GEMS NI

GEMS Northern Ireland is the lead partner in the LLFW Leonardo Da Vinci project (www.llfw.eu) that will run from October 2007 – September 2009.

LLFW aims to address the barriers to employment/employability experienced by migrant workers and other minority ethnic groups who require support to learn the language skills they require for employment.

GEMS NI used their “Language for Work” programme as the dynamic platform for transfer of innovation, to develop the “Learning Language For Work” programme, which will improve the employability of migrant workers in the United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, Hungary and Romania.

Free movement of labour within the European Union has resulted in both the UK and partner countries needing to respond in the VET (vocational education and training) context to the employability needs of migrant workers and other minority ethnic groups who experience labour market disadvantage particularly but not exclusively in relation to the language barrier.

Transnational co-operation allows the partner countries to develop programmes to support the VET process with migrant workers and other minority ethnic groups enabling the sharing and dissemination of best practice and a co-ordinated approach to addressing the needs of migrant workers and other minority ethnic groups.

Through a partnership of European countries, LLFW will enhance the quality of the VET process through the development and provision of a standardised quality assured learning language for work programme in each partner country’s mother tongue designed to support the learning and employability needs of migrant workers and other minority ethnic groups thus improving the skills of the workforce in each.

What is LFFW?

LLFW is a pilot project funded under the EU Leonardo Da Vinci 11 Programme.

• Project running from October 2007 – September 2009
• Aims to development of a Learning Language for Work VET package designed to meet the needs of each participating partner’s country
• Aims to produce an online resource/knowledge repository for VET practitioners

Learning Language for Work (LLFW) Programme Content

LLFW is an innovative programme developed by GEMS NI to address the barriers to employment experienced by minority ethnic groups who require support to improve their employability combined with customised training which enables them to acquire the English language skills they need to seek and access employment in the local labour market. We developed LLFW because there was no comparable programme available to address both the employability needs and language needs of the target group. The unique and innovative nature of the LLFW programme has been recognised and we are currently working with 4 other European countries to transfer its innovative approach to improving the employability of minority ethnic groups in Germany, Ireland, Hungary and Romania through the Leonardo da Vinci programme.

Key findings from independent research into the impact of the LLFW programme include:

“Target Group

• Improved confidence using English vocabulary/grammar
• Improved confidence at job interviews
• Improved confidence to apply for higher level jobs
• Increased understanding of both language and processes
• Greatly improved listening skills
• The numbers that have left the programme and achieved employment and the better quality and levels of jobs achieved as a result of the training

Employers

“Employers experienced a positive impact as a result of LLFW primarily through the good quality workers they have been able to recruit as a result. Minority ethnic workers have helped to fill vacancies that employers have had difficulties with in the past. As a result of the training and the skills developed, individuals have integrated more easily into their workforces whilst employers are seen to be recruiting from a broader range of ethnic backgrounds”. (Source: External Evaluation of the Language For Work Programme Brian Stratford Associates March 2006)

LFW compliments and adds value to a range of DEL programmes such as LEMIS, Pathways to Work and others which work to increase employment and reduce economic inactivity and worklessness through the provision of employment services linked to labour market realities and employers skills requirements. LLFW also compliments current ESOL provision available to learners within the FE Sector.

The main processes and stages in delivering the LFW project are in summary:

Pre-entry Stage

• Programme marketing and awareness-raising activities
• Identification of potential participants
• Recruitment and selection of participants in line with eligibility criteria

Programme entry stage

• Introduction to Personal Mentor
• Language Skills Assessment and level testing
• Employability Barriers Assessment
• Programme Registration procedures
• Programme Induction
• LLFW Handbook and Timetable
• City and Guilds Registration

Programme delivery stage

• Introduction to LLFW tutors
• 2 x 3 hour taught employability-focused English Language learning sessions per week
• Portfolio Building – Individual Profile of Ac hievement
• Individual mentoring and support menu:
  • Individual action planning
  • Personal advice and mentoring
  • Personal Social Development Support
  • Vocational profiling
  • CV and application form completion
  • Interview Skills
  • Jobs Matching

Assessment of competence ESOL Skills for Life

• 3 oral exercises (linked to job interviews/applications)
• 3 written exercises (linked to job interviews/applications)
• On-line comprehension and multiple choice question assessment

Post-Programme

• Access to GEMS NI Community Job Clubs
• One-to-one mentoring support
• Interview preparation
• In-work support

Learning Language for Work

Leonardo da Vinci Life Long Learning Programme Multi-lateral Transfer of Innovation Programme Managed by Ecotec

The aim of Learning Language for Work (LLFW) is to transfer the innovation of the original GEMS NI Language for Work programme and customise it as a resource for guidance counselling services, vocational education and training organisations and other agencies that support migrant workers. This will be achieved through a partnership with specialists from Germany, Romania, Hungary and the Republic of Ireland working together to develop LLFW programmes directly applicable to the mother tongue and labour market profile within each partner country.

Tangible outcomes will embrace a flexible learning programme in each country that supports the employability and language development of European workers enhancing their productivity and opportunities for job progression; added value outcomes include a contribution to tackling labour market shortages, improved social cohesion and access to public services.

For further information contact Susan Russam by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or phoning 028 9033 2313.

Partners involved in the LLFW Programme

GEMS Northern Ireland Limited United Kingdom (GEMS NI) is a Labour Market Intermediary organisation working with long term unemployed, economically inactive and workless people and others who experience labour market disadvantage.
Our work with unemployed people involves assessing their job interests/employability needs and developing an individual employability action plan with them, which can include one-to-one careers information advice and guidance, work placement and training courses. Work with employers involves identifying their generic skills requirements, competency frameworks and recruitment practices. Most recently, GEMS NI has developed its service portfolio and IAG resources to support migrant workers and other minority ethnic groups who experience barriers to employment in Northern Ireland. This has included an ESOL Qualified Guidance Counsellor and the development of a vocationally orientated learning language for work programme that is the basis of this application.

Euregio Centre for Qualification and Technology Germany (EQT) is service provider for vocational training centres for transnational co-operation and innovative products EQT will carry out research of existing quality assurance frameworks and the development of a transferable Quality Assurance Framework. Valorisation activities can be executed by using EQT’s broad network of organisations. Furthermore EQT can address several organisations for testing the LLFW and secure the number of pilots in Germany quite well. EQT staff are very experienced in working in transnational projects. Accordingly, EQT is very effective in a Leonardo da Vinci project in which the working language is English and translation of existing products will be necessary.

EQT will be responsible for identifying the Employment legislation and recruitment and selection practices and issues that impact on the employment/employability/training and development of migrant workers that currently exist and piloting of a LLFW programme in Germany. With their extensive knowledge of the target groups they will work with the partnership to develop the QA framework, assist in the development of the LLFW EU Best practice model and be responsible for the dissemination and Valorisation of the products and learning in Germany.

Supra Vita Language Studio, Hungary is a SME organisation which focuses on the provision of an extensive range of language learning programmes (e.g. English, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch and French) designed to suit all ages and abilities and lifestyles including teaching Hungarian as a foreign language to business customers and other learners seeking to improve their Hungarian. SVLS will provide their expertise in languages and language programmes and support the development of a LLFW EU Best Practice model. SVLS will be responsible for identifying the Employment legislation and recruitment and selection practices and issues that impact on the employment/employability/training and development of migrant workers that currently exist in Hungary and the development and piloting of a LLFW programme in Hungary. SVLS will be very effective in a Leonardo da Vinci project in which the working language is English and translation of existing products will be necessary.

Ballymun Job Centre (BJC), Ireland was established in 1986 as a community response to a chronic unemployment situation in the area. The Job Centre is a voluntary organisation with charitable status and is a co-operative in structure. It has survived and grown as an organisation over the last twenty years and is now a central landmark in the community.

The philosophy and vision of the Ballymun Job Centre is that it is:

• A local person centred organisation motivated to provide quality services.
• A collaborative organisation, building relationships, linking local community, employers, Government and agencies.
• A creative organisation seeking innovative ways to address unemployment and to raise the skills, education and aspirations of individuals living in Ballymun.
• A learning organisation sharing its experience and knowledge

Politehnica University of Bucharest, CTANM Centre for Advanced Technologies (CTANM/ POLITEHNICA University of Bucharest), founded in 1886, is now the largest technical university of Romania, with about 23000 students, 4000 full time staff (1700 full-time faculty and 2300 research staff and auxiliary personnel), 1800 part-time faculty and 900 postgraduate students, preparing doctoral theses in 90 engineering science specialties from 12 faculties. The Center for Advanced Technologies (CTANM) is a research and training unit with financial and functional autonomy inside PUB, acting with close links with the Manufacturing Eng. Dept. and with over 10 other departments from PUB. The CTANM’s funding is mainly realised through research and training contracts, with Romanian or foreign beneficiaries, by national, European or international projects. Through its activity, the Center supports the international cooperation and the European and regional integration programs.

CTANM will offer their experience in the development of Web based frameworks for the LLFW knowledge repository for IAG/VET practitioner and learning resources and materials for the LLFW programme itself. CTAMN will draw in Human Resources and language expertise from colleagues in the University to be responsible for identifying the Employment legislation and recruitment and selection practices and issues that impact on the employment, employability, training and development of migrant workers.

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