Scottish Union Learning Annual Report 2018 Learners’ Quotes
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Scottish Union Learning Annual Report 2018 Learners’ Quotes I would Great course, recommend very informative this course and well to anyone. delivered. Good mix of Enjoyed this visuals, theory very much. and practice. Looking forward Thoroughly to putting into enjoyed the practice. course. 2 Contents Introduction 4 Structure 5 The Board 6 Advisory Groups 7 The Development Fund 8 The Learning Fund 10 Improving Everyday Skills 16 Digital Unions: Cyber Resilience 19 Fair Work: Leadership & Equality 21 Apprenticeships 24 Awards 25 Conferences & Events 28 Working with Partners 30 TUC Education 31 Resources & Communications 32 Contacts 35 3 Introduction Peter Hunter, Chair, Scottish Union Learning Board This has It is important to know what drives been another this work, and throughout the year successful, I have engaged with SUL and the though unions involved, to understand how challenging, they work and the union values they year for demonstrate in supporting learners. union Their approach helps to remove learning. barriers, create opportunity, promote I would like Fair Work, and ultimately make a to take this change to the lives of workers, not opportunity only in their jobs, but also in their to thank personal, social and community our funders, Scottish Government, lives. The reason I am sharing this and our major sponsors, Skills with you in this Annual Report is Development Scotland, Scottish primarily to highlight the discipline Qualifications Authority, and The and effective focus of those involved Open University in Scotland, for their in union learning, but also to make continued support. a point about strategy - which can sometimes get lost in the busy day- Throughout the year, Scottish Union to-day operational objectives. It is Learning has engaged in a wide range important to be mindful of our core of opportunities designed to equip union values, to recognise who we workers and union reps with the skills are as union members in a wider and confidence they need to thrive movement, and to link our actions to in an ever-changing labour market. the overall learning strategy. Despite the challenges we face, such as the nature of annual funding, The First Minister recently precarious employment, automation acknowledged that SUL offers and Brexit, SUL, in partnership with access to learning that would unions and other partners, develops a otherwise not be achieved. We programme of incredible variety in both are grateful for the opportunity to content and format. This programme continue this essential work, and is aligned with Scottish Government to face the challenges of delivering priorities, and supports learners in learning and skills opportunities to overcoming the barriers that otherwise workers across Scotland throughout prevent access to learning. It is vital to the next year. the union movement as a whole that we recognise, value and support this work. 4 Structure Scottish Union Learning supports The Union Advisory Group provides trade unions in accessing skills advice and information on strategic and lifelong learning opportunities and operational matters, as requested for their members that contribute by the Board, including updates on changes in the strategic direction on to collective prosperity, fairness learning and skills of individual unions. and equality, for workers across Scotland The Partners’ Advisory Group contributes to discussions about Structure The STUC General Council established the strategic direction of Scottish Scottish Union Learning to deliver, in Union Learning, advises on future partnership with unions, workplace development, and shares information learning opportunities in all sectors on the strategic direction of partner across Scotland, in line with STUC organisations. policy on learning and skills. The Scottish Union Learning Team The Scottish Union Learning Board has members located in the STUC/ was established to direct and oversee Scottish Union Learning offices in the strategy and work of Scottish Union Glasgow and in the UNISON office Learning. The Board includes members in Inverness. The Team delivers the of the General Council, representatives work of Scottish Union Learning in line of affiliated trade unions, the STUC with the Business Plan and Workplan General Secretary and a TUC approved by the SUL Board. nominated member. STUC General Council Scottish Union Learning Board Partners’ Union Advisory Advisory Group Group Director of TUC Education Scottish Union Officer Learning Scotland Development Development Admin Manager/ Funding Marketing Officer Highlands Officer Lowlands Secretary to the and Officer & Islands & Uplands (3) Board Policy Officer Finance Officer Admin Assistant Admin Assistants Fair Work TUC Education Highlands & Lowlands & Project Scotland Secretary/ Islands Uplands (3) Officer Admin Assistant 5 The Board Appointed by the STUC General Staff in Attendance: Council, the Scottish Union Wendy Burton, SUL Director Learning Board oversees and Sarah Wiktorski, TUC Education Officer Ann Garscadden, Secretary to the Board directs the work of Scottish Union Learning. The Scottish Union Learning Board is The aims and objectives of appointed by the STUC General Council Scottish Union Learning are to: to oversee the operation of Scottish • promote trade union-led learning and Union Learning. The SUL Board has skills development in line with STUC responsibility for agreeing the strategic Policy on learning and skills; objectives of SUL and setting and monitoring its business and operational • support unions in identifying and meeting the skills and learning needs plans & budgets, in line with STUC policy. of their members and in organising workplace learning opportunities Chair: Peter Hunter (UNISON) across Scotland with specific resources Vice Chair: John Brown (CWU) dedicated to the Highlands and Islands; • assist unions in identifying the needs Members: Robert Mooney (Disabled of Union Learning Representatives and Workers’ Representative); Jack O’Neill provide appropriate support; (Young Workers’ Representative) John • provide assistance to unions Brown (CWU); Helen Connor (EIS); in accessing Everyday Skills Jackson Cullinane (Unite); Karen Foster opportunities for their members; (PCS); Brian Linn (Aegis the Union); Jane • work with unions to increase digital Rose (Prospect) and Paul Shaw (RMT). participation and awareness of Cyber Security issues in workplaces across During the year, Helen Connor (EIS) Scotland; and Jackson Cullinane (Unite) resigned from the Board and Jane Peckham • promote the development of leadership (NASUWT) and Susan Quinn (EIS) capacity within unions; were appointed by the General Council • promote learning or action which to serve until 31 March 2019. increases equality awareness and tackles inequality and Grahame Smith, STUC General Secretary, under-representation at work; is an ex officio member of the Board and Ian • encourage and support employer Borkett, unionlearn Service Manager, is the engagement in delivering learning and TUC nominated member. A representative upgrading skills; of the Scottish Government’s Fair Work • establish relationships with partner Directorate attends meetings of the Board organisations in the provision of as an observer. learning and skills; • continue to develop resources for The Board receives regular reports on the unions, ULRs, and learners; and work of SUL including the Development Fund and Learning Fund, the Fair Work: • work with the TUC in ensuring the provision of a comprehensive trade Leadership and Equality programme, union education service suitable to the the Cyber Resilience Project, and the needs of unions in Scotland. 6 work of TUC Education in Scotland. Advisory Groups The Union Advisory Group and Partners’ Advisory Group the Partners’ Advisory Group provide advice and information The Partners’ Advisory Group supports to the Board on strategic and the Board by: operational matters. • contributing to discussions about the strategic direction of Scottish Union Advisory Group Union Learning; • advising Scottish Union Learning The Union Advisory Group supports the on ways in which it could develop in Board by: order to better achieve its objectives and further its role; • providing operational information that will inform the Board in making • sharing information on the strategic strategic decisions; direction of partner organisations; • championing the value of union identifying strategic or operational • learning in the wider world of issues for the Board to consider; learning and skills. • advising the Board of changes in the strategic direction of individual Chair Grahame Smith, STUC General unions; Secretary • providing the Board with examples of good practice in trade union Partner Organisations learning. Dyslexia Scotland, Education Scotland, Equate Scotland, Glasgow Kelvin Chair Wendy Burton, Director College, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Learning Link Scotland, Newbattle Abbey College, Membership Membership is by nomination from all Scottish Adult Learning Partnership, STUC affiliated organisations. Scottish Book Trust, Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Government, Skills Development Scotland, SCQF Partnership, SCVO, SQA, The Open University, WEA Scotland, Zero Waste Scotland The Board reviews membership of this Group on an on-going basis. 7 The Development Fund The Development Fund Lowlands and Uplands Projects complements existing trade union learning strategies and • Aegis: Developing Skills in Financial supports developments in Services workplace learning by increasing • ASLEF: