‘Learners of the workplace unite!’

The statutory rights conferred on trade union learning representatives (ULRs) under the 2002 Employment Act represent a significant development for the British trade union movement.This article presents an initial empirical assessment of the ULR initiative, drawing from original quantitative and qualitative data on ULR activity. Our findings suggest that while ULRs have been successful in promoting and facilitating employee-centred learning opportunities, the development of their role is potentially constrained by their evolving relationships with employers and their insertion into broader trade structures. Nonetheless, there are signs that the initiative has the potential to contribute to the recruitment of new trade union members.