Signing the PledgeSigning the Pledge

Michael GillMichael GillHuman Resource ManagerHuman Resource Manager

Who we areWho we are

Privately owned publishing & printing company based in Privately owned publishing & printing company based in central Lincolnshirecentral Lincolnshire

Publish niche sector magazines and contract print Publish niche sector magazines and contract print newspapersnewspapers

240 employees, even split between genders. A third of staff 240 employees, even split between genders. A third of staff work shiftswork shifts

ISO 9001 & 14001 registeredISO 9001 & 14001 registered

Recognised as IiP organisation since 1997Recognised as IiP organisation since 1997

Our Skills PledgeOur Skills Pledge

Actively encourage our employees to gain the skills and Actively encourage our employees to gain the skills and qualifications that will support their future and meet the qualifications that will support their future and meet the needs of our businessneeds of our business

Actively encourage all our employees to acquire literacy Actively encourage all our employees to acquire literacy and numeracy skills and work towards their first level 2 and numeracy skills and work towards their first level 2 qualificationqualification

Demonstrably raise our employees’ knowledge, skills and Demonstrably raise our employees’ knowledge, skills and competencies in the belief that their personal development competencies in the belief that their personal development will be reflected in the development of the companywill be reflected in the development of the company

Why did we sign?Why did we sign?

To show added commitment to staff developmentTo show added commitment to staff development

To raise the profile of the Skills for Life agendaTo raise the profile of the Skills for Life agenda

To provide a holistic approach to skills developmentTo provide a holistic approach to skills development

Learning Strategy – making it happenLearning Strategy – making it happen

Negotiated learning - Include staff and their managers in Negotiated learning - Include staff and their managers in the learning processthe learning process

Initial assessments based on national framework indicatorsInitial assessments based on national framework indicators

National tests in numeracy and literacy for all staff – National tests in numeracy and literacy for all staff – included as part of new starter inductionincluded as part of new starter induction

ICT skills development for all staffICT skills development for all staff

Letter writing for managers, punctuation for editors, etcLetter writing for managers, punctuation for editors, etc

Links to IiP IndicatorsLinks to IiP Indicators

Brings SfL into the business strategyBrings SfL into the business strategy

Linking Skills Pledge and learning programmes (Train to Linking Skills Pledge and learning programmes (Train to

Gain, etc) shows a planned approach to staff development. Gain, etc) shows a planned approach to staff development.

Involves managers and staff in the learning processInvolves managers and staff in the learning process

Creates a feeling of greater involvement for staffCreates a feeling of greater involvement for staff

Enables more people to evaluate the impact of learning – Enables more people to evaluate the impact of learning – corporate, departmental, individualcorporate, departmental, individual

Added valueAdded value

95% staff are pleased or very pleased to be part 95% staff are pleased or very pleased to be part of Mortonsof Mortons

Reduced absence levels (typically 1-2%)Reduced absence levels (typically 1-2%)

Improves self confidence, raises aspirations Improves self confidence, raises aspirations