Learning At Work Day

From: May 24th 2007 until May 24th 2007

National Learning at Work (LAW) Day on Thursday 24 May is an annual awareness campaign promoting and supporting workplace learning events across the UK. The Campaign for Learning (CfL) started organising LAW Day in 1999 as part of Adult Learners' Week to draw attention to workplace learning and skills. The Day itself works as a 'hook' to draw people and organisations into workplace learning who might not otherwise get involved and to lead to further learning opportunities.

LAW Day allows thousands of organisations to engage staff who might not normally take part in learning. Fun, informal learning can be far more successful in engaging employees who do not readily participate than a 'formal' course of programmes. Informal learning can also have a powerful effect on an organisations goals - for example a day of job swaps can improve employees' understanding of how their workplace operates and can lead to more streamlined processes and better working relationships.

LAW Day is shaped by the employer and can be tailored to the needs of the workforcewhether this is a case of improving motivation by embedding 'learning breaks' throughout the day, or helping reduce stress by offering tasters on aromatherapy. CfL can offer support - including ideas, promotional materials, and regional assistance - to make it happen. A key element of LAW Day is clear signposting to further learning opportunities that will help achieve organisational,and individual,learning goals. LAW Day can also be used to promote existing training opportunities offered at work that not everyone within the organisation may be taking advantage of.

For more information and to request free LAW Day materials, visit the Campaign for Learning website.

Working in Partnership

The STUC supports many trade union learning events throughout Scotland during Adult Learners Week. A supplement on union learning will run in the Sunday Herald on 20th May and in the Herald on 22nd May 2007. This may be of interest to union members throughout Scotland, so don't forget to pick up a copy!

As a part of Adult Learners' Week, the Tayside Union Learning Reps Forum is holding a pub quiz on Friday 25th May 2007 at 7:00 pm at Ferrari's in Dundee. Sponsored by the STUC Skills & Lifelong Learning Team, this pub quiz will help bring members of different unions from throughout the Tayside area together to promote lifelong learning. There will be food, a raffle and prizes available to all who participate. For more information on how to enter a team, contact Colin McAteer by email.

The Rail Union Learning Project will hold Open Days in Glasgow Queen Street Station, Glasgow Central Station and Motherwell Station on 24th May and in Edinburgh Waverley Station on 25th May to promote the new Trade Union Local History course to members. For more information contact Jim Baxter by phone on 0787 216 4213.

PCS Scotland has organised a number of events throughout the country to celebrate Learning at Work Day, including an Open Day at HM Revenue and Customs Accounts Office in Cumbernauld. For more information contact Kevin McIver by phone on 0141 548 5080.

Community will be holding an event at the Jimmy Brandon Learning Centre on 24th May between 10am-3pm. There will be an ILA Advisor on hand all day. For more information contact Geraldine Donnelly by phone on 01698 304 575.

Usdaw will be holding events in multiple locations on Learning at Work Day, one of which will include canoe building skills! For more information contact Margaret Fleming by phone on 0141 4276561.

Unison and Amicus have organised a cross-union event at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness to take place on 24th May. Unions and learning partners will have stalls and members will have the opportunity to participate in taster sessions in head and neck message, stress relief, assertiveness and much more! For more information contact Philippa Clark by email.

For further information on Learning at Work Day or Adult Learners' Week, contact:

Jennifer Payne
Marketing Officer
STUC Skills & Lifelong Learning Team
333 Woodlands Road
Glasgow, G3 6NG
Tel: 0141 337 8130
Mobile: 0770 283 6478
or
send an Email