Everyday Skills Event 2025

The 17^th Annual Everyday Skills Event ‘Supporting Learners in the Workplace’ was held online on Thursday the 27^th of February 2025. The Event enabled trade unions to raise awareness of Everyday Skills issues in the workplace and share best practice in supporting those with Everyday Skills needs.

It was attended by Union Learning Representatives, Learning Organisers, Equality Reps, Tutors and members who cascade information and skills in workplaces.

The event was chaired by Catherine Garvie, Senior Development Officer, Scottish Union Learning and addressed by Roz Foyer, General Secretary, STUC, and Wendy Burton, Director of Scottish Union Learning. Guest speaker Philippa Cochrane, Head of Reading Communities at the Scottish Book Trust, gave a presentation on ‘Reading for Pleasure - supporting learners to build a lifelong reading habit to unlock lifelong benefits.’

Delegates also attended one-hour breakout sessions on the following topics:

• The Cost of Living, Energy and The Scottish Budget led by Lisa Cope, Money Advice Scotland.
• Boosting Inclusion through Communication led by Vickki Rowlands, Ellie Glasgow and Jaclynn Smith, ESOL Scotland.
• How to Rig an Election with AI led by Craig Steel, Digital Skills Education.

Feedback from the Event was very positive and included the following:

“Excellent speakers and presentations, very informative.”

“Absolutely loved the sessions, really interactive and thought provoking. Thank you!”

“Thanks to all the team for putting this on! Great to connect with other union initiatives, projects and cross-sector skills.”

Visit our Everyday Skills page for more on our work in this area.