ESF-Works

ACORN - Adaptive Capabilities for Organisational Renewal through Networks

Logo for ACORN - Adaptive Capabilities for Organisational Renewal through Networks

Description

man and woman

Aim

The ACORN DP intended to engage companies in learning networks with the aim of creating six networks consisting of six to seven companies centered around a lead company. The companies could be in the same supply chain or geographically local to each other, with a number of employees from each company being involved in some type of learning.

Background

The programme was about empowerment and equal opportunities for all and therefore the ACORN Project looked to engage companies who wanted to improve their equal opportunities policies or approach to equal opportunities. The beneficiaries were those most disadvantaged in the workforce. The DP brought together expertise from universities, colleges, the private sector and partners in other European countries.

Objectives

The project aimed to provide improved workplace learning opportunities in the following areas:

  • Numeracy
  • Literacy
  • ICT
  • Equal Opportunities
  • Communication skills
  • Leadership & Negotiation
  • Empowerment.
Target Beneficiary group

The project identified the following groups as the major recipients for these training opportunities as these were considered to be the most at risk in terms of unemployment and the chance to gain further employment.:
  • Employees with few, if any, formal qualifications
  • Employees from a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds
  • Employees with low basic skills
  • Employees with a range of disabilities
  • Employees in the 50+ age range
  • Women.
Main outcomes

Delivery of the Learning Networks was carried out by BOLDU in the West Midlands, ISCAN in Yorkshire and the Humber and Liverpool, John Moore’s University in the North West. The other partners provided support in terms of training expertise or materials.

Round

1

Lead partner

BOLDU Ltd >>
www.boldu.co.uk >>

Core partners

City College Birmingham >>
Crystal Presentations >>
ISCAN >>
Liverpool John Moores University >>
The Open University (Milton Keynes) >>

Transnational partnerships

Information for Transnational partnerships

End-dates

Action 2: 15 May 2005
Action 3: 30 October 2005

Equal theme

Lifelong learning and inclusive working practices

Beneficiaries

Employed in SMEs, Jobseekers with low basic skills, Labour market returnees, People from disadvantaged areas (top 10% most deprived wards), People over 50

Achievements

  • Establishment of Learning Networks amongst groups of companies (mainly SMEs) to support the introduction of culture change, introduction of equality policies and practises, and introduction of empowerment of employees.
  • Development of Equality Toolkit (CD) which encourages and enables managers of SMEs to embrace Equality issues and understand the implications of current legislation.

    • Final report

    Download final report >> (6.1 MB)

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    Connections

    Connections
    National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics - NCETM
    www.ncetm.org.uk/ >>
    The National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics works with partners across the mathematics community to provide a sustainable infrastructure which allows teachers of mathematics in all sectors to access effective mathematics-specific CPD. More >>
    Andrew Curtis >>

    Main outputs

    DVD
    Learning from ACORN: Project Evaluation DVD >> Lerning from ACORN  is an evaluation of project activity.


    Printable document
    Networking Booklet >> The purpose of this booklet is to give a brief overview of the ACORN Project, which looked specifically at the concept of Learning Networks and captures in case study format the experience gained and lessons learned through the delivery of the project.


    Activities and products

    Activity
    The North West case study - John Moore's Experience >>Few employers in manufacturing recognise the potential benefit to the business in improving Basic Skills of employees – or they see it as someone else’s job not the company’s to provide such support Food company training requirements are driven very much by legislative demands – e.g.


    Activity
    The West Midlands case study - The BOLDU Experience >>The focus of the network was Learning and Equal Opportunities.


    Activity
    Yorkshire and Humberside case study - The ISCAN Experience >>Nine companies were involved in the network ranging from small employing around 15, people to large multi nationals employing thousands.


    Meeting/congress
    Business Simulation Workshop >>The workshop was convened with the aim of identifying the needs and enthusiasms of the invited participants, to discuss current trends in systems practice and how these ideas may be put to good use in helping to address those needs.


    CD-ROM
    It's all about Equality >>Simple to use CD Rom Guide to providing Equal Opportunities for SMEs.


    CD-ROM
    Management Information System >>CD Rom providing system guidence for users to control and manage information on a website.