Almost 70,000 more people will have access to work-based learning this year as a result of £3m worth of contracts awarded by the Learning and Skills Council under the Union Learning Fund.
The fund enables unions to respond to employers’ needs by supporting training in literacy and numeracy and providing opportunities to gain NVQ qualifications at Levels 1 and 2.
An estimated 3.5 million people in the workfroce are unable to read well. To date, more than 170,000 people from 50 trade unions have completed basic skills courses in 4,000 workplaces.
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Pam Vaughan, director of skills for employment at the Learning and Skills Council said: “Many of the individuals who access training funded through the Union Learning Fund find it a life-changing experience.
“The majority have not taken part in learning since leaving school and the opportunity to gain formal qualifications can give them new-found confidence and enthusiasm in their work.”
