STUC. Scottish Union Learning. The learning force behind Scotland's workers.

Learning Providers

The STUC invites expressions of interest from suitably qualified learning providers to be included on the tender list for the opportunity to deliver a range of educational courses to learners within the workplace at various locations in Lowlands and Uplands Scotland.

Learning Providers who have previously worked with the STUC to deliver courses through the Learning Fund need not apply.

The STUC has been successful in securing additional funding from Scottish Government and the European Social Fund (ESF) for the period April 2011 to March 2012.

Two separate elements of support are available to trade unions in the form of a Development Fund and a Learning Fund. The Development Fund supports trade unions in their drive to improve access to lifelong learning opportunities for workers across Scotland by supporting a full or part time project worker to establish a learning infrastructure in the workplace. The Learning Fund directly finances collective learning provision to meet the demands for workplace learning. The Learning Fund is funding of last resort, with projects demonstrating that all other avenues of funding have been exhausted.

Demand and Delivery

Demand for courses is measured through learning surveys carried out by union learning representatives. Types of courses include: ICT, Languages, Everyday Skills, Employability Skills and Personal Development.

Where learning facilities exist, courses will be delivered in the workplace. If necessary, suppliers will be required to source appropriate learning facilities. Suppliers must be able to deliver learning at times which suit different shift patterns and weekend delivery may also be required. We are looking for learning solutions which meet the needs of adult learners and will look at tenders on a course by course basis to find the best course and method of delivery for that topic.

The number of participants on each course will vary and will be dependent on demand, employee release and the learning facilities available.

For some courses there will be specialist requirements such as provision of a BSL interpreter.

Funding

The total funding available from April 2011 to March 2012 is £425,000.

Successful trade unions have been awarded a notional budget for the Learning Fund which is linked to approved targets.