Scottish Union Learning | Learner of the Year Award

2026 Learner of the Year Award

Natalie Price — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 13:23:00 +0000

The 2026 Scottish Union Learning Learner of the Year Award will take place during STUC Congress 2026 (20-22 April 2026) at Caird Hall, Dundee.

2025 Learner of the Year Award

Natalie Price — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 16:16:00 +0100

The recipient for the Scottish Union Learning Learner of the Year Award 2025 was Sean Paul Gracie, a member of the Community trade union.

2024 Learner of the Year Award

Natalie Price — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 12:04:00 +0000

The recipient for the STUC Scottish Union Learning Learner of the Year Award 2024 was RMT member Ross Henderson.

2023 Learner of the Year Award

Natalie Price — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 15:45:00 +0100

2022 Learner of the Year Award

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 20:24:00 +0100

2020 Learner of the Year Award

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 14:31:00 +0100

2019 Learner of the Year Award

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 11:54:00 +0100

The recipient of the 2019 Learner of the Year Award was Jena Hunter, a member of the BECTU Sector of Prospect.

2018 Learner of the Year Award

Fri, 16 Nov 2018 09:32:00 +0000

Isabella Sutherland, a member of Unite the Union who works in Aberdeen as a Heli-pad administrator for Aramark in the offshore catering sector, received the 8th Annual Learner of the Year Award from the STUC at the 11th Annual Scottish Union Learning Conference in Clydebank, Glasgow on Tuesday, 13 November 2018. The Award was presented by Ivan McKee MSP, Minister for Trade, Investment and Innovation.

2017 Learner of the Year Award

Wed, 15 Nov 2017 14:32:00 +0000

2016 Learner of the Year Award

Wed, 09 Nov 2016 09:00:00 +0000

At the 2016 Learning Conference, Scottish Union Learning presented the 6th Annual Learner of the Year Award to Lauren McDonald, a CWU member who works at BT Dial House in Glasgow.

2015 Learner of the Year Award

Thu, 12 Nov 2015 08:46:00 +0000

BARRY WELDON

RMT

The fifth annual Learner of the Year Award was presented to RMT member Barry Weldon, who is a Travel Clerk based at Glasgow Queen Street Station. The presentation was made by Roseanna Cunningham, Cabinet Secretary for Fair Work, Skills and Training and Grahame Smith, General Secretary of the STUC, at the Scottish Union Learning Conference 2015.

Barry was chosen as the 2015 Learner of the Year because of his commitment to learning and equalities. He struggled at school, especially with English, and left aged 17, giving up his dream of going to university to work in the retail sector. Five years ago, he joined the rail industry, and returned to learning through his passion for equalities by undertaking a trade union equalities course organised by RMT at Glasgow Kelvin College. Experiencing some difficulties due to the high volume of reading, Barry suspected he may have dyslexia. He confided in RMT Union Learning Rep Mary Jane Herbison, who advised him to contact Scottish Union Learning. After initial discussions, Barry was referred to the Learner Support Co-ordinator at the College who organised a series of assessments and provided excellent support.

2014 Learner of the Year Award

Site administrator — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 13:26:00 +0000

ALASDAIR MACLEAN

CWU

Glasgow Royal Mail Centre

The recipient of the fourth Learner of the Year Award was Alasdair Maclean, a Communication Workers Union (CWU) member and Postal Worker at the Glasgow Royal Mail Centre in Springburn. Alasdair was chosen as the 2014 Learner of the Year because of his strong commitment to learning, despite his physical difficulties caused by Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

2013 Learner of the Year Award

Site administrator — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 13:27:00 +0000

PAUL MITCHELL

UCATT

City Building

The recipient of the 2013 Learner of the Year Award was Paul Mitchell, a UCATT member at City Building in Glasgow. Paul was nominated by his union because his learning journey embodies how, through an individual’s hard work and with support from trade unions and employers, can change life for the better. Paul was presented with the Learner of the Year Award by Grahame Smith, STUC General Secretary, at the Scottish Union Learning Conference in Edinburgh on Wednesday 20 November 2013.

2012 Learner of the Year Award

Site administrator — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 13:27:00 +0000

ROBERT HIGGINS

Unite the Union

FirstGroup

The recipient of the second Learner of the Year Award was Robert Higgins, a cleaner at the FirstBus depot in Blantyre since 2005. Robert is a member of Unite the Union, and earlier this year, he approached his Union Learning Rep, Ewan McLean, in the workplace learning centre for help with his literacy and numeracy skills.

2011 Learner of the Year Award

Site administrator — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 13:27:00 +0000

SUSAN MANSON

USDAW

Morrisons

The first recipient of the Learner of the Year Award was Susan Manson, a cleaner at the Morrisons store in Airdrie. Susan was nominated by her union, USDAW, because her story is a powerful example of how union learning is supporting those who never thought learning was for them.