Digging deep for learning success

A unique team of emergency workers are swapping mining tunnels for laptops and studying as part of their latest mission. Ten rescue workers from Mines Rescue, based in Mansfield, have embarked on a learndirect Learning through Work programme to develop their knowledge and skills.

These are no ordinary students. Mines Rescue is a specialist organisation set up over 100 years ago to rescue miners in one of the most dangerous environments imaginable. The Coal Authority remains a key client and Mines Rescue attends all coal mining related hazards to ensure public safety. As well as Mines Rescue's core work, the company has diversified into wider business areas including health and safety training and consultancy.

Mansfield based Mines Rescue has become one of the first businesses to take advantage of a University of Derby project funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) to identify and develop higher level knowledge and skills designed to meet the specific needs of many different businesses.

The Mines Rescue students all come from a mining background and have never studied at university before. The Certificate of Achievement course they are working towards is a higher education qualification - providing 30 credits - which can stand on its own or be a building block on the path to a diploma or degree. Each learning contract is designed with the organisation and individual learners in mind to ensure it delivers direct tangible performance benefits.

Mines Rescue Commercial Director Andrew Watson is himself a Learning through Work degree student. In consultation with Derby's Learning through Work team, he has designed his own course of study – Mines Rescue Management - to look specifically at challenges and potential developments for the business.

"Our decision to become involved in this project is part of a process of continual improvement and change for this business," said Andrew. "We have developed from being part of a nationalised industry to a private enterprise that relies on cooperation and motivated staff.

"We carry out critical rescue work for many industries in addition to supporting the mining sector. This demands that our staff have at least two years experience of working underground. We have the best trained people for the most dangerous kinds of rescue work, and we train the fire service in specialist rescue skills."

"Because Mines Rescue is a constantly changing, non-traditional business, tailor made training that meets the needs of our business is a viable and extremely worthwhile investment."