Unsung heroes bringing learning to the workplace

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LAST week, Union Learning Representatives from the Communication Workers Union gathered in Cardiff for their annual two-day workshop, which presented me with an ideal opportunity to promote the role of trade unions in workplace learning.

Union Learning Representatives – or ULRs – are a dedicated band of people working on behalf of their unions in businesses and organisations, helping colleagues to acquire new skills and access learning and training opportunities.

We currently have more than 1,300 trained ULRs in Wales representing all the major unions and I am pleased the Assembly Government, through the Wales Union Learning Fund and our partnership with the Wales TUC, supports their sterling work.

Learning reps are often described as unsung heroes as they take on a tremendous responsibility and work incredibly hard to deliver learning in the workplace and receive no additional pay.


ULRs have a key role in organising that training and negotiating with management to deliver training, as buy-in is vital for this to succeed.

One thing all ULRs have in common is a passion for learning and their enthusiasm and encouragement are responsible for the increasing number of people undertaking workplace learning in Wales.

Many people they help may have few, if any, qualifications and often very little confidence in their own ability until they take those first tentative steps.

Rather like the wording of that advertisement – ULRs take learning to parts that others fail to reach.

This is particularly true where people work in more geographically isolated locations where access to learning may be difficult or where people are working on their own or freelancing.

Rosalind Wilkins, the current holder of the Wales TUC Union Learning Representative of the Year title, has helped many people who could be described as being “geographically isolated”’. Ros is a full time freelance make-up artist in the television and film industry and the Bectu learning rep for their South Wales branch.

“Organising training for freelancers has its own particular barriers,” she says.

“When not working, freelancers are often geographically isolated and training can be expensive because not only do they have to pay for courses, they also need to take time off for training, with the resulting loss of income.”

Ros has overcome these barriers by consulting regularly with her colleagues, finding out their personal training needs and tailoring courses accordingly by liaising effectively with providers and funders.

Since taking up the unpaid role of a learning rep, she has organised a range of relevant, focused and affordable courses for colleagues.

I have also been impressed with the work that ULRs have undertaken during the recession, when many companies were struggling to survive and have had to make redundancies.

In tandem with their unions, they have supported people facing redundancy, helped prepare them to look for new work and worked with Careers Wales and the ReAct programme to help them gain new skills or consider self-employment.

Raising the skills of the workforce is a key part of our agenda and we warmly welcome the support and involvement of the trade unions. The Wales Union Learning Fund (WULF) has provided just under £11m to help thousands of employees across Wales access learning and gain new skills.

We received 20 applications in the latest bidding round from unions for support through WULF which are now being evaluated. I look forward to announcing the successful applications in the New Year.

Lesley Griffiths is Deputy Minister for Science, Innovation and Skills in the Welsh Assembly Government