WULF and CAF Rolling Stock UK work collaboratively to invest in employee training and development
CAF, who make trains and trams for transport systems around the world, are a relatively new business in the UK. CAF Rolling Stock UK Ltd and a purpose-built assembly site in Newport were established in 2018. It didn’t take them long to realise the benefits of having a union presence.
CAF Rolling Stock UK elected to enter into a voluntary recognition agreement with GMB back in 2020. They have worked collaboratively, year on year, to develop colleagues and to maximise the opportunities presented by WULF (Wales Union Learning Fund).
“Working with the union, colleagues can see it’s not just training for CAF’s sake, but also for their own personal development”
Chris Thompson, Training and Competence Manager
Keeping everyone safe at work
CAF and GMB share a strong passion for maintaining the Health & Safety (H&S) of workers, so it made sense to start with health and safety courses at all levels.
The GMB recognition agreement quickly led to the establishment of a new H&S Committee. This is made up of approximately ten staff members from production, testing and management. They all did a WULF-funded IOSH Managing Safely training. Now the group meet as one team, once a month with the intent to raise and resolve any issues identified, quickly and effectively.
“The relationship with the GMB has been very helpful [in] achieving great business outcomes for our people”
Jenny Buck, Head of HR and Support Services
WULF inspires further investment by the business
In true social partnership, CAF Rolling Stock UK have seen the benefits of WULF investment and have committed additional funds to support employees with their professional development. In 2020 they launched a new professional sponsorship policy. This money means access to Higher National Certificates (HNC), Higher National Diplomas (HND) and degrees for staff.
The number of employees applying for and being awarded professional sponsorship has grown year-on-year. Around 10% of the workforce are currently receiving sponsorship for long-term development programmes.
Professional sponsorship funding, supported by WULF has seen CAF benefit from the new skills and expertise of its employees. And there have been some fantastic individual success stories of CAF colleagues progressing their careers within the business.
The Team Leaders have all progressed from the role of Train Assembler and a few have even progressed to Line Leaders, having progressed through two levels in the business in the time it has been open (around 5 years). Several have been able to make this step with the support of their newfound knowledge through the ILM Level 3, 4 and 5 programmes.
Mental health training
Chris Thompson, Training and Competence Manager, expressed an interest in mental health. He says, “I’d have a wander down the production line and perhaps see someone who’s not their usual self.” But he didn’t feel equipped to ask the right questions and knew that perhaps they might not want to talk.
Through the GMB WULF project, CAF trained 12 Mental Health First Aiders (MHFA). This means they are able to recognise issues within their team if things aren’t working as they should. Now, if they see members of their team who may be struggling, they know what to do.
Working together, GMB and CAF Rolling Stock UK management team recognised the need to increase knowledge and to expand into Neurodiversity training, to make this information available to the wider employee population.
“MHFA training has helped us to understand how to identify and support someone who is struggling with poor mental health and wellbeing”
Chris Thompson
As a result of this training, at least five CAF colleagues have learned enough about themselves to go to the experts and seek a proper diagnosis for a neurodiversity. The employee population are now more able to understand and support their colleagues and take their new skills into the wider community.
What’s next for WULF at CAF?
Chris is keen to see more inclusiveness and joint working with GMB union, and to get Union Learning Reps (ULRs) trained on site. ULRs would “close the loop in enabling advocates from across the business to raise awareness of learning opportunities available to Union members, via professional sponsorship and in partnership with WULF.”
“Welsh Government providing money to WULF means being able to offer courses and training, people otherwise wouldn’t have access to. They have been very clever [at utilising] union representation, opening it all up to create such a partnership. Businesses alone would never be able to offer all that”
Chris Thompson
WULF training at your workplace
Want the opportunity to learn through your union, like workers at CAF Rolling Stock UK?
All Welsh workers have the opportunity to access the fund to take advantage of the support, advice and guidance and training offers provided through WULF projects.
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