Learning at Work Week - Create the Future

This year's Learning at Work Week theme is Create the Future. It explores how lifelong learning at work can help us all personally, and collectively create our futures and enable us to achieve life and work goals that shape our lives, families, and aspirations.

TUC and trade unions have long campaigned for strengthened rights and support for lifelong learning to improve the working lives of our members. We have a proud history of education and learning and the role of the union learning reps (ULRs) has been essential in supporting workers to access learning over many years.

Declining participation in further education

Massive cuts in state funding and the abolition of adult skills entitlements over the last twelve years have led to a sharp decline in lifelong learning and training.

TUC commissioned research showed that these cuts have had a disastrous impact on lifelong learning, leading to a substantial decline in adult participation in FE and skills since 2010/11, with the number of learners more than halving between 2010/11 and 2021/22.

An estimated 9 million adults in England have low levels of literacy and numeracy. The number of adults improving these skills have halved over the last decade.

In addition, those most in need of upskilling and retraining are also the least likely to access this from their employer and this lack of employer investment has been amplified further by the pandemic.

The TUC is currently establishing joint skills projects with a number of Combined Authorities across the country.

Regional TUC skills projects will continue to grow and support a growing network of ULRs in regions. In turn, these ULRs will support workers to gain new skills and increase access to learning. TUC currently have skills projects in North East, West Midlands, Yorkshire & the Humber, and Liverpool City Region.

Take part in Learning at Work Week

Join us on Thursday 18 May, with Alison McGovern MP and Wirral Metropolitan College, to hear more about the future of learning and skills in the North West. 

If you have ever thought of becoming a ULR now could be the ideal time to find out what it involves and how you can support workmates, friends and families. ULRs have an important place in union organisation in workplaces. They promote and support union-led learning at work, support that can help co-workers make life changing improvements to their work and personal life. 
 

What is Lifelong Learning?

Lifelong Learning is generally voluntary and self-motivated based on a pursuit to learn more, gain new skills or support professional development. It is self-motivated, informal, voluntary, and based on personal interests. Examples could be anything from learning to play a musical instrument or taking part in an online skills course.

Lifelong Learning is increasingly vital to employers, individuals and to the future growth and development of the Further Education Sector.