STUC General Secretary and Public Finance Minister workplace visit

Scottish Union Learning worked with the Joint Trades Union Council (JTUC) at City Building and RSBi to organise a workplace visit from Roz Foyer, STUC General Secretary, and Ivan McKee MSP, Minister for Public Finance, which took place on 6^th November 2025.

City Building is one of the biggest employers of apprentices in Scotland. Unite works to ensure union-led learning opportunities beyond the confines of the apprenticeship frameworks are open, available, and accessible to apprentices across the trades. City Building was presented with the Platinum Investors in Young People Award that day, in recognition of the work undertaken by the employer.

Thomas Glavin, Chairperson of the JTUC, said, ‘The event was a great chance for the workforce at the City Building Training College and RSBi to showcase the great work that can be done when organisations work closely with their employees. When the workplace is organised trade unions can make great things happen, benefitting all parties.

‘This workplace visit demonstrated that young people are at the forefront of all we do. It provided a unique opportunity to give our support staff and trade union reps a chance to be seen and appreciated for all the hard work that they do in providing additional support to the workforce.

Scottish Union Learning funding brings great benefits to our workplace; it is something that we value greatly and needs to be supported.’

The visit provided an opportunity for Mr McKee and Ms Foyer to hear directly from young workers who had benefitted from learning programmes organised by Unite and Community.

Sean Paul Gracie, recipient of the SUL Learner of the Year Award 2025, was on hand to welcome the dignitaries to RSBi, where they met with young people on the workplace’s schools programme.

Steven McGurk, Community ULR, added, ‘The workforce development opportunities delivered through the unions and funded by Scottish Union Learning helps learners develop skills that they need both at work and within their broader lives. We work hard to ensure that our workplaces implement Fair Work practices; you can see the result of those efforts here today.’

Sharon Wearing, Executive Director, City Building, said, ‘We value the joint work we deliver with our trade union partners. Working together is an essential part of how our business operates, to the benefit of all, including our customers. We are delighted to be receiving the Platinum Investors in Young People Award today and to welcome the STUC General Secretary and Minister for Public Finance to our campus.’

Roz Foyer, STUC General Secretary added, ‘The workers at City Building are a shining example of how unions can work alongside employers to build a thriving workforce with learning and development at its heart. They’re thoroughly deserving of their award and I look forward to them going from strength to strength with decent, fair work practices underpinning their working lives.’

Congratulating City Building on receiving the Investors in Young People Award, Ivan McKee MSP, Minister for Public Finance said, ‘This achievement demonstrates City Building’s commitment to developing Scotland’s young workforce and creating opportunities that can transform lives.’

‘We are backing organisations like City Building to deliver high-quality training and skills development that workers need. Through our £2 million union learning funding, we’re supporting 23 programmes across Scotland, including expanding access to literacy and numeracy courses for some employees at City Building.’

Unite and Community continue to implement a model of workforce development at the site, placing learners at the heart of the programmes. Working together as union members, workers develop innovative skills-based programmes and models of delivery which lead to real and progressive advances in their working lives.