Levelling Up, Learning, Digital Skills and Employee Relations at the AA

Our latest Levelling Up session at Community’s Earls Barton centre brought together Community reps from across the AA for a day focused on giving them practical knowledge, confidence and skills they can take back into their workplaces and use when supporting colleagues.

A key part of the day was a Digital Skills session delivered by Hiba Bayoumi from Community Learn, introducing Community’s Digital Skills – Closing the Gap campaign. Hiba explored the importance of understanding digital confidence across our workforce, the campaign’s 25 core digital work tasks, and how branches and Union Learning Reps (ULRs) can help identify skills gaps and develop Digital Champions in workplaces. The wider campaign is also looking at employer partnerships, skills assessments and opportunities such as Google AI training.

A photograph of Community Union reps and members at our levelling up session

Paul Parker from The AA Employee Relations team then led an interactive Employee Relations session, building reps’ understanding of employment rights and what happens when workplace issues progress beyond internal procedures. The session explored areas including disciplinary and grievance processes, employment tribunals, ACAS Early Conciliation, evidence and disclosure, and the practical role good record-keeping plays when dealing with cases.

Paul Thomas Community’s National Executive member (LGBT+ seat) supported the group throughout the day from the union’s perspective, helping connect the learning to the everyday role of a workplace rep and encouraging discussion around how the knowledge can be applied when representing and supporting members. Bringing Community Learning, The AA Employee Relations and experienced workplace representation into the same room gave reps an opportunity to hear different perspectives, ask questions and learn together.

Various Community members, reps and AA staff at our levelling up session

The session was attended by Majid Shoab, Niamh Donnelly, Francisco Escuder, Nicholas Curry, Matt Bliss, Josh Hancock, Jamie Grant, Mark Hastings, Mark Wilkins, Andrew Thornton and Ben Warne, alongside Paul Thomas, Paul Parker and Hiba Bayoumi.

It was another great example of The AA and Community working together to invest in our reps, building knowledge, developing confidence and ultimately improving the support available to colleagues across the business.