National Learning at Work Day takes place on 22th May 2008.

The theme of this year’s National Learning at Work Day, the Campaign for Learning’s 9th annual national workplace learning awareness campaign is Sustainable Workplaces. The Campaign hopes that organisations and employees will use Thursday 22 May to learn skills and working practices that will not only help sustain the planet in environmental terms but also help them make changes that result in business benefits. Through this one day of workplace learning, co-ordinators the Campaign for Learning, hope employers will begin to see the business benefits of staff development. Learning new skills and recognising those that already exist creates a loyal and motivated workforce leading ultimately to business success.

Under the umbrella theme of Sustainable Workplaces, the Campaign will provide resources around three different strands to help workplaces make positive changes, both internally and externally, to benefit organisations, employees and the wider community and economy. The environmental strand will look at what organisations can learn about green issues and how employees can learn by interacting with the community they live and work in. The work/life balance strand will help employers develop good practice and procedures that can lead to healthy, productive and motivated employees. And the learning throughout life strand will explore how to develop transferable “soft” skills and the vital Skills for Life needed by everyone in the work force in light of the growing aging population and the constant changing workplace.

Last year, over 6,300 organisations took part in the annual awareness campaign, which promotes and supports workplace learning events across England. The Day itself works as a 'hook' to draw people and organisations into workplace learning who might not otherwise get involved and to lead to further learning opportunities. The overall aim of Learning at Work Day, in common with the Campaign for Learning's wider workplace learning strategy, is to make learning a part of everyday working life, especially for those employees who do not traditionally benefit from workplace learning. The Day has been co-ordinated by the Campaign for Learning for the past eight years to encourage more organisations to offer training and development opportunities that have benefits for employees and organisations.

LAW Day allows thousands of organisations to engage staff who might not normally take part in learning. Fun, informal learning can be far more successful in engaging employees who do not readily participate than a 'formal' course of programmes. Informal learning can also have a powerful effect on an organisation's goals - for example a day of job swaps can improve employees' understanding of how their workplace operates and can lead to more streamlined processes and better working relationships.

Members of the Work Place Learning Centre team are available to provide journalists and media organisations with expert comment on all aspects of learning at work.

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