Voices from the workface : perspectives from a local authority workplace literacy programme.

This research is an in-depth study of a single workplace which
investigates the following questions:
1. What were the needs, interests and aspirations of participants in a
workplace literacy programme for local authority employees?
2. What strategies were adopted to meet these needs?
3. Were they successful?
4. What are the implications of the findings for wider policy and
practice?
The research uses a qualitative approach within a case study framework.
The primary research method is semi-structured interviews with 11
workers who were students on an adult literacy programme, and 9 other
people whose roles were relevant to the programme.
The principal findings under each question were
1. The primary concerns related to gaining skills to enable employees
to improve their current work situation, secure new employment, for
wider life situations, and to access further learning opportunities;
the research also demonstrated that whilst employers, employees
and trade unions shared some interests, differing needs and
priorities created some tensions.
2. The programmes adopted an empowerment approach that aimed
to boost confidence and self-esteem and enhance critical, analytical
and problem-solving skills alongside a contextualised approach to developing reading, writing and sophisticated oracy skills.
3. Students progressed in the above areas and as a result significant
benefits accrued to individuals, their employer and the trade union;
these included improved performance, morale and industrial
relations, adoption of new literacy practices and heightened
aspirations for learning and employment.
4. Implications for policy and practice drawn from the research,
although tentative because of the small-scale nature of the study,
included broadening engagement strategies, devising additional
context-specific curriculum and teacher training guidance, and
extending union good practice in employee engagement to
curriculum development.