Scottish Union Learning's Highlands and Islands Learning Conference will be held at the Kingsmills Hotel, Culcabock Road, Inverness, IV2 3LP on Friday 2 June 2023.

The Conference is aimed at Highlands and Islands Union Learning Reps and other Union Reps, and union members interested in promoting learning and equality at work. We also welcome colleagues from our valued partners and stakeholder organisations.

This year's theme is ‘Regroup, Rebuild and Renew’

Delegates will be able to attend all workshops and take part in all discussions. In addition to the below, there will be video presentations, additional guest speakers, and a diverse range of exhibitors, details of which will be forthcoming.

Summary Programme

Roz Foyer

Roz Foyer is the STUC’s General Secretary and has over twenty-five years’ experience in the trade union movement. As a strong supporter of Scottish Union Learning’s work in Highlands and Islands, we are delighted to have Roz in attendance to deliver the opening address at this year’s conference.

Panel Discussion: Meeting the needs of ULRs across Highlands and Islands

It is time for us to regroup, rebuild and renew our ULR networks, to meet the learning needs of workers, workplaces and communities across Highlands and Islands.

Join representatives from UNISON, Scottish Artists Union and TUC Education Scotland, to explore how we should support ULR development.

We would like this discussion to be focused on identifying practical steps for us to take forward together. If you have issues you want to raise, or insights you want to share, please email cfinnie@stuc.org.uk and we will make sure you have time within the session to make your contribution.

Workshops

STUC Unions into Schools

Unions into Schools has delivered over 1,700 classroom sessions to school students throughout Scotland. The project is significantly expanding its Highlands and Islands activity over the next two years.

In this workshop, you will be introduced to the valuable work of the project and take part in a condensed version of the ‘Unions into Schools’ training session.

ENABLE Works

ENABLE Works helps people with barriers to employment. Their specialist employability services run across Scotland and support 5,500 people each year.

This fun, interactive session is designed to make you think about work and disability in new ways, with a view to making workplaces fairer and more inclusive.

STUC Just Transition: Every workplace, every worker - how we tackle climate change

Ryan Morrison is one of the new STUC Just Transition Officers. This interactive session will provide an introduction to Just Transition and some case studies to encourage you to think about how climate change is a worker issue and impacts your workplace.

Participants will consider what skills, training, and learning resources would best support our future activities towards a just transition in Highlands and Islands.

Guest Speakers

Matt Wallace from Clarity Walk

In 2019, Matt founded Clarity Walk, a social enterprise with a mission of bringing people to reduce isolation, anxiety and depression and create stronger, more supportive communities. Matt’s talk will reflect on the importance of collaboration for good mental health and general wellbeing.

Regroup, Rebuild, Renew! Highlands and Islands Learning Conference 2023