Kelly: Backing TUC drive to lift skills

The education secretary has given her backing to a TUC drive to boost workplace learning.

Ruth Kelly is supporting efforts to reverse the productivity gap arising from low skills, by pledging millions of pounds to trade unions to fund the training of workers.

The TUC is setting up a new £4.5 million academy specifically charged with increasing workplace learning.

The Cabinet minister told a conference that she welcomes the TUC's "ambitious plans to develop an academy to act as a centre of excellence and best practice".

"Unions have always recognised the value of education, and the importance of encouraging learning among members dates back to the start of the movement," she said.

"In recent years unions have helped put learning back at the top of the agenda in many workplaces."

The new academy will build on training at work currently run by unions and offer working people learning when and how they want it.

It will offer guidance on training for employers and employees with courses ranging from basic skills to MBAs at colleges, universities and workplaces to suit the individual.

Over 100,000 workers have been helped back into learning since 1998 by 8,000 union learning reps at 400 new learning centres.

Speaking ahead of the announcement, TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "Britain's skills gap is a key cause of our relatively poor productivity.

"Unions have a proud track record in helping people at every level from brushing up or improving basic skills to gaining MBAs."