1st Aug 2008
Bedford College has been training staff at the Argos Home Delivery Service warehouse at Marsh Leys, Kempston.
Tutor and assessors are running courses at the new Learning Centre housed within the giant unit run by DHL.
The centre offers a varied programme of learning through Bedford College and Bedfordshire Spark Adult and Community Learning. These include NVQs in IT, warehousing, languages (ESOL) and recreational courses such as photography.
The plan is to develop the facility to meet the needs of the shift workers and offer learning opportunities before and after their shifts. As well as encouraging colleagues back into learning with recreational courses it will enable them to take up vocational courses to support them in their work. A major advantage in providing the learning centre on site is easy access and learning can be done before and after work. And the fact that smaller groups with tutors is more beneficial with learning tailored to individual needs.
DHL has been on site for five years and has the contract with Argos to provide warehousing and logistics for their Two Person Home Delivery Service. The site, which is open 24 hours, is one of three sites with others planned and has more than 600 employees. DHL pride themselves on their training and continually train staff from induction through to relevant skills required for their job. As well as in-house training, they have the opportunity to develop through the Certificate in Professional Competencies (CPC) and Chartered Institute in Personnel and Development (CIPD).
Tom Renphrey, General Manager of DHL said: We have always encouraged training of our staff and find that as well as good staff morale we benefit from their commitment to the company and improved performance. We have a diverse workforce with many not having English as their first language. We provide English for Speakers of other Languages (ESOL) support enabling them to communicate better in their work environment and in their lives outside of work.
Bedford College has run a pilot with DHL where ESOL is offered as part of the NVQ in warehousing. The Centre now enables us to continue with this.
