People encouraged to think about the skills they would like to gain

£6,000 of learning experiences are to be offered to the winners of a learning competition. The Big Learn 2008 competition gives entrants the chance to gain new skills that will enhance their lives and work.

£6,000 of learning experiences are to be offered to the winners of a learning competition. The Big Learn 2008 competition gives entrants the chance to gain new skills that will enhance their lives and work.

The competition, run jointly by learning charity the Campaign for Learning and Reed Learning, asks entrants to explain which skill they think will be the most important to employers in 2020.

By 2020 the government wants all employees to be highly skilled to ensure global competitiveness for the UK. The idea behind the competition is to encourage the UK public to think seriously about their skills levels.

Chief Executive of the Campaign for Learning, Tricia Hartley explains,

“Skills development has always been important for business and career success but by 2020 as workplaces develop and change, experts predict that UK employees are going to need to make a real step change in their skills levels in order to compete and succeed. We are hoping the competition will kick start the desire to learn in all the entrants and send people off on the learning journey that could take them and the UK to a very bright future.”

The three winners of the competition will be drawn at random and announced on National Learning at Work Day on the 22nd of May. National Learning at Work Day is an annual campaign coordinated by the Campaign for Learning to highlight the importance of workplace learning.

Hugh Greenway, Managing Director, Reed Learning said

“As the leading provider of business training programmes in the UK, Reed Learning is proud to sponsor Learning at Work Day. All too often personal development is an afterthought to everyday business life or relegated to the space marked, “When I have time”. So the concept of a whole day dedicated to reflection and consideration of personal and organisational goals is one we wholeheartedly endorse.”

Organisers of the Big Learn hope that even those who do not win the competition will be inspired to take steps to improve their skills. Anyone wishing to enter the competition should visit www.learningatworkday.com.

Marie Kemplay