Crosby MP Claire Curtis-Thomas visited Crosby Fire Station (Friday 13th March) in Liverpool to see for herself the impact trade unions are having on helping firefighters improve their skills. The Fire Brigades Union (FBU), with the support of unionlearn, the TUC’s learning and skills organisation and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS)have embarked on a Learning and Skills for All Fund (LSFAF) based project ensuring staff across Merseyside access a diverse range of learning opportunities
The focus will be on the importance of apprenticeships as trade unions and unionlearn (the TUC’s learning and skills organisation) celebrate apprentices’ contribution to the Leicester economy today (Tuesday 17th March). Unionlearn director Liz Smith and LSC National Apprenticeship Service Director Carolyn Savage will speak at the event which will also hear from apprentices representing Unite the Union from Brush Electrical Machines and UCATT at Lincoln City Council. Young Apprentices from all over the region will also attend the event. It is part of the Trade Unions and Apprenticeship Project, funded by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills in order to raise awareness of apprenticeships.
Welcoming the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) launch of a new Skills for Life Strategy, Liz Smith, unionlearn Director said: “The Government’s strategy has already helped over 3 million adults with their basic skills. Unionlearn and trade unions have trained over 20,000 workplace union learning reps (ULRs), who have made a significant contribution to the Skills for Life programme.
Tom O’Callaghan, a Metroline Bus Driver, will be invested with an MBE for ‘services to lifelong learning in the transport industry’, thanks to his hard work as a Unite union learning rep (ULR). On March 10th, Tom will make his way, with his proud family, to Buckingham Palace to be invested with the honour. One of the longest serving ULRs, Tom was one of the founders of Learning on the Move, Metroline’s learning project, which has enrolled hundreds of staff onto courses over the past decade. Over 2,000 accreditations have been gained through the project, which also uses a fully-equipped double decker as a mobile learning centre.
World-renowned author Kate Mosse will launch her Quick Read, The Cave, at a celebration of World Book Day (Thursday 5th March) today at St James’ Hospital, Portsmouth. The author will meet staff from Portsmouth City Teaching Primary Care Trust and read an extract from the new book, copies of which will be given to guests on the day. The launch is also an opportunity to show Kate the excellent partnership between trade unions and the PCT, which has enabled staff to develop themselves through a range of learning opportunities. The PCT has established a union learning centre in the domestic department to provide support for everyone who wants to increase their skills.
Popular author Lola Jaye will launch her Quick Read Reaching for the Stars at Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP) in Chester today to celebrate World Book Day (Thursday 5th March). The event will also celebrate union-led learning with a number of local trade unions and unionlearn, the TUC’s learning and skills organisation. Lola will join learners, union learning reps, Roger Nielsen, CWP Associate Director of Workforce Development, Peter Urwin, Unison Regional Organiser and Tony Saunders of unionlearn with the North West TUC.
Popular Yorkshire author Gervase Phinn will be launching his new Quick Read book, All These Lonely People, today (Thursday 5th March) at Hatfield Learning Centre, HMP Moorland, as part of a World Book Day event held by the Prison Officers Association (POA) and unionlearn, the TUC’s learning and skills organisation. Gervase will read from his book, sign copies and answer questions from an audience of union learning representatives, learners and prison staff. The event will also see the launch of unionlearn’s regional publication Union Writes 2008 – a collection of short stories written by trade union members. Gervase will be joined by Dr Alan Roe, unionlearn regional manager, Tom Wheatley, Governor HMP Moorland and Tom Robson from the POA National Executive Committee.
Today, Wednesday 4 March, the Minister for Further Education Siôn Simon visits a learning centre at First bus garage in Westbourne Park, London. He is joined by Quick Reads author, Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Loose Women star Sherrie Hewson to meet learners who have been using Quick Reads books in the centre.
With recent Government figures showing that the number of apprenticeship starts in London increased by 30 per cent in 2008, the TUC has today (Tuesday) published a new guide for unions to encourage more employers to take on apprentices.
The TUC guide – Apprenticeships are Union Business – will be launched at an event hosted by unionlearn – the learning and skills arm of the TUC – and the Apprenticeship Ambassadors Network at TUC Headquarters in London later today.
Responding to the Government’s announcement today (Monday) of 21,000 new Apprenticeships across the public sector, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:
“As well as encouraging employers to take on apprentices, it’s good to see the Government practising what it preaches and taking on trainees across the public sector too….’