Tag: unionlearn

The Federation of Poles was delighted to learn that John Denham, MP, Secretary of State for DIUS will today (Wednesday 22 April) make an award to Joanna Szmit, a union learning rep (ULR) and a bus driver at Metroline in London. At a reception in Westminster, John Denham will congratulate Joanna, unionlearn, the TUC’s learning and skills organisation and trade unions as they reach an agreed target of 22,000 ULRs trained, over a year earlier than scheduled. Joanna, a recently trained ULR for Unite, was chosen to represent the 22,000 ULRs, who promote the learning message and work with employers, through their unions, to help colleagues to access courses, such as IT, English, Maths, or Continuing Professional Development.

Dave Ross, a painter and decorator at Southampton Council, met Secretary of State John Denham, his local MP, recently at a reception at Westminster hosted by unionlearn, the TUC’s learning and skills organisation. Dave Ross is a union learning rep (ULR) from Unite who was invited to the event at which John Denham congratulated unionlearn, the TUC and unions on reaching an agreed target of 22,000 trained and accredited ULRs. Described by John Denham as ‘your best friend in the workplace’, ULRs promote the learning message and work with employers, through their unions, to help colleagues to access courses, such as IT, English, Maths, or Continuing Professional Development. Dave Ross was able to tell the Secretary of State all about union learning at Southampton Council.

Black and Asian learners are reaping big rewards from trade union-led learning at rates which are well above the national average, reveals a new report from Ofsted (the Government’s education standards watchdog). In the report on U-Net, part of unionlearn, the TUC’s learning and skills organization, Ofsted found that success rates for Black learners have risen from 54% in 2007/08 to 81.8% and for Asian learners from 70.2% to 82.1% a significant improvement on the national average. The report also found that there is a ‘strong ethos to widen participation and promote social inclusion’ and that ‘equality of opportunity is good’.

There was fulsome praise for the partnership between employers and trade unions in a recent Ofsted report on U-Net, part of unionlearn, the TUC’s learning and skills organization. Ofsted found that ‘employers benefit from these partnerships, with improved staff morale, reduced sick leave and staff turnover, fewer complaints and grievances, and higher rates of internal promotion.’ The report places U-Net among the best providers in the country, awarding a Grade 2 for all aspects of learning provision. Ofsted judged overall success rates as above national averages and support for learners as outstanding.

Skills & Business Expo 09 is held in association with the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) and supported by Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR), CBI, unionlearn and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). Liz Smith, unionlearn Director said: “Unionlearn, the TUC’s learning and skills organisation, works with both the private and public sectors to enhance and optimise employees’ learning opportunities. Unionlearn and trade unions, through a network of over 20,000 union learning reps (ULRs)…’

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.