Unite, Britain and Ireland’s largest union, is launching tomorrow (Thursday 16 July) its largest-ever training initiative to ensure that its members, whose jobs have been lost or threatened by the coronavirus pandemic, have the necessary skills to return to the workplace.

Unite has teamed up with global edtech company Olive Group to provide a portal called MC2 which has more than 100 accredited courses available for the union’s 1.4 million members.

For £4-a-month, a Unite member and up to six additional users can exclusively access courses that dovetail with an individual’s training needs and MC2 will also match a person’s work profile to available jobs.

Unite director of education Jim Mowatt said: “The UK is facing the biggest economic crisis for three centuries because of Covid-19 – and a serious recession is very much on the cards with unemployment rates possibly rising to nine per cent.

“The jobs of tens of thousands of our members are under threat because of the slump in demand in the economy and as the furlough scheme tapers off in the autumn. There are also non-Covid-19 factors, such as the onward march of automation, that have to be taken into account.

“In a response to the crisis, Unite has created its most comprehensive training programme ever for our members, as well as for their families and friends, in the UK and Ireland who can now access more than 100 courses, tailored to their particular industry and trade, to enhance their skills.

“With the spectre of mass unemployment looming large on the horizon, we need to intervene to provide our membership with the edge they require to secure a better future for themselves and their families.

“This educational ‘passport’ will enable them to require the best possible skill-set to return to the world of work - and play their part in kick-starting the post-pandemic UK economy. 

“The MC2 platform will also match an individual’s profile to available jobs – real opportunities that will help our members get back on their feet.

 “The unique selling point of MC2 is that it provides vocational courses, qualifications and securing jobs all under one ‘internet roof’ which  complements the Unite education programme - the biggest adult education programme in the UK which has always been free to our members.

“Unite is committed to doing everything possible to assist our members and their families through the economic trauma we are currently experiencing – and we urge our members to take up the myriad of accredited courses on offer.

“For the price of a posh coffee each month, a Unite member and up to six additional family members and friends can open up exciting employment horizons for a new future, so they can be the best trained and skilled workers in the country.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:                                                                                  

MC2 launch video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkrJbe3XnBM&t=12s

Unite will be asking its branches to pay the £4-a-month fee for members who wish to utilise the MC2 platform.

For more information please contact Unite senior communications officer Shaun Noble on 020 3371 2060 or 07768 693940. Unite press office is on:  020 3371 2065.

Please note the numbers above are for journalists’ enquiries only.

Email: shaun.noble@unitetheunion.org

Twitter: @unitetheunion Facebook: unitetheunion1 Web: unitetheunion.org 

Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest union with members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Len McCluskey.