Friday 22 March 2013

RMT ULR wins Scottish Union Learning Award


Paul being presented with his award
 by Diane Rawlinson, Principal,
Inverness College  

RMT Union Learning Rep (ULR) Paul Shaw was rewarded this week by Scottish Union Learning for his achievements as a learner at an awards dinner in Inverness to celebrate ten years of union led lifelong learning in the Highlands and Islands.  
Glasgow Shipping Branch member Paul Shaw was keen to progress from his role as a catering rating in the retail department on board CalMac ferries. Paul attended the 2009 Highlands and Islands ULR conference where he discussed his options with one of the University of the Highlands & Islands staff at the conference. This led to a two year post graduate distance learning course in Leadership & Management.


Paul (centre) with Dan Henderson, RMT Lifelong
 Learning Project Worker (left) and Brian Reynolds,
RMT Co-ordinator at CalMac

Throughout the duration of the course Paul worked two weeks on-two weeks off, mainly on the ships serving Arran and Islay.  Paul’s studies were supported by an RMT Learning bursary, which provided up to £250 annually towards the cost of his course. 
On completion of the course, Paul successfully applied for promotion to a management position in the retail operations department with CalMac, and is now the assistant to the onboard services manager on one of the newest and largest ships in the CalMac fleet.
Paul is in no doubt that without the opportunity and support given to him by trade union lifelong learning and the funding from the RMT bursary he would never have had the opportunity to progress to the position he is in now.

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