The Trade Union Education Centre at Derby College has joined forces with the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) – Midlands Region to provide essential skills training for its members.

 

Under the learning agreement, the College will provide Trade Union specific courses for more than 17,000 members across the Midlands. This will include; Skills for Life literacy and numeracy courses, short courses both at the College and in the workplace, work-based NVQs, and include job related courses, for which Derby College is one of the county’s main providers.

Future plans also include computer related courses using the college’s mobile net books operating within the workplace. Derby College’s Trade Union Education Centre Manager Simon Ferrar explained:  “The learning agreement aims to provide access to flexible and timely learning facilities to meet the needs of unions, employers and workers during these difficult economic times.“This support will enable the development of workers’ skills and confidence as well as promoting Trade Union involvement in the skills agenda and showing employers the benefits of partnership working and workplace learning.”

PCS’s Mark Robinson Regional Health and Safety Co-ordinator/RTUS Secretary added: “Our learning agreement with Derby College’s Trade Union Education Centre will help to improve the quality and delivery of courses in the area, and assist us in meeting the learning and skills aspirations of PCS members.”

Helen Penn-Berkeley PCS Senior Regional Trade Union Learning Co-ordinator said: “Having the working relationship with Derby Trade Union Education Centre, which is recognised as a Centre of excellence in Trade Union circles, gives us a great deal of confidence in our ability to back up our learning activities with quality training delivered by experienced tutors. Personally I’m really looking forward to working with the staff team.”