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

Learning at Work Day

National Learning at Work (LAW) Day 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.

Organising a Learning Event

If you are interested in organising a learning event in your workplace, you may find the following ideas useful! For additional help in planning a learning event, download the Organising a Learning Event publication put together by Scottish Union Learning.

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

Jennifer Payne
Marketing Officer
Scottish Union Learning
333 Woodlands Road
Glasgow, G3 6NG
Tel: 0141 337 8130
Mobile: 0770 283 6478
or
send an Email

Working in Partnership 2007

The STUC supports many trade union learning events throughout Scotland during Adult Learners Week. For some examples of events that took place in 2007, keep reading!

As a part of Adult Learners' Week, the Tayside Union Learning Reps Forum held a pub quiz on at Ferrari's in Dundee. Sponsored by the Scottish Union Learning, this pub quiz helped bring members of different unions from throughout the Tayside area together to promote lifelong learning. There was food, a raffle and prizes available to all who participated. To view some photos follow the link on the left. For more information on how this event was organised, contact Colin McAteer by email.

The Rail Union Learning Project held Open Days in Glasgow Queen Street Station, Glasgow Central Station, Motherwell Station and Edinburgh Waverley Station to promote the new Trade Union Local History course to members.

PCS Scotland organised a number of events throughout the country to celebrate Learning at Work Day. PCS members were treated to an ever expanding range of learning opportunities and taster sessions in workplaces throughout Adult Learners' Week. PCS Learning Reps are continually looking for more imaginative ways to encourage members into accessing lifelong learning opportunities to enhance both their personal and professional life.

Just some of the taster sessions organised by PCS Learning Reps were:
-Guitar lessons
-Conversational Spanish
-Digital Photography
-Card Making
-Japanese
-Cookery classes
-Keep Fit
-Birds of Prey demo
-Hula Hoop and Juggling
-Polish Awareness
-Talking Italian
-Dance Lessons

Community held an event at the Jimmy Brandon Learning Centre. There was an ILA Advisor on hand all day.

Usdaw held events in multiple locations on Learning at Work Day, and one of which included canoe building skills!

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