Equal theme
 
Get involved
Valid XHTML 1.1

ACORN - Adaptive Capabilities for Organisational Renewal through Networks

Logo for ACORN - Adaptive Capabilities for Organisational Renewal through Networks www.acorndp.com 

Partnership information

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 outcome

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 (Sheffield), Liverpool John Moores University, The Open University (Milton Keynes)

Transnational partnerships

Information for Transnational partnerships

Contact

Peter Sinclair, BOLDU Ltd,

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)

Is this information correct?

Report an error

Connections

Connections

Activities and products

Activity
The North West case study - John Moore's ExperienceFew employers in manufacturing recognise the potential benefit to the business in improving Basic Skills of employees – or they see it as someone else’s...
Activity
The West Midlands case study - The BOLDU ExperienceThe focus of the network was Learning and Equal Opportunities. A full Training Needs Analysis (TNA) was undertaken in several of the companies, which involved...
Activity
Yorkshire and Humberside case study - The ISCAN ExperienceNine companies were involved in the network ranging from small employing around 15, people to large multi nationals employing thousands. All the companies...
Website
ACORN DP URLAcorn DP website...
Meeting/congress
Business Simulation WorkshopThe workshop was convened with the aim of identifying the needs and enthusiasms of the invited participants, to discuss current trends in systems practice...
CD-ROM
It's all about EqualitySimple to use Guide to Equal Opportunities for SMEs...
DVD
Learning from ACORNLerning from ACORN includes a description of: how basic skills can be advanced by developing vocational knowledge and qualifications;the importance of...
CD-ROM
Management Information SystemSystem to control and manage information on a website....
Print
Networking BookletCase studies and background to successful learning networks...
DVD
Supply Chain Innovation, Strategy and ManagementDVD introducing Supply Chains...