The Scottish Trades Union Congress is to set up a new lifelong learning unit, in partnership with Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

The new unit, which will be announced on Saturday 14 June at the annual Highlands and Islands STUC conference in Inverness, will aim to raise lifelong learning awareness and activity among trade union members across the Highlands and Islands.

Scotland already has one STUC lifelong learning unit, based in Glasgow and supported by Scottish Enterprise.  Until now, however, there has been no equivalent body covering the Highlands and Islands.

It is envisaged that the two units will work in tandem on national initiatives, while the new, Inverness-based unit will take a lead on issues specific to the Highlands and Islands, establishing links with other learning organisations such as the UHI Millennium Institute.

Alex Paterson, HIE's director of developing skills, said the initiative would help deliver the enterprise network's ambitious plans for stronger workforce development throughout the region.

"The new STUC lifelong learning unit will play a major role in the promotion and support for learning in the Highlands and Islands towards the development of skills for the future and for the benefit of the economy and the people of the region."

Grahame Smith, STUC Deputy General Secretary, said the new unit will provide a coordinated sustainable approach to trade union involvement in Lifelong Learning in the region. "The new STUC Lifelong Learning unit will be dedicated and committed to raising lifelong learning awareness and activity in the trade union movement in the Highlands and Islands, building on initiatives like the Scottish Union Learning Fund and the statutory rights for union learning reps."

HIE has agree to fund the unit for at least two years.