Greater Glasgow

Learning award for Glasgow bus driver

Glasgow bus driver Jimmy Lillis was recognised at the highest levels this week for his innovative work with his Eastern European colleagues at the city's biggest bus operator, First in Glasgow.

Jimmy - one of Unite's Union Learning Representatives (ULR) for Unite the Union at First's Larkfield depot - received the highly coveted Helen Dowie Award for Lifelong Learning at the STUC Annual Congress in Perth on Wednesday 22 April. The award - sponsored by learndirect scotland - was presented by Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Fiona Hyslop MSP.

It recognises the approach Jimmy has taken in helping fellow drivers from outwith the UK understand the Glasgow accent and the local phrases that passengers use when travelling on buses. Around nine per cent of First in Glasgow's employees are non-UK nationals - the majority of them Polish.

"The Glasgow accent can really be a problem for some of the drivers to understand", said Jimmy, "so the ULRs have been working closely with them to help them translate and understand 'Glaswegian' so that they can do their job to best effect. It's a brilliant thing to help others grow in confidence as they strengthen their everyday skills."

Jimmy also learned basic Polish language skills himself to further help his colleagues' education and has played an active role in helping them adjust to everyday life in the UK.

Mick Dowds, Convener First in Glasgow for Unite the Union, said: "Everyone at Unite is incredibly proud of Jimmy and we congratulate him on this terrific achievement, which recognises the excellent work he and the other learning representatives are undertaking day in and day out. First's Lifelong Learning programme has given members new opportunities to improve their skills, and to get support and guidance from the Union, which is just great. Our Union Learning Representatives are a fundamental part of that programme and it's terrific that the work they do has been recognised in this way."

Mark Savelli, Managing Director of First in Glasgow, said: "We believe our employees are our best asset and Jimmy Lillis is an excellent example of that. Moreover, the success of Jimmy in securing this award reflects the joint efforts made by First in Glasgow and its recognised Trade Union Unite in seeking to ensure the best possible working environment for its employees."

Slawomir Najda from Poland, who has worked with First for around 18 months, was unable to catch some of the slang heard around the city and had to take a friend with him everywhere he went. Thanks to Jimmy and the Learning Centre, he can now go to the bank, the doctor and visit the shops without any help whatsoever. He said: "The Learning Centre is a very important place and whenever I have any free time I go to there to improve my knowledge. It makes a big difference to me and my family, who also use it. My wife and children now stay in Glasgow with me and we use the programmes at home to help with our English. My family's adjustment to Glasgow would have been so much harder without the Learning Centre."

First in Glasgow currently has four Learning Centres: Blantyre, Larkfield, Parkhead and Scotstoun. Language courses are not the only training offered through these facilities " drivers can access literacy and numeracy courses, learn how to use email and the internet as well as work towards their Certificate of Professional Competence. In addition, an innovative training DVD - Let's be safe out there - devised and developed in the Larkfield Learning Centre by Jimmy has proven to be such a hit that it is being rolled-out throughout FirstGroup as part of core training for all employees.