Stow College

Faculty of Trade Union Education and Workplace Learning

The Trade Union Education Department at Stow College is one of the largest trade union education centres in the UK, and is the largest in Scotland.

Its core work is to deliver the TUC national education programme, and to support the development of trade union education in general.

The Department also works directly with TUC affiliated unions and in partnership with employers to deliver and develop their own education programmes and/or tailor courses to suit. Due to both the size and skills within the Department its work is also delivered in a variety of flexible ways. The Department delivers to areas of Scotland that do not have recognised trade union centres, including areas such as, Shetland, Aberdeen and Dumfries.

Through partnership agreements with trade unions and employers the programme is delivered direct to workplaces, such as, Highland Council, Dounreay, Remploy and Rolls Royce, to name but a few. In recent years the Department has been at the forefront of developing and delivering a wide range of courses, including all of the TUC core programme, through its on-line methodology.

This virtual learning environment has allowed access to trade union education for many trade union representatives and members who would otherwise be excluded from education due to issues such as geographical dispersion, time and many other flexible requirements.  

The Department is committed to offering a high standard of courses where learners achieve recognised qualifications and gain personal advancement.