skip to main content

Take Action Against Decision to Axe Union Learning Fund

For more than twenty years, the Union Learning Fund has supported trade union learning projects. Now the Government wants to cut its funding – putting the FEU Training programme under threat.

Published: 23 October 2020 | 12:00 AM Updated: 28 April 2021 | 4:31 PM
Text reading: We can't leave workers without vital skills in a pandemic: the government must save union learning
We can't leave workers without vital skills in a pandemic: the government must save union learning.

The decision to axe the Union Learning Fund next March, during a pandemic and the deepest recession of our times, is astonishing.

If it goes ahead, it will mean the end of FEU Training and all other union-brokered learning programmes.

Take action now:

Why it matters

FEU Training gives MU members in England access to free webinars, online courses and in person workshops on key business skills including marketing, managing your finances, and coping with stress.

It helped MU member Holly Lowe build her career using social media, and many more musicians, actors and freelancers get to grips with essential skills.

The Union Learning Fund has also supported courses in English and maths, and enabled trade union members to get their first ever qualifications and further their careers.

As well as being valued by union members and employers, it’s good for the economy too. The fund costs £12m a year – and every £1 spent generates a return of over £12 to the worker and the employers.

Employers back the campaign

Major employers supporting the Save Union Learning campaign include Tesco, Heathrow, Tata Steel and Arla Foods.

The campaign has the backing of Matthew Taylor, the chief executive of the RSA, who chaired the Government’s Review of Modern Employment, which reported in 2017.

It is also backed by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and other lifelong learning experts, including the Workers Educational Association and the Learning and Work Institute.

Find out more about what FEU Training – funded by the Union Learning Fund – can do for you and sign up for a course today.

Get MU membership today

From gig players to part-time teachers and professional instrumentalists, MU members can access specialist insurance for musicians. This includes Public Liability, Instrument and Equipment Insurance, Accident Insurance, Tax Investigation Insurance, and Professional Indemnity Insurance for music teachers.

Explore our member services

  • Get public liability insurance for musicians
  • Access expert legal support
  • Be represented in your profession
  • Access expert career advice, resources, and training events
  • Connect, network, and get to know the community of musicians

Learn about all membership benefits

Get MU membership today

Continue reading

John Shortell wearing a Musicians' Union t-shirt with rainbow logo, holding a flag, during a Pride march in 2023. He is joined by colleagues and other members who are performing as they walk.

MU Head of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Named in IQ Magazine’s 2025 Queer Pioneers List

The MU congratulates John Shortell, Head of ED&I, on being named one of IQ Magazine’s outstanding queer professionals in the international live music business. John is a driving force for change, and the Union is exceptionally proud to have him working on behalf of musicians.

Published: 03 July 2025

Read more about MU Head of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Named in IQ Magazine’s 2025 Queer Pioneers List
An empty conference stage, lit up multi coloured blocks.

Join the MU at the We Make Music Scotland Conference 2025

The MU will be attending and sponsoring a workshop at this year’s We Make Music Scotland Conference, taking place on Thursday 4 and Friday 5 September at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow.

Published: 02 July 2025

Read more about Join the MU at the We Make Music Scotland Conference 2025
Wooden blocks with speech bubble graphics on them against a blue background, a single block with a red stop sign is in front of them, blocking the line, representing free speech restrictions.

MU Reiterates Anti-Censorship Stance

The MU reiterates its anti-censorship position and support for the organisation ‘Freemuse’, following the issues around the broadcasting of Glastonbury sets this weekend.

Published: 01 July 2025

Read more about MU Reiterates Anti-Censorship Stance