Barry Gardiner MP for Brent North with Union Learning Rep Tom O'Callaghan. Mr Gardiner showed his support for the project during his visit in March 2006.

Conservatives back TUC supported skills scheme

Shadow Trade & Industry Secretary, Alan Duncan, visited the TUC supported skills workshop at the Metroline Bus Garage in Holloway, London on 7th March 2006. The skills workshop helps people with literacy and IT training, enhancing career prospects. Backing the scheme, Alan said:

"In a globalised economy we will need a highly skilled workforce in order to be able to compete with the emerging economies of Brazil, China and India. Programmes like this recognise the importance of life long skills training to the future success of the British economy.

"We fully support this initiative. Many employees might be too embarrassed to admit to their employer that they need help to improve basic skills such as literacy and numeracy. The value of this scheme is that it is supported by the TUC and by the employees themselves.

"This programme and others like it are very important in enhancing the career prospects of employees and represent a positive role for unions in the workplace and a positive model of businesses encouraging work place learning."

Alan Duncan (centre) with Frances O'Grady (left) from the TUC, Paul Head (right) from the College of North East London and Metroline Employees Tom O'Callaghan and Steve Adams. 

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