The Skills Factory

Lifelong learning is vital to success

Tony Burke is Assistant General Secretary at the UK and Ireland’s biggest trade union, Unite the Union. He is a Trade Union-appointed member on the board of Cogent SSC.

To what extent have skills been a source of strength to the Process Industries?
The workforce is the key asset of any organisation, and the employees across these industries have contributed to their growth and success through their skills and talents. Developing skills is paramount to creating a strong industry base and Unite is rigorously pursuing this agenda. An important part of this is securing Union Learning Agreements with employers.

We are working through Cogent and with employers to ensure a formal framework where employees develop new skills and gain qualifications that really mean something.
How important are skills to individual members?
Unite sees lifelong learning as a central way of improving our members’ working lives. We find our members are looking for additional skills and top quality training that meets their aspirations. They are looking for real skills that equip them to do the technical jobs in the sector. What they are not looking for is a “box ticking” approach to training – and many employers recognise this. These skills must be supported by world-class standards and qualifications.
What is the role and importance of Union Learning Representatives?
Union Learning Representatives (ULRs) are important to raising interest in training and development in the workplace. They give people contact with someone they know who, when they are trained, will treat their concerns in confidence. They provide information about learning opportunities, available inside and outside the workplace. This can all happen on the ground – where people actually work. An important part of this is the activity we are working on with Cogent on the development of the Trade Union Toolkit for union members, which will set out all the opportunities on offer in the Cogent sector.

The Cogent Board is fully supportive of these developments and we feel we’ve got a real dialogue going in terms of supporting ULRs in the workplace to help people to gain new skills with Cogent.
What part do Apprenticeships and vocational training play in the upskilling agenda?
In the Process Industries, high quality and relevant vocational training is absolutely critical. It underpins health, safety and environmental best practice and gives workers and employers the edge in the global economy. Unite has made it clear it’s not just about a commitment to training – it’s also about a commitment to paid time off for training. Giving people the time to get on with it and to improve their skills will make a real difference.

We still need to see more apprentices coming through - but we are moving in the right direction. Apprenticeships give young people the chance to develop skills, experience and qualifications and provide a great entry-route into the process sector, especially for school leavers. They also provide a pathway into the higher level skills which are so critical to these industries.
Will Cogent and the Skills Academies fulfil a need for a co-ordinated approach and national platform?
Unite is fully supporting Cogent’s relicensing bid and the work of the Skills Academies. Trade Unions and our reps have a very important role to play in supporting the learning and skills agenda, and influencing employers who are not fully embracing this drive to upskill. Some employers still say they haven’t got the time to train – a short-sighted view when we consider what needs to be done.

We are particularly keen to ensure, with the Academies, that UK training provision is world-class and that employees right across the sector are able to participate in Cogent’s upskilling programmes.

There is now a range of opportunities for those working in these industries to unlock their hidden potential – and for young people starting out to enter a new and exciting profession, through Cogent apprenticeship schemes and Diplomas.

Overall we’re making good progress and Unite will continue to work with Cogent to develop workforce skills in the sector.