Honda workers adapt to change (From This Is Wiltshire)

Honda workers adapt to change

9:40am Wednesday 18th February 2009 in News By Jeremy Grimaldi

JUST over 100 Honda workers took part in a workshop designed to teach them new skills.

The South Marston plant shutdown for four months at the end of January and will reopen in June.

Union unite organised a retraining workshop, with help from a handful of colleges around the region, and yesterday about 110 workers went along to find out more about retraining in HGV driving, plumbing, electrician and IT computer courses.

Unite hailed the event as a success saying more than 500 people inquired about the courses and more than 100 people joined the union just to take part in courses.

Most of those there said that since the shutdown they have been looking for work.

Brian Kent, from Highworth said he was encouraged by the chance to learn new skills.

He said: “I have been at home stripping walls and redecorating.

“I am just glad I didn’t move house as I had planned, that would have put me in some real hot water.

“This open day is great, I grew up in the sticks and at that point education wasn’t as important as it is today so it is nice that an organisation is helping us better ourselves.

“I was thinking about ditching the union but this has proved that it was good I didn’t.”

Former Honda employee Adrian Gee, 43, from Stratton, took redundancy at Honda several months ago said that he used the money to buy a van.

He said: “I am learning new things to help with my new company, I am going it alone.

“I will be doing property maintenance so I am going to learn about skills that will help me with that including painting and decorating, plastering and bricklaying.

“This just puts another feather in my cap.”

Jim D’Avila, Unite representative, said: “We are offering a whole range of courses.

“I was amazed by the response, everyone is dynamic and full of enthusiasm, I just hope everyone tells their friends.

“It just goes to show you that the British workforce is anxious to get out there and get new skills to get competitive if given the opportunity to do so.”

The event is in cooperation with Swindon College, Filton College, Wiltshire College, City of Bath College and Norton Radstock College.

Anyone interested in finding out more about Thursday’s event which runs from 10 to 3pm is asked to call the learning team on 0117 9389224.