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.
4 September 2008
Right to Request Time to Train consultation - TUC Submission
This document contains the following:
- Summary of key points in the submission
- Impact on the review of a statutory right to training
- The case for a revised operational model
- Eligibility
- What sort of training?
- The union role?
- Who pays for the training?
- How would employees make a request?
- Acceptable Business Reasons for Refusing
- How can the time be taken?
- Right of appeal
- An Employment or Training Right?
- ESOL
- Young People
- APPENDIX - TUC PRESS RELEASE (4TH September 2008)
PDF version available for download
4 September 2008
More than half the UK workforce would use a right to ask for training at work
Seven in ten (71 per cent) working people would like to see a new legal right to request paid time off for training and 53 per cent say they would be likely to use it, according to a new YouGov survey released today (Thursday) by the TUC and unionlearn, its learning and skills organisation.
22 July 2008
It's Time to Talk Training
The TUC, CBI, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) and Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) have launched good practice guidance to promote workplace dialogue on training.
‘It's Time to Talk Training' identifies how two-way dialogue on training between employer and workforce can be achieved effectively and the benefits this brings to both. It includes case studies of unionised workplaces where agreements have been reached over training.
16 July 2008
Apprenticeships Bill will help more people into skilled work, says TUC
Responding to the draft Apprenticeships Bill, announced today (Wednesday) by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:
“Today's Bill is a welcome step towards helping more people into skilled work. In today's highly competitive labour market, the need for skills is greater than ever and apprenticeships are an important route into employment...
26 June 2008
Higher Education at Work consultation
TUC response to the higher level skills strategy.
The TUC welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Government's higher level skills strategy, as set out in the Higher Education at Work consultation document.
PDF version available for download
18 June 2008
TUC welcomes right to request time to train
Commenting on the Government's consultation published today (Wednesday) which should see workers being given a new legal right to request time to train at work, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:
'Decent, high quality and regular training in all workplaces is key to achieving a highly skilled workforce that can compete in the global economy...
21 May 2008
Raising Expectations consultation
1.1 The TUC welcomes the opportunity to submit comments to the consultation on Machinery of Government changes as set out in the document, Raising Expectations: enabling the system to deliver. This joint consultation by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) will have far reaching consequences over the coming years and it is crucial that the new arrangements will have broad support among all stakeholders.
PDF version available for download
21 May 2008
Right to Request Time to Train
The Government has announced that it will be introducing a new legal right for employees in England to request time to train from their employer and that this will be modelled on the existing right to request flexible working. The Prime Minister made the announcement on 14th May in a statement to the House of Commons setting out the Government's draft legislative programme for 2008/09.
The TUC welcomed the announcement, saying that it could help millions improve their skills and boost productivity but that it will pose a real challenge to those employers who neglect training
PDF version available for download
19 May 2008
Informal Adult Learning Consultation
1.1 The TUC welcomes the opportunity to submit comments to the consultation on adult informal learning being undertaken by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS). It is very welcome that the Government has undertaken this consultation and that the Secretary of State acknowledges in the foreword that ‘the emphasis the Government had rightly given to adult vocational education has led some to suggest informal adult education is not valued'.
PDF version available for download
19 May 2008
Stockton Borough Council 'Takes Stock'as it signs the Skills Pledge
Adult Learners Week got off to a great start in the North East as Stockton Borough Council signed the Skills Pledge; a government-led initiative which at its minimum is a voluntary, public commitment by the leadership of a company or organisation to support all of its employees to develop their basic skills, including literacy and numeracy, and work towards relevant, valuable, vocational qualifications to at least Level 2.
Northern
