I am currently project managing a joint venture between the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) and the University of Strathclyde.  Based in the Scottish Union Learning team, the project aims to broaden and deepen union-led learning activities in workplaces throughout Scotland.  The creation of a comprehensive and sustainable evidence base on skills, learning and union-led learning will enable Scottish Union Learning to make the case to government, employers, learning providers, and anyone else who may have an interest, that union-led learning is of value and is worthy of continued funding. The evidence base will also help to identify gaps and weaknesses in current provision and will enable the STUC to exert greater influence on learning and skills policy in Scotland.

I am also undertaking a part-time PhD which looks at policy formulation under Scottish devolution.  The research considers how the STUC, as representative of those in the trade union movement, seeks to influence learning and skills policy, and if (and if so how) devolution has strengthened the position of trade unions in Scotland in terms of influencing learning and skills policy.