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Gallery: 2017 Scottish Union Learning Conference

The 10th Annual Scottish Union Learning Conference was held on Wednesday, 15 November 2017 in the COSLA Conference Centre, Edinburgh. The theme of the Conference was: “The Demands of a Changing Labour Market.” This national conference brought together 100 representatives from 23 trade unions in Scotland.

The Conference was Chaired by Peter Hunter, Chair of the Scottish Union Learning Board. Suzie Bowman, Senior Service Designer at Skills Development Scotland, addressed the Conference on our digital future. This was followed by a Panel Session on the demands of a changing labour market, which was made up of Patricia Findlay, Professor of Work and Employment Relations and Director of the Scottish Centre for Employment Research at the University of Strathclyde, Helen Martin, STUC Assistant General Secretary, and Cailean Gallagher, STUC Campaigns & Communications Officer.

Delegates listened to a speech from Brian Ronald, recipient of the 2017 STUC Helen Dowie Award for Lifelong Learning, and watched a filmed speech of Sharon Sweeney, recipient of the 2017 STUC Equality Award.

The Conference was addressed by Jamie Hepburn MSP, Minister for Employability and Training, who also presented the 7th Annual STUC Learner of the Year Award to Priscilla Maramba, a UNISON member who works at Stirling Council. Delegates explored the role of union learning in meeting the demands of a changing labour market through participation in workshops that focused on tackling inequality, empowering workers in the gig economy, cyber security, and apprenticeships.

The workshop titles were:

  • Using Learning to Tackle Inequality
  • The Gig Economy - Empowering Workers
  • Personal Cyber Security
  • Apprenticeships and Unions

Atta Yaqub, Actor and Community Activist, addressed the Conference in the afternoon. Grahame Smith, STUC General Secretary, delivered the final Conference address of the day before Wendy Burton, Director of Scottish Union Learning, closed the Conference.

The Conference was supported by Skills Development Scotland and SQA. Exhibitors included Age Scotland, Affinity Connect, Digital Unions: Cyber Resilience, Fife College, Lighthouse Financial Advice, Polaris Learning, QA Ltd., SCQF Partnership, Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Qualifications Authority, SSVQ, The Open University in Scotland, and the Workers' Educational Association.

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2017 Scottish Union Learning Conference Programme

Photo Gallery

Priscilla Maramba of UNISON, winner of the Scottish Union Learning Learner of the Year Award 2017

Photos by Fraser Band.

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