Author: unionlearn news releases

Responding to the announcement today (Friday) by Business Minister Pat McFadden that the Low Pay Commission has been asked to consider a national minimum wage for apprentices, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: …

Dr Alison Birkinshaw, Principal of York College and Julie Ainsworth, Skills for Life Workplace Development Tutor received the prestigious unionlearn Quality Award from Jo Brand. The award was made for York College’s Skills for Life programme for the USDAW trade union, at unionlearn’s third annual conference in central London. York College is one of over 80 education providers to have received the award.

Nick Crofts-Smith, Curriculum Manager, Hospitality and Catering at Rotherham College of Arts and Technology received the prestigious unionlearn Quality Award from Jo Brand. The award was made for Rotherham College of Arts and Technology’s provision of training for the NVQ in Food Manufacture at unionlearn’s third annual conference in central London. Rotherham College of Arts and Technology is one of over 80 education providers to have received the award.

Popular TV star, comedian and novelist Jo Brand, will today (Thursday 11th June) chair the third unionlearn annual conference, where the TUC’s learning and skills organisation will celebrate the training of 24,000 union learning reps (ULRs). Unionlearn and trade unions have surpassed the target of 22,000 ULRs by 2010 set with the Government. Jo will also present the unionlearn Quality Award to 27 education providers for providing courses tailored to trade union members’ needs.

Local MP Joan Ryan will today (Thursday 4th June) attend the opening of a learning centre at Warburtons, along with Executive Director Brett Warburton, Joe Marino, General Secretary of the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) and co-host of TalkSPORT, Ronnie Irani. Supported by unionlearn, the TUC’s learning and skills organisation, the BFAWU and Warburtons have established a learning centre so that staff can improve their skills through taking courses. Staff will be able to brush up on their literacy and numeracy, as well as IT skills thanks to the excellent cooperation between the BFAWU and Warburtons. The centre will be officially opened at 3.30pm after a tour of the bakery and learning centre.

West Midlands workers at Worcestershire printers, Polestar Varnicoat, are about to benefit from a new programme to improve their skills – funded by the Regional Development Agency, Advantage West Midlands – the scheme will be launched Today (Wednesday 27 May) by Birmingham MP and higher Education Minister, Sion Simon.

As part of Adult Learners Week (11-15 May) Tetley GB in Stockton on Tees will be signing the Skills Pledge on Friday 15th May. Unions and the employer will come together in a joint show of commitment to learning and staff development at the site. Dari Taylor, MP for Stockton South will be attending to witness the signing and to meet those involved.

Unionlearn, the TUC’s learning and skills organisation, is helping in excess of 40 workplaces throughout the north east and Cumbria to hold workplace learning events as part of Adult Learners Week and more specifically, Learning at Work Day (Thursday 14th May).

Over 1,200 staff at Jewish Care in London will be focusing on learning as they celebrate Adult Learners’ Week (ALW 9-15 May).

Workers at National Express are celebrating Adult Learners’ Week (9-15 May) with a host of learning activities for its staff.