Leading online training provider The Skills Network has secured a contract with Unionlearn and the Trades Union Congress (TUC), the national federation of trade unions in England and Wales, to become the preferred provider of funded training to over 50 trade unions.
TUC are the nation’s sole federation of trade unions and represent over 5.6 million members. Via this new contract, The Skills Network will significantly expand its national training provision to trade unions, as the preferred provider of funded distance learning qualifications to all 57 TUC unions.
The TUC represent a large number of trade unions in the UK, and are affiliated with major unions such as UNISON and GMB Union. Unionlearn is the learning and skills organisation arm of the TUC.
The new TUC contract coincides with The Skills Network’s track record of delivering large-scale training funded by the Adult Education Budget (AEB) to unions such as Unite the Union, The Communication Workers Union and AEGIS, all of whom are also affiliated with the TUC.
Last year, The Skills Network supported over 500 members of Unite the Union to enrol onto a recognised qualification.
Now, with access to fully funded AEB training, members across all TUC unions will be able to upskill via nationally recognised qualifications in subjects such as mental health, leadership and management, early years care, and health and social care.
Funding for the training will be facilitated by The Skills Network’s sub-contracted funding arrangements with over 40 Further Education Colleges.
James Earl, Executive Sales Director at The Skills Network, said:
“We’re extremely proud to be building on the brilliant work we have achieved in enabling trade unions access to funded training, and providing real, flexible, lifelong professional learning opportunities to union members.
We’re thoroughly delighted to have launched this significant project with the UK’s largest trade union federation, the Trades Union Congress (TUC). This partnership is a real milestone for The Skills Network, as we have been supporting trade unions for over a decade now.
We believe we’re going to make a real difference in allowing TUC unions to access funded training in leading areas such as mental health.”
Kevin Rowan, Director of Unionlearn, said:
“The new learning partnership that Unionlearn has forged with The Skills Network is fantastic news for workplace learners. The courses cover a wide range of subjects, are fully accredited at level 2 and can be studied at the learner’s own pace – allowing learners to build up skills that can help with both professional and personal development.”
