However, if it is seen as part of a company's training programmes then people expect to do this in company time. Our attitude towards learning seems to be quite different from other European countries, where learning for their job frequently takes place at home. I know that this has changed over the last few years with learning resource centres being set up in large organisations. People do get involved in learning new skills either before work, after work or in their lunch hours, but it is still in the workplace.

It will be interesting to see whether the Government's initiatives of Lifelong Learning 'The Learning Age' and the University for Industry, will move us from trainer led training to learner led learning. Training has always been considered as something that is done to us, and I am not sure that we will readily make the attitude shift.

We have not traditionally had the responsibility for our own learning and it is not going to be a change that will happen overnight. This will not only be from the individuals point of view. Companies providing learning resource centres will not be keen on employees learning skills to make them more employable outside the company. Companies may also have problems with available time in the centre and will restrict use of the centre to work-critical learning only.

The annual membership fee is currently £185. There is no charge for meetings, but there is a charge for the AGM lunch.

For more information please contact Brian Tucker, The Forum for Technology in Training, Orchard Chambers, 4 Rocky Lane, Heswall, Wirral L60 0BY. Tel: 0151 342 8606 Fax: 0151 342 1660 Email: brian@forumtt.org.uk or visit our web site www.forumtt.org.uk