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Skills Minister hails union learning as a lifeline for workplace learnersSkills Minister David Lammy praised the work of a network which has worked with over 100 trade union learning centres that he will relaunch today (Wednesday 14 May) for helping tens of thousands of learners on to courses. Mr Lammy said that union learning reps in the network, who help their colleagues to improve their skills, provide a 'lifeline for learners'. The relaunched network, which will be called U-Net, is a partnership between trade unions, learndirect* , colleges, and employers. It operates with learndirect , and is run by unionlearn* (the TUC's learning and skills organisation). U-Net will offer flexible courses so that learners can study at home, in centres, or on-line. The network, set up in 2002, has so far supported more than 32,000 learners who have taken over 80, 000 courses, which has included 9,000 Skills for Life* learners. David Lammy will speak alongside Liz Smith, unionlearn Director, Sue Ferns, Head of Research at the trade union Prospect and Sarah Jones, CEO of University for Industry, the organisation behind learndirect as they unveil the network's new branding and logo. The Minister, a strong supporter of union-led learning, will hear from union learning reps (ULRs) and learning centre managers about the successes of workplace learning centres and how they are able to help people traditionally thought of as hard to reach, to return to education. David Lammy MP, Minister for Skills said: 'Unions and union learning reps are doing a fantastic job in encouraging their members and work colleagues to improve their skills. Working together with employers, union-led learning is a lifeline for workplace learners to increase their skills, which benefits them, their families and employers. U-Net centres are beacons of opportunity, attracting ever increasing numbers of learners.' Liz Smith, unionlearn Director said: 'Launching U-Net is a real chance to raise the profile of union learning centres and to praise all the hard work that union learning reps, good employers and unions are doing together. Those 30,000 individuals across the country who have used U-Net centres have a good reason to celebrate U-Net's achievements.' NOTES TO EDITORS: All unionlearn press releases can be found at www.unionlearn.org.uk Unionlearn and unions have encouraged over 150,000 learners back into education through their network of over 18,000 union learning reps. Media enquiries: Press release (500 words) issued 14 May 2008 |
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