About TUC Learning Services North West

The project was set up in October 1994 following joint TUC / TEC research in the North West, into employee's access to training, and trade union involvement in negotiating on vocational and non-vocational training.

The research showed:

• Little workplace activity on training, despite it being identified as an important issue by all trade unions.
  
  
• Limited access to training in most workplaces, and quality training only available to small, selected groups of employees.
  
  
• Limited awareness of Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs) and the services and initiatives they provide.
  
  
• Lack of understanding and confidence among trade union negotiators, when faced with training issues and jargon.

Project Aims

The project works with unions and management to:

• Promote life long learning as an issue.
  
  
• Develop a joint approach to life long learning.
  
  
• Provide advice and guidance on training issues.
  
  
• Raise awareness of training issues such as Investors in People, National Vocational Qualifications, Modern Apprenticeships, Employee Development Schemes and New Deal.
  
  
• Help trade union reps understand training jargon and practice.
  
  
• Develop models of good practice.

What can the project do for you?

You can make use of the project to:

• Talk through your training concerns with the project staff.
  
  
• Provide a union, or joint union / management briefing on relevant training issues in the workplace.
  
  
• Organise training courses for union reps on relevant training issues.
  
  
• Obtain information and materials on training issues.
  
  
• Obtain information on LSC services, funding and support to help develop a training strategy in the workplace.

Project Activities

The range of activities the project has supported include:

• Assisting unions to develop joint action on training.
  
  
• Setting up and assisting joint training committees.
  
  
• Assisting commitment to Investors in People, NVQs and Modern Apprenticeships.
  
  
• Carrying out general / sector briefings on Investors in People, NVQs, or Modern Apprenticeships.
  
  
• Assisting in resolving problems in organisations on various training issues.
  
  
• Establishing workplace learning centres and links with education providers.

Demonstrator Projects

We have worked in a number of organisations, to improve the trade union involvement in training, and to develop models of good practice through Demonstrator Projects. This approach to developing models of good practice has been successful in a number of private and public organisations. More details about the kind of help BfS was able to offer can be found in the case studies section.

Further Information

If you want to:

• Find out more about TUC Learning Services North West and the support that is available to union representatives.
  
  
• Request a briefing, or materials on relevant training issues.
  
  
• Arrange a visit to discuss training in the workplace.
  
  
• Find out more about courses and support services in your area.

then please contact us.