| S.T.E.P clinches National Training Award |
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STEP, Skills Training for Employment Progression, was offered to USEL employees who have a wide range of disabilities working in a manufacturing operation run by USEL based at Cambrai Street, Belfast. The manufacturing operation employs people who have learning, hearing, physical and other disabilities, making a wide range of goods from divan beds to specialist holdalls tailored to meet the needs of the customer (for example fire and ambulance services).
Most of the USEL workforce was educated in segregated schooling and had not had the opportunity to acquire formal recognised qualifications, but 80% of the USEL workforce expressed a strong wish to access accredited training.
In partnership with Shankill Open Learning Centre in Agnes Street, Belfast, and having acquired part funding from the European 'Building Sustainable Prosperity' fund, STEP was introduced to provide USEL employees with the opportunity to acquire qualifications in a range of training courses including Personal Development and ICT. 10 individuals participated in an Institute of Leadership and Management Certificate Course.
Margaret Dunlea, Training Manager for USEL explains:
"Sixty USEL employees took part in the 2 year project and between them achieved a total of 242 accreditations. Six employees have progressed into mainstream employment. As a result of the STEP project a culture of training has been firmly established in USEL with many of the barriers to learning being explored in depth, tackled and largely overcome.
A pilot group of 11 employees is now undertaking an NVQ Level 2 in Performing Manufacturing Operations, in partnership with East Antrim Institute of Further and Higher Education, and this programme will be extended to all employees in the next 18 months."
Congratulating USEL and its partnership with Shankill Open Learning Centre and the FE Sector, Employment and Learning Minister Barry Gardiner MP said:
"I hope the example set by these businesses and training partnerships, along with other National Training Award Finalists this year, will act as a catalyst, encouraging more organisations to capitalise on the benefits training can deliver, enabling people to realise their full potential."
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