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Union celebrates as campaign nets 10,000th learner
A campaign by retailing and distribution trade union Usdaw to help workers return to learning has enrolled its 10,000th participant. Usdaw, the UK's fifth biggest union, began its Lifelong Learning campaign six years ago, and has set up learning projects in more than 150 UK workplaces. Courses vary from workplace to workplace, depending on demand, but usually include maths, English and computing. Through Lifelong Learning, Usdaw representatives and officials work with employers and local colleges to set up affordable, and often free, learning opportunities for workers either at work or local colleges. www.usdaw.org.uk/lifelong_learning
University links up with DTI to deliver language skills
The University of Luton has joined forces with the Specialist Schools Trust and the DTI to deliver language and cultural projects across London. The project - 'World-Class Skills for London' - will train 150 people from small and medium-sized companies in European or Asian languages to meet their international trade needs. The project is co-financed by the Learning & Skills Council and the European Social Fund, and will see Specialist Language Colleges deliver free courses for businesses over the next two years. www.luton.ac.uk
Transport sector skills gaps will put brakes on profits
UK business profits will fall and government aspirations for reducing traffic congestion will fail if skills gaps and shortages in the passenger transport sector are not tackled in the next 10 years. This is the warning from GoSkills, the newly licensed sector skills council for passenger transport. Chris Moyes, GoSkills chairman and newly appointed chief executive of Go-Ahead - one of the country's largest public transport groups - said: "Many companies in the passenger transport sector are already suffering because of skills shortages and gaps. As more people near retirement age we are facing a significant challenge in terms of recruitment and retention." www.goskills.org
Slow uptake of e-learning keeps UK on the back foot
The British Learning Association (BLA) has expressed concern about the slow uptake of e-learning in the UK. David Wolfson, chair of the BLA, said: "At the British Learning A
