Search Pages tagged member learning

In your region

Most member and activist training is organised on a regional basis. To find out about what’s available near you, contact your regional education team using the details below: Eastern (Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk) Contact name: Eastern Education Team Email: easterneducation@unison.co.uk Telephone: 01245 608905 Eastern regional education website    East Midlands (Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, […]

Page on the UNISON College site.

Return to Learn and Women’s Lives

These 10-week courses are designed for members who may have been away from learning for some time. They’re run for us by the Workers Educational Association (WEA) in a welcoming and supportive environment. There are no exams to take. It’s nothing like going back to school! At the end of the course you will receive […]

Page on the UNISON College site.

The Open University

In 2004 UNISON and The Open University joined forces to open up doors to learning for public service workers, and over nearly two decades thousands of UNISON members have taken advantage of our partnership to get qualifications, broaden their skills and knowledge, and move on in their careers. We’re now working together to review and […]

Page on the UNISON College site.

WEA one-day workshops

We offer a range of shorter workshops delivered by the WEA (Workers’ Educational Association). Want to find out whether any of these workshops is running near you? Or are you a learning rep who wants to run one of them in your workplace? Contact your regional education team. Personal development Power to be you The […]

Page on the UNISON College site.

Learning online

Providing learning opportunities for our members has always been an essential part of our role – so, while we have had to postpone all face to face training during this current crisis, we have massively ramped up our online learning provision. Here is a selection of online training provided by UNISON and our partners that […]

Page on the UNISON College site.

Our partnerships

UNISON works in partnership with a number of well-known organisations, networks, and programmes. Open University The Open University and UNISON partnership is based firmly on a shared goal – to widen access to education and training to extend learning opportunities to those who have previously been unable to access them. To achieve this goal, both […]

Page on the UNISON College site.

English, maths and IT

Are you interested in improving your English, maths or IT skills? Your employer has a responsibility to address your training needs in these areas. You can also contact your region for information about courses or providers in your area. UNISON has a national agreement with the WEA. GCSE maths and English courses are often free at […]

Page on the UNISON College site.

Supporting English, maths and IT learning

  Many UNISON members would like to improve their skills and confidence in some area of English, maths, or IT. Learning reps are ideally placed to identify and address these needs. Identifying interest and need A workplace learning survey could help to identify English, maths and IT needs. Look at the Learning and Development tile […]

Page on the UNISON College site.

Supporting English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

Government withdrawal of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) funding for people in work has made UNISON’s ability to organise workplace ESOL classes increasingly challenging. The responsibility to meet the English language needs of workers rests with employers. Many employers are keen to offer ESOL for their staff but not to fund it. Although […]

Page on the UNISON College site.

Non-formal ESOL learning opportunities

UNISON support for non-formal workplace ESOL learning could take place before, during and after formal ESOL classes are arranged, as well as where ESOL classes cannot be negotiated. Coaching support for self-directed learning can be empowering. Short taster activities can build confidence and skills that help people progress while giving workers a positive first experience […]

Page on the UNISON College site.

Lifelong learning co-ordinator

Branches, through their officers, have responsibilities to… provide opportunities for the education of members and the development of activists UNISON Code of Good Branch Practice The role of the lifelong learning co-ordinator is to lead on member learning in the branch. They work closely with the branch education co-ordinator and the same person might even […]

Page on the UNISON College site.

Negotiating for workplace ESOL learning

Government withdrawal of ESOL funding for people in work has made UNISON’s ability to organise workplace ESOL classes increasingly challenging. However, UNISON can still play an important role in supporting ESOL learners and ESOL learning in the workplace. UNISON is in a great position to bring employers, providers and learners together so our role in […]

Page on the UNISON College site.

Support for learners on a workplace ESOL course

Negotiating delivery of structured ESOL learning with an employer and ensuring the learning provider meets the needs of UNISON members is success in itself. However, our involvement shouldn’t end there. UNISON’s ongoing support for ESOL learning can make a big difference to members’ motivation and learning experience. There are many ways that branches, activists and […]

Page on the UNISON College site.

Organising around ESOL learning

Mapping Knowing where migrant workers are based, their job roles, which languages they speak, what (if any) language needs they have, what barriers to learning they may face, what workplace issues they are experiencing, how they feel about trade unions, and which community organisations they have links with, will help inform and structure workplace organising. […]

Page on the UNISON College site.

Life Long Learning

Learning doesn’t need to stop when we leave formal education and if we want to move forward in a career then continuous learning is essential. Many of us will not have had positive early education experiences, and returning to learning can be daunting. But UNISON, and the partners we work with, will ensure that if […]

Page on the UNISON South East site.