Home > News > May 2009 > 13 May 2009

Skills minister to attend Learning at Work Day launch

Skills minister Lord Young will help launch Learning at Work Day at an event to be held later today at St. Stephen's Club in Westminster.

Learning at Work Day 2009 takes place on 14 May 2009 as part of Adult Learners' Week.

The Campaign for Learning, which co-ordinates Learning at Work Day, says the launch event will celebrate the passion and achievements of individuals and organisations in promoting the importance of workplace learning and skills.

Speaking alongside Lord Young at the launch will be Chris Banks, the chair of the Learning and Skills Council, Simon Jones, chief executive of Investors in People and Pablo Lloyd, deputy chief executive of learndirect.

Tricia Hartley, chief executive of the Campaign for Learning, will introduce the evening, which aims to show how initiatives such as Learning at Work Day can contribute to raising the skills profile of the country's workforce. She explains: "Businesses are increasingly aware of the benefits that investing in learning and training can bring. However there are still barriers to learning in the workplace for both employers and employees.

"Getting involved in Learning at Work Day can help to remove some of these barriers by tying into other workplace initiatives to continue the good work all year round.

"The launch celebration is all about showing how organisations can successfully balance the day to day operational needs of their businesses with developing the skills they need for the future, and enjoy real organisational and individual benefits as a result."

Skills Minister Lord Young said: "At a time of economic downturn, it is vital that we continue to invest in people and their skills, helping them find pathways to better and well paid jobs with a real future.

"For those worst off in our society, progression and jobs can often begin with informal adult learning, or learning for pleasure. The Learning Revolution White Paper outlines what the whole of Government can do to support informal adult learning, including setting up a £20m Transformation Fund to support innovative informal learning partnerships and projects.

"I hope that we will get many innovative bids from new partnerships and it would be great to have businesses involved as a sign of their continuing commitment to learning and skills."

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