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Numeracy skills are essential for many roles and sectors. They are equally important in our personal lives for tasks including household budgeting and selecting mortgages. Free numeracy training is offered through Solihull Council under the Multiply programme.
The Multiply programme delivers the government’s pledge to help adults brush up on their numeracy skills. Delivered by the Solihull College & University Centre, the training will be tailored to your business needs with the flexibility of delivering at your premises, community venues or online. Recently, a course has been delivered to the staff of a local employer, 4PS.
Simon Homer, Lecturer and Multiply Co-ordinator of the college, had a meeting with the employer to understand their business needs and conduct an analysis for developing the course content. As a business specialising in software design for construction, civil engineering and installation industry, 4PS staff need to use numeracy skills on a daily basis. Simon proposed a refresher on quick ways of calculating and checking calculations, plus learning techniques for any staff that want to help children with their homework.
Thirteen staff members attended the 2-hour training session in their office with overwhelming positive feedback. Learners found the training useful and enjoyable. This has ignited their interest in numeracy and all of them would be interested in attending similar sessions in the future with focus on more specific topics including accounts and bookkeeping.
Here are what some of the learners felt about their experiences:
“Great session presented by a brilliant tutor. The session was pitched at the right level for those attending and was a nice refresher/learning experience for everyone. This sort of thing could really benefit employers and employees alike.”
“I really enjoyed the maths session. The focus on basic numeracy skills was really helpful as it's been so long since I learned these. It was an excellent refresher. Simon was really engaging and made it fun and enjoyable.”
“Great initiative from Solihull Council, great to re-discover how to solve calculation in a faster way.”
Reece had been unemployed before Covid. Although he was very motivated to find work, he struggled with interviews. Reece has a learning disability and his confidence had dropped significantly after some negative experiences at interviews.
Our team first met Reece in May 2022. It was evident that he would be fit for a non-clerical role with a supportive and patient employer. We identified that Arden Hotel would be a potential employer as they had already employed other residents with learning disabilities through us. They had been impressed with their performance.
We checked with Arden Hotel for vacancies available and introduced Reece. We accompanied him to a practical work trial after which he was immediately offered full time employment. He has quickly become a valued member of the team.
Our Supported Employment Engagement Officer Sarah Wilson commented: “It is always an absolute pleasure to work with supportive employers like Arden Hotel. It has led to employment for several residents. For some, finding employment has been life changing. They have found not only a supportive employer, but also a positive and nurturing work environment. It has been an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities and achieve personal goals. There is no doubt that Arden Hotel has been instrumental in creating opportunities for our residents.”
Reece shared that he was proud to work for Arden Hotel. He felt happier in work than before. This opportunity has positive impacts on his life that enables him to make new friends and be able to help others. He was happy with his new-found financial independence and confidence.
Arden Hotel’s Manager Roy Nash shared: “The reason I fell in love with hospitality is that you have so many individuals with different stories and journeys to tell. You don’t need a degree or qualification to succeed. You just need to be passionate about the work that you do and working as part of a team. It’s great to see Reece achieving both, excelling in his work and being a key part of the team. We pride ourselves in providing opportunities for individuals to shine and show their talents. We ensure our training reflects each individual’s learning style. Sarah and the team at Solihull Council are fantastic support in helping us and our team members in accomplishing just that.”
Reece has worked at Arden Hotel since May 2022. He has been recognised in a Head of Departments’ meeting for his work ethic and willingness to help other departments. We continue to check with him and offer in-work support including free training to help him further develop his skills.