Issue 41
Union Learning Fund ‘under threat’
The government is said to be planning to withdraw its support for the successful Union Learning Fund in March 2021.
The TES reported the news, just a week after prime minister Boris Johnson announced a "skills guarantee" for adult learners.
Established in 1988, the fund costs around £11 million a year and delivers a range of learning and training programmes to around 250,000 workers. The TES pointed to a report published by UnionLearn and the Department for Education in 2018-19, which showed that every £1 invested in the fund resulted in a total economic return of £12.30.
The TUC is reported to be seeking an urgent meeting with ministers.
https://www.tes.com/news/union-learning-fund-be-scrapped-march-2021