Author: unionlearn news releases

Tom Wilson, Director of unionlearn said: “Unionlearn welcomes the celebration of apprenticeships this week and urges employers to use the £2,500 Government grants for 16 and 17 years olds to be taken on to the scheme.’

Workers on the Olympic Park were invited to down their tools and improve their computer skills and take part in a range of free courses at the launch of the Community and Trade Union Learning Centre, today (Januray 21).

Tessa Jowell, the Olympics minister, Lord Young, minister at the Department for Business, Inovations and Skills, Brendan Barber, General Secretary of the TUC, Quick Reads author Lola Jaye and John Armitt, chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority, were there to celebrate the opening of the centre.

Employees, employers and the economy all stand to benefit from the new right to request time off work for training.

Tom Wilson, director of unionlean, said: “This new right could transform learning at work. Employers can, of course, say no but will need to show good reason. The similar right to request flexible working resulted in millions of employees making requests with over 90 per cent being agreed by employers. Knowing that they have the right to ask will encourage millions of employees, putting pressure on employers who don’t train to think again and helping all employees get a fair chance to improve their skills.”

As 2010 dawns, unionlearn is stepping up its work on a project to combat redundancies and create opportunities for employees to learn new skills to weather the economic downturn and prepare for the recovery.

Trade union members at a West Country ice cream maker have the chance to move off the factory floor after a learning centre was opened on site.

A trade union-led initiative to improve higher level skills in the North East has exceeded its targets of getting adults on to foundation degree courses or their equivalent.

As a region, the North East needs to strengthen its economy to align itself with other parts of the UK and driving up higher level skills is recognised as an important part of achieving that goal. The Higher Level Skills Project, which was started in October 2007 by unionlearn with the Northern TUC, is the first time the trade unions in the region have engaged potential learners in the workplace with higher level skills opportunities.

Mary Alys, unionlearn Regional Manager, was among key partner organisations invited to Stephenson College, NW Leicestershire, today (Friday 20 November) to meet the Prime Minister Gordon Brown on his tour of the College prior to the Cabinet Meeting in Nottingham.

Unionlearn North West has won a major award for its work supporting people who have been made redundant or have been under threat from redundancy, at a ceremony today (November 19, 2009) at London’s Institute of Direct0rs.

Val McDermid joins union leaders and reps to celebrate learning in the workplace and skills for work

There was no mystery to the presence of crime writer Val McDermid at unionlearn’s Southern & Eastern Region TUC 4th annual conference at London’s Congress house today (November 12).

Unionlearn welcomes Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, as chair of its 20-member board.
Dr Bousted contributes regular articles for newspapers and education journals, and appears frequently on national media. She sits on the executive committee of the Trades Union Congress….