Learning & skills policy
Learning & skills policy
The TUC has long campaigned to raise the skills of Britain's work force. It's good for the country's competitiveness and helps people find more fulfilling and better paid jobs. Here are links to our most recent policy and research work on skills, education and lifelong learning.
24 August 2010
Young people need signposting to training in the skills of the future
In response to today's GCSE results:
17 August 2010
The Origins, Role and Impact of Union Learning Representatives in the UK and other Countries
This year saw over 25,000 union learning representatives (ULRs) trained since 1999. This working paper outlines the origins and development of union learning representatives in England. It examines how ULRs have been a central feature of government-supported union capacity building on learning and skills over the last decade. They have been increasingly recognised by government as intermediaries that can engage with “hard-to-reach” employees and help stimulate and meet their demand for learning and skills.
It summarises recent research on their profile, role and impact. The working paper also compares and contrasts ULRs in England with the development of learning representatives in other countries. It concludes that a statutory framework is now required which optimises union and ULR leverage on employers in the delivery of high quality learning opportunities.
PDF version available for download
16 August 2010
Employers should be providing more apprenticeship places
Large employers are providing only three apprenticeship places for every 1,000 16 to 24-year- olds they employ.
11 August 2010
Apprenticeships and the gender pay gap
Unionlearn on Woman's Hour
11 August 2010
Apprenticeships are not second-best routes to top qualifications and skills
Apprenticeships should be a path to high-quality qualifications, but the gender pay gap must be closed
4 August 2010
Evaluation of stage 2 of the Collective Learning Fund project
Collective learning funds (CLFs) are union-led initiatives to stimulate co-investment in the personal development of the workforce to make such learning affordable and accessible. They are frameworks for levering in cash and in-kind contributions from employers, providers , unions and individuals. Unionlearn established pilots in the North West and the East Midlands to test different models. Twenty three of the pilots were evaluated.
This evaluation report found that the pilots helped employees to take up over 2,7000 learning opportunities. CLFs also resulted in learning agreements and the establishment of joint learning committees with management. Benefits included an increased role for unions in learning, better industrial relations and more confidence for learners. A toolkit will be published in September to help unions establish CLFs in workplaces in other regions.
PDF version available for download
15 July 2010
The HE system should support working people
In response to Vince Cable's speech on HE today:
12 July 2010
Unions to play greater role in Government's skills agenda, says Vince Cable
The skills agenda is fundamental to achieving economic growth and unions must play an even greater role in boosting the workforce's skills, adult education and apprenticeships, Vince Cable, Business Secretary, said today (July 16)
30 June 2010
Learning & Skills Policy Update - June 2010
In this update: Skills funding and priorities for 2010-11, Skills funding and priorities beyond 2010-11? New flexibilities for FE colleges, Union learning, Skills bodies, Lifelong Learning Accounts and Adult Careers Service, Right to Request Time to Train...
28 June 2010
Union reps boost apprenticeship numbers - and their pay
Almost two-thirds of union reps are encouraging their employer to take on apprenticeships and half have negotiated learning agreements which include apprenticeships at their workplace.
