Statement of Service
ETEC (Sunderland) Ltd
ETEC is a ‘not-for-profit’ training and development company based in the East End of Sunderland, Tyne and Wear. Their mission is to ‘Work with people as they liberate themselves from imposed poverty and inequality by providing the best education and training possible.’
ETEC have a proactive ‘Equality and Diversity Company Improvement Team’ with members from a cross–section of the organisation meeting bi-monthly. Its remit is flexible to meet changing needs but generally includes; awareness raising/training, reviewing policies and procedures, sharing good practice and general promotion of equality and diversity. During the past year the work of the group also involved reviewing and updating their equality and diversity strategy.
Staff receive one-to-one support from managers and sessions take place at least once a month, where staff can discuss any personal or work need issues.
Flexible working ensures work~life balance for all staff along with phased return to work for staff who have been on long term sick.
ETEC achieved Grade 2 ‘Good’ in Ofsted who comments included ‘Equality of opportunity is good, in particular ETEC has very effective widening participation practices, as identified in the self- assessment report. It has a range of policies that ensure equality and diversity is promoted well at learner reviews through induction. ETEC staff support these policies and respect diversity in all their work.’
ETEC’s learners are diverse with age ranges from under 25 to over 65, homeless people and ethnic minorities such as Asian and Chinese. They have learners as far away as Hartlepool and Spennymoor. Through the Train2Gain contract, they secured six learners who are gay, a person who is transgendered, five people who are deaf or hearing impaired, asylum seekers, refugees and single parents to participate in learning.
ETEC continuously seeks funding/grants to help hard to reach groups. Once they have secured the funding, they advertise to learners via various formats such as the accompany website, posters, leaflets, open days, radio coverage, referral agencies for example, Connexions, Jobcentres and school career events. They also make use of the Community Link Team.
ETEC’s positive action has paid off. They now have seven young women working towards the E2E construction programme. They also have a person with disabilities who has gained voluntary work as well as a learner originally from Poland. He was living with the Salvation Army but is now working towards his Customer Services NVQ and now has his own flat.
ETEC have excellent policies and procedures in place and are very aware of the surroundings of where they work, helping to regenerate and support the Hendon area, through projects like:
* The Community Wall – which individuals and community organisations have helped to design.
* The Tool Hire Service – where individuals can hire tools and find out about DIY courses which will help them to improve their homes and give them vital employability skills
* The Play Together scheme which has the aim of promoting and enhancing play in Sunderland by providing funding to local community play projects, offering play work training and offering a toy lending service.
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April 19, 2010
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