Step Ahead means BUSINESS is the corporate "arm" of Step Ahead

Companies

“Experts are warning that bungles made by illiterate workers cost British businesses £10 billion a year.”

We offer our services to companies in order, ultimately, to save them money, to assist in raising the skills of staff members and to help companies demonstrate their commitment to the training and development of their staff.

We seek to help improve customer relationships through better communications, enhance reputations and build the confidence of staff in order for them to reach their potential.

We have had and currently do have assignments from local Fife and Edinburgh
businesses and companies who have realised that some of their employees have literacy, oracy and/or numeracy skills issues.

Recently a highly significant blue chip company, with major bases in the Dunfermline and Livingston areas, invited us to make an oral presentation, followed by a written submission, and, as a result, have invited us to be their provider, initially for a number of management staff whom have been identified as having certain literacy and oracy needs.

The experience from the corporate work which we have had has allowed us to quickly progress and grow this “arm”, whether from within the premises of the respective companies or from within our own bases.

Individuals

We have built up a track record over the past decade in helping the professional development of individual adults to become more proficient in literacy, numeracy and oracy, and in entering and/or progressing in such professions as the Police Service, the Fire Service, the Armed Services, social work, teaching and business.

Students

Equally, we are very aware that one-fifth of all students in British universities are failed and/or drop out after their first year. A significant reason is their lack of basic literacy and numeracy skills and their inability to organise themselves, including study skills and planning. Considering the resources and cost which has been invested in them, this drain needs to be prevented, and we have a programme which tackles such issues, as well as offering tuition in a wide range of academic subjects. Various approaches are used, including the use of facilities in our Centres and specifically highly qualified staff have been prepared and are dedicated to, and are growing, this “arm” of STEP AHEAD.

Similarly our staff are geared to offering English as a second language, as well as a variety of foreign languages to companies, individuals and students.

Comments received, and available in writing to be viewed, from adults and companies include:

"I can't emphasise enough the passion and commitment that (my tutor) has for teaching."

"I've surpassed my goals and more!"

"I would highly recommend STEP AHEAD to everybody, 100%."

"I have enjoyed every session I had with you."

"I will remember all the things that you have taught and I will keep on improving."

"I have to say that your upbeat approach never failed to impress."

"It would be fair to say that the first time we met I was going through a bit of a confidence crisis. However, under your guidance you boosted my numerical and verbal skills, sufficiently, to get me through the selection process."

Where

Dependent on requirements - but in a private and quiet area where a participant and tutor may meet, and privacy and confidentiality can be observed.

When

At mutually agreed times for each participant – mainly during the day (mornings or afternoons, although evenings are possible) – on a regular basis, to be agreed.

How

It is always helpful to get initially some background information – either in note form or face-to-face orally – from the Manager/Head of Dept/Line Manager of each participant. The aim is to acquire a better understanding of what each “line manager” perceives as the participant’s weaknesses and areas for improvement.

The initial “assessment” session requires a minimum of one hour, possibly longer. It starts with each participant individually completing a “literacy or numeracy audit”, dependent on need.

From a list of topics, we ask the participants to evaluate their confidence in each area (eg very confident, quite confident, unsure, weak).

As part of the audit in the first session, we ask the participants to complete some written work which helps with the target setting.

Each participant is “interviewed” individually by our tutors.

We then use their responses (and any information provided by “line managers”) and we set targets (with the participants) to achieve by the end of their programme.

The final assessment, including evaluation sheets, is marked against these targets, so a real sense of progress can be achieved.

Having determined the needs of the participants, and, dependent on various factors, including individual requirements and personality, responsibility for each of the participants can be shared between different tutors. It may be that one tutor is solely responsible for one participant, or alternatively different aspects of work can be shared, meaning that each participantbenefits from the skills of two or more tutors.

What

Professional development in oracy, literacy and/or numeracy.

Overview: A stimulating and informative coaching programme is provided which will develop and practise the skills of the participants in the particular area(s).

NB It is our intention to provide stimulating and rewarding sessions which encourage the individual to “study” between weekly sessions (advice and materials are recommended) AND to continue (on completion of our programme) their professional development and build on knowledge of and attitude to and awareness of the area(s) studied