learning and work’ findings of the NIACE adult participation in learning survey are effectively disseminated and built upon through a range of publications and events in order to influence policy and practice.
  • Ensure that the findingsof the Armed Forces Basic Skills Longitudinal Study are effectively disseminated to large employers and built upon, through the Ministry of Defence conference (Investing in English and Maths Works) and by securing continuation funding.
  • Raise aspirations of employers and employees to participate and persist in workplace learning, through the development of an ongoing programme of work with the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, as well as working with a range of stakeholders in both unionised and non-unionised workplaces.
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