Addressing conference delegates at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, Paddy Lillis – Usdaw general secretary said: “Trade unions have a proud history of helping working people access better education and training. Proper training helps workers to do their job to the best standard. it helps them to feel engaged and motivated and it helps them to adapt to changes in the workplace.
“Usdaw has spent years calling for a complete overhaul of the Apprenticeship Levy and we finally have a Labour Government that is listening. We are about to witness a historic upheaval of workers’ rights in this country, alongside that will be the transformation of the Apprenticeship Levy, into a Growth and Skills Levy.
“Investment in the skills and development of working people will be at the heart of Government measures. After years of Tory cuts, Tory underfunding and Tory indifference, the upskilling and training of workers is a priority.
“We all know how quickly the world of work is changing. We’ve fought for our members to keep pace with these changes, making sure they all have skills and tools needed to adapt. As trade unionists, we proudly support our members get the best access to these workplace training.”
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is one of the fastest growing unions in the TUC and the UK's fifth biggest trade union with around 360,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades www.usdaw.org.uk
For Usdaw press releases visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Bluesky @usdawunion.bsky.social and Twitter/X @UsdawUnion