In an article in ‘People Management1 (25 June 1998), Jilly Welch offers an extensive commentary on the initial ideas for the UfI and gives some helpful insights into what might be on offer.

The Chancellor of the Exchequor apparently wants the UfI to do for training what the Open University has achieved for further education. The UfI will be a data ‘Hub1 providing a central bank of information on distance learning. It will aim to encourage both employed and unemployed to get connected as adult learners using CDs, TV and the Internet as learning mediums. The goal is to persuade people to gain real qualifications through virtual colleges and training providers.

Basic skills and IT abilities will have the highest priority amongst the development of UfI courses, and the government may redirect some of its adult education budgets to support commissioning of these materials.

The first four sectors to receive attention will be retail, automotive components, environmental services and the multi-media industries. The emphasis will be on the development of virtual materials leading to S/NVQs, with a strong focus on boosting basic skills levels and those re-entering the labour market.

Pilot projects in Sunderland, East Anglia and London are attracting considerable interest from employers running small to medium-sized companies. The pilot comments on the attraction of 3learn as you earn2 approaches to training and learning. Employers do not need to release staff on a block basis; instead, they can access UfI during short breaks and less busy periods causing less disruption to the workplace.

Interestingly, the article points to companies like Tesco as becoming committed to the concept of the UfI and making their in-store training suites available for community use as local centres of learning.

The University for Industry offers a real opportunity to transform our approach to learning and to make a reality of lifelong learning, open access and local delivery.