Annual Report
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Scottish Union Learning 7 Annual Report UNION Meeting the Demands of a L H E S A I R T N T Changing Labour Market I N O G C S Learners’ Quotes “Great information “Really enjoyed it; - this made me time now to try want to find out the new skills out!” more and learn more.” “I enjoyed “The course today’s course was great; on challenging everyone took part behaviour. I feel the in it regardless of content was very their levels of helpful in aspects of my workplace.” 2 learning.” Contents Leadership Development Fund 22 Introduction 3 Equality Rep Development Project 23 Structure 4 Apprenticeship Family 24 The Board 5 Awards 25 Advisory Groups 6 Conferences and Events 28 The Development Fund 7 Union Rep Development Days 29 The Learning Fund 11 Working with Partners 30 Improving Everyday Skills 16 Partner Spotlight 31 Cyber Resilience 18 TUC Education 32 2017 Highlands and Islands 20 Resources and Communications 33 Annual Report Young Workers’ Learning Project 21 Contacts 34 Introduction Peter Hunter, Chair Scottish Union Learning Board Throughout the This year, we have been working year, Scottish in partnership with the Scottish Union Learning Government to develop the cyber has firmly resilience capacity of unions, reps, and engaged in workers. The Cyber Resilience project the delivery of is helping to develop workplace skills the broadest by providing a series of personal cyber possible range security workshops. These workshops, of learning which are being delivered across the opportunities country, provide learners with the tailored opportunity to develop their awareness to equip and understanding of cyber risks and workers with the knowledge, skills threats and demonstrate appropriate and confidence required to survive measures to stay safe online, both in the and to thrive in a changing labour workplace and in their personal lives. market. In addition, the delivery of targeted positive action learning We would like to re-state our thanks to opportunities has led to increases in the Fair Work Directorate of the Scottish under-represented workers undertaking Government. We share the Scottish courses and becoming more involved in Government’s vision for Fair Work as their union. the central element of an economy that delivers inclusive growth, and we are 3 As this annual report explains, fortunate that Scottish Government Scottish Union Learning courses support for union learning reflects a cover everything from ePublishing wider commitment to provide access to maritime cyber security, and from for all. Our unique “offer” is the way women’s pensions to the environmental Scottish Union Learning extends that impact of waste. Our ability to offer this educational access to workers, at or near educational variety relies heavily on our their place of work. diverse range of education partners. In total we worked with 39 providers in The disruption and dislocation of 2017 including colleges, universities and political, economic and technological freelance specialists. Our procurement change is a threat to the skills, jobs and process is highly competitive and it is livelihoods of workers across Scotland, important that we acknowledge and but with our funding and delivery thank our wide range of partners for partners, we know that we met that helping us to maintain the quality and challenge head on in 2017 and will do choice our learners demand. so again in the years to come. 2017 Annual Report Structure Scottish Union Learning Learning. The Board includes members supports trade unions in of the General Council, representatives of affiliated trade unions, the STUC General accessing skills and lifelong Secretary and a TUC nominated member. learning opportunities for their members that contribute to The Union Advisory Group provides advice and information on strategic and collective prosperity, fairness operational matters, as requested by the and equality, for workers across Board, including updates on changes Scotland. in the strategic direction on learning and skills of individual unions. The Structure Partners’ Advisory Group contributes to The STUC General Council established discussions about the strategic direction Scottish Union Learning to deliver, in of Scottish Union Learning, advises partnership with unions, workplace on future development, and shares learning opportunities in all sectors across information on the strategic direction of Scotland, in line with STUC policy on partner organisations. learning and skills. The Scottish Union Learning Team The Scottish Union Learning Board delivers the work of Scottish Union was established to direct and oversee Learning in line with the Business Plan and Workplan approved by the Board. 4 the strategy and work of Scottish Union STUC General Council Scottish Union Learning Board Partners’ Union Advisory Group Advisory Group Director of Scottish Union TUC Education Operational Learning Officer Scotland Group Admin Manager/ Development Funding & Policy Secretary to the Officers Officer Board Admin TUC Education 2017 Marketing Finance Assistants Secretary/Admin Annual Officer Officer Report Assistant The Board Appointed by the STUC General Staff The inaims Attendance and objectives: of Council, the Scottish Union Wendy Scottish Burton, Union Director Learning are to: Gus Grubb, TUC Education Officer Learning Board oversees and Ann promote Garscadden, trade union-ledSecretary tolearning the Board and directs the work of Scottish skills development in line with STUC ObserverPolicy on: Christine learning Hamilton-Rice,and skills; Union Learning. Scottish support Government unions in identifying and meeting the skills and learning needs The Scottish Union Learning Board of their members and in organising determines the aims and strategic workplace learning opportunities objectives of Scottish Union Learning. across Scotland, with specific resources These are outlined in the Business Plan dedicated to the Highlands and Islands; and Workplan approved by the Board for the year. As well as agreeing the assist unions in identifying the needs annual budget, the Board is responsible of Union Learning Representatives, for the allocation and monitoring of and provide appropriate support; all Scottish Union Learning funding, provide assistance to unions including the allocation of funding from in accessing Everyday Skills the Development Fund and Learning opportunities for their members; Fund, and any additional funding secured to support the work of Scottish Union work with unions to increase digital Learning. participation and awareness of Cyber Security issues in workplaces across 5 Scotland; Chair: Peter Hunter, UNISON promote the development of Vice Chair: John Brown, CWU leadership capacity within unions; promote learning or action which Members: Robert Mooney (Disabled increases equality awareness Workers’ Representative); Roza Salih and tackles inequality and (Young Workers’ Representative); Helen under-representation at work; Connor (EIS); Jackson Cullinane (Unite); Karen Foster (PCS); Brian Linn (Aegis the encourage and support employer Union); Jane Rose (Prospect); and Paul engagement in delivering learning Shaw (RMT). and upgrading skills; establish relationships with partner Grahame Smith, STUC General Secretary, is organisations in the provision of an ex officio member of the Board and Ian learning and skills; Borkett, unionlearn, is the TUC nominated member. continue to develop resources for unions, ULRs, and learners; and A representative of the Scottish work with the TUC in ensuring the Government’s Fair Work Directorate provision of a comprehensive trade 2017 attends as an observer to the Board. Annual union education service suitable to Report the needs of unions in Scotland. Advisory Groups Union Advisory Group Partners’ Advisory Group The Union Advisory Group and Partners’ Advisory Group the Partners’ Advisory Group The Partners’ Advisory Group was provide advice and information established to contributes to discussions to the Board on strategic and about the strategic direction of Scottish operational matters. Union Learning, advises on future development, and shares information Union Advisory Group on the strategic direction of partner organisations. The Group’s remit includes: The Union Advisory Group was contributing to discussions about the established by the General Council to strategic direction of Scottish Union provide support to the Board in the Learning; development of future strategy by providing updates on changes in the advising Scottish Union Learning on strategic direction of individual unions, ways in which it could develop in order examples of good practice in trade union to better achieve its objectives and learning, and operational information, as further its role; required. sharing information on the strategic The Group’s remit includes: direction of partner organisations; championing the value of union learning 6 providing operational information that will inform the Board in making in the wider world of learning and skills. strategic decisions; Chair Grahame Smith, STUC General Secretary identifying strategic or operational issues for the Board to consider; Membership Dyslexia Scotland, Education Scotland, advising the Board of changes in the Equate Scotland, Glasgow Kelvin College, strategic direction of individual unions; Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Learning Link Scotland, Newbattle Abbey College, providing the Board with examples of Scottish Adult Learning Partnership, good practice in trade union learning. Scottish Book Trust, Scottish Enterprise