Training scheme proves just the ticket

A pilot scheme to up-skill and empower cleaning staff at Northern Rail’s Blackpool North station has proved so popular that it’s being rolled out across the North West.

Around 50 staff are following the adult apprenticeship programme delivered by Illuminate Training Solutions (ITS), which offers staff the chance to get an industry recognised qualification alongside maths and English

ITS is the dedicated employer facing brand of Blackpool and The Fylde College which focuses on providing training and support solutions for business

As a result of the training, turnover rates have settled, morale has increased and standards are up at the station, which has led to 100 more cleaning staff from Northern Rail’s other stations taking up the invitation to begin their programme in the next few weeks.

Simon Crabtree, Area Production Manager for Northern Rail, said: “My main purpose when we started was to provide life skills for a traditionally downtrodden and poorly qualified group of workers.

“Now staff are far more engaged and many have moved on to other positions in the business such as gate operators and platform operatives.

“And as an unexpected by-product, quality scores for cleaning at Blackpool have also gone through the roof.”

Area supervisor Victor Angelone is a prime example of how the programme can help with progression. A cleaner for 13 years, he accepted the invitation to learn IT,maths and English and is now in charge of 20 staff at Blackpool, Barrow and Liverpool.

“I’ve learnt how to send emails, use a spell check and I’m just getting to grips with spreadsheets to help me with paperwork,” he said. ”If it hadn’t have been for these courses I would never have had the confidence to go for promotion.

“There are plenty of people like I was, afraid of going back to learning, but it’s worth doing if you want to progress. If I can do it anyone can.”

Illuminate Training Solutions uses the expertise, strengths and success of Blackpool and The Fylde College to support business development through a full suite of apprenticeships, bespoke and off-the-shelf training.

Dawn Leak, director of sales and operations at ITS, said: “Our aim is to work with a range of employers by delivering technical and professional training for their workforce that provides measurable business benefits and adds real value to their bottom line.

“Northern Rail are a perfect example of how tailored training can improve business productivity and change the lives of their staff.”

Employers can learn more on 18 February when ITS host a SHOUT network meeting at the College’s Bispham campus. The joint event comprises a business exhibition from 8am with ample opportunity to network with hundreds of members, exhibitors and guests. To book visit the SHOUT Network website.