matrix award for GMB L37
leicester services branch achieves accreditation
december 2002
Local
GMB leads the way in learning and skills
The Leicester Services branch of the GMB trade union,
which represents employees of Leicester City Council, has become one of the
first organisations in England to gain the new matrix Standard. Branch
Equality Officer Dave Towers was presented with the matrix
Quality Mark award by Minister for Adult Learning and Skills, Ivan Lewis at a
celebration event in London.
The matrix Standard
is the new national quality standard for organisations delivering information,
advice and guidance (IAG) services about learning and work.
It is awarded to organisations that have achieved the Standard’s 54
performance measures across 10 key areas.
Over the last two years the Leicester Services GMB
branch has delivered some 1500 hours of workplace learning to Council employees
via its network of learning representatives.
Dave Towers explains why the branch decided to work towards the matrix
Standard:
“The matrix
Standard has given us credibility and prestige as an organisation.
We’ve proved that we can hold our own in terms of the quality of our
working practices when benchmarked against some of the UK’s top commercial
organisations. Now we can really
stand out in the crowd when we’re bidding for funding for future projects.”
Speaking at the
awards ceremony Ivan Lewis said:
“If we are to have the high
productivity, high skill and high wage economy we all want, we need a workforce
with an informed demand for learning and skills. Gaining the matrix
Standard is an important milestone for organisations – evidence that IAG is
playing its full part in driving up the demand for learning and skills.”
For press information about matrix
contact Becky East or Kathy Towers at Pure PR on 0114 230 9112
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dave receiving the
matrix award oct 2001
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For
information about the Leicester GMB branch contact
Dave Towers on 0116 223 4122
towed001@leicester.gov.uk
david.towers@ntlworld.com
Unions were presented with their plaques at a ceremony in
London by Minister for Adult Skills Ivan Lewis.
TUC national IAG project worker Rose Matley said: 'It is
great for these unions to achieve this award. It’s
recognition for the high quality IAG which we know is being
delivered by unions. I have worked with all these unions and
know that lots of hard work has been done to achieve these
standards.'
She added that over 20 employers were also piloting the
standards, including Rolls Royce, PPG Industries, Southern
Water and Manchester City Council.
Commented Paul Humphreys, CATU resource worker: 'It’s
great to be one of the first in the country to get this. The
fact that an outside body has assessed us also reinforces
the fact that we are doing a good job.'
Details: Paul Humphreys
Tel: 01782 603688
email: phump1sc@stokecoll.ac.uk
Several other unions are hoping to gain the standards
shortly, including the GPMU Central Midlands Branch, Bectu,
the TUC National Education Centre, the CWU’s Open2all
Preston, the NUJ, the TU sector hub management, the TUC
Unemployed Centre in Luton and the RCN resource centres in
north Cumbria.
Any other unions wishing to become involved can contact
Rose Matley.
Tel: 0151 236 7678.
Email: rmatley@tuc.org.uk
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