LRD guides and handbook April 2020

Skills for work - the union response to future needs

Skills for work sets out the latest policy for learning and skills at the workplace under the new Conservative government. It examines the role and input of trade unions in influencing developments and tackling the issue of access to lifelong learning opportunities as demands for different skills rapidly increase. In a new era for the union learning and skills agenda, Skills for work examines how unions are reacting to and tackling the changing skills needs of the economy as a result of automation, digitalisation and the impact of the climate crisis.

Further information

Introduction [pages 3-4] (655 words)

Rapid industrial change is taking place in the UK and globally, driven by automation and digitalisation and often referred to as the fourth ...
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Chapter 1

1. Background [ch 1: page 5] (414 words)

The urgent need for an expansion of adult learning focusing on skills for the future is a global one. ...
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The UK skills crisis [ch 1: page 6] (245 words)

Employer response [ch 1: pages 6-7] (314 words)

Chapter 2

2. Automation and new technology [ch 2: page 8] (296 words)

Technological development and change has always disrupted jobs but an appropriate planned response to it can mitigate the scale of damage caused by ...
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Financial and insurance [ch 2: pages 8-9] (481 words)

Public services and automation [ch 2: pages 9-11] (603 words)

Manufacturing [ch 2: pages 11-12] (596 words)

Retail [ch 2: pages 12-13] (396 words)

Chapter 3

3. The climate crisis — green jobs and green skills [ch 3: page 14] (168 words)

Research carried out by YouGov has found that people of all ages, from all regions across the UK, are “looking for a job with environmental ...
Open access

Trade union policy on climate change [ch 3: pages 14-15] (588 words)

Local and regional automation plans [ch 3: pages 16-17] (452 words)

Green/environment reps [ch 3: page 17] (88 words)

The Environment Bill [ch 3: page 17] (108 words)

Green energy jobs [ch 3: pages 17-19] (759 words)

Chapter 4

4. Current skills system problems [ch 4: page 20] (79 words)

The adult skills crisis in the UK has been exacerbated by historic and systemic skills training weaknesses and failures of government policy. These ...
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The apprenticeship levy [ch 4: pages 20-23] (1,541 words)

The need to expand adult learning and education [ch 4: pages 24-25] (763 words)

The need to tackle skills funding [ch 4: pages 25-26] (284 words)

Regional skills devolution [ch 4: pages 26-29] (1,222 words)

Chapter 5

5. Government proposals for change [ch 5: page 30] (65 words)

The March 2020 Budget was widely expected to include a number of key skills policy changes and proposals. However, the onset of the coronavirus ...
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The Augar Review [ch 5: pages 30-32] (943 words)

National Skills Fund and ‘right to retrain’ [ch 5: page 32] (252 words)

National Retraining Scheme [ch 5: page 33] (448 words)

Skills Advisory Panels [ch 5: page 34] (260 words)

Chapter 6

6. Rights to training [ch 6: page 35] (28 words)

Employees in the UK have few rights in relation to training but there are some, which are set out here. ...
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Right to request time to train [ch 6: pages 35-36] (601 words)

Time off for union learning reps [ch 6: pages 36-37] (305 words)

The Employment Act 2002 [ch 6: page 37] (123 words)

Acas Code of Practice [ch 6: pages 37-38] (340 words)

Chapter 7

7. Union action and initiatives [ch 7: page 39] (53 words)

This Chapter looks at the growth and involvement of trade unions in lifelong learning and skills provision detailing the development of the union ...
Open access

Impact of unions on learning and skills [ch 7: page 39] (148 words)

The union record [ch 7: page 39] (76 words)

The Union Learning Fund [ch 7: pages 39-41] (543 words)

Union learning reps [ch 7: page 41-42] (428 words)

Supporting civil service learners ULF project [ch 7: page 42] (283 words)

Thomas Cook and Unite [ch 7: page 43] (294 words)

Unionlearn: Midlife Career Reviews [ch 7: pages 43-44] (425 words)

Unionlearn: Digital inclusion [ch 7: pages 44-45] (374 words)

Union Learning Fund and digital skills [ch 7: page 45] (275 words)

Unions continue to provide skills training despite coronavirus [ch 7: pages 46-47] (595 words)

Further information

Further information [page 48] (259 words)

Acas: Provides free and confidential advice to employers, employees and their representatives on employment rights, best practice and policies: ...
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