Useful Links
Full list of links available through www.UNISON.org.uk
Lifelong Learning
lifelonglearning.co.uk
Leading website for the encouragement, promotion and development of lifelong learning. Supported by the Department for Education and Skills
Lifelong Learning UK
lifelonglearninguk.org
Sector Skills Council responsible for the professional development of all those working in community learning and development; further and higher education; libraries, archives and information services; and work-based learning
Trades Union Congress
tuc.org.uk
With more than 70 member unions representing nearly seven million working people from all walks of life, the TUC campaigns for a fair deal at work and for social justice at home and abroad
Employment
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS)
acas.org.uk
The employment relations experts. ACAS helps people work together effectively, including setting up the right structures and systems to finding a way of settling disputes when things go wrong
DTI Employment Matters
dti.gov.uk/employment
Useful documents, consultations, case studies and points of law covered on this government website
Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT)
employmentappeals.gov.uk
A Superior Court of Record dealing with appeals from decisions made by employment tribunals
EU labour law
europa.eu.int
European Commission employment and social affairs website includes key documents, legal explanations and news
Incorporated Council of Law Reporting
lawreports.co.uk
Prepares and publishes reports of judicial decisions in England and Wales, including free previews of key employment law cases
Information Commissioner’s Office
dataprotection.gov.uk
Independent authority set up to promote access to official information and protect personal information
Institute of Employment Rights
ier.org.uk/
The Institute has been working for nearly 20 years to provide the labour movement with the information and history needed to develop an alternative and more equitable framework of labour law.
International Labour Organisation
ilo.org
Homepage for this cross-border employment alliance
Public Concern At Work
pcaw.co.uk
Independent authority seeking to aid whistleblowers and ensure that concerns about malpractice are properly raised and addressed in the workplace
Work Wise UK
workwiseuk.org
Union-backed initiative to encourage smarter working practices to the benefit of business, employees and the country as a whole
Energy
Association of Electricity Producers
aepuk.com
Trade association for the UK electricity market, representing companies generating electricity using coal, gas and nuclear power as well as renewable sources such as wind, biomass and water
Energy Networks Association
energy-networks.org
Industry body funded by UK gas and electricity transmission and distribution licence holders to provide a strategic focus
Energy Retail Association
energy-retail.org
Collective voice of the UK’s domestic gas and electricity suppliers
European Union energy policies
europa.eu.int
Overview of European law, implementation of legislation and general information
Office of Gas and Electricty Markets
ofgem.gov.uk
Regulates gas and electricity industries in Great Britain. Aims is to bring choice and value to all gas and electricity customers by promoting competition and regulating monopolies
Health and safety
American Safety and Health Institute
ashinstitute.com
A partnering association dedicated to designing and delivering superior instructional programmes with a worldwide reach, and to fostering a learning process that advances the wellbeing of organisations and individuals
Hazards
hazards.org
The UK’s leading health and safety magazine offers practical, up-to-date information for health and safety reps and others
Health and Safety Executive
hse.gov.uk
Press releases, statistics, publications and many free health and safety leaflets which can be downloaded and printed
Risks
tuc.org.uk/newsroom/register.cfm
Subscribe to the TUC’s weekly emailed newsletter
Trades Union Congress
tuc.org.uk/healthandsafety
Includes the complete updated version of the TUC’s guide to health and safety, Hazards at Work, plus links to many other useful health and safety websites
Housing
Centre for Housing Policy
york.ac.uk/inst/chp
Leading centre for housing and social policy research in the UK, providing evidence for national and local government, voluntary and charitable organisations on research subjects including homelessness, home ownership and neighbourhoods
Housingnet
housingnet.co.uk
For all things housing. Includes general information, contact data & housing stock figures for every housing association and local authority in the UK
Inside Housing
insidehousing.co.uk
Social housing news and information
International Union of Tenants
iut.nu
Non-governmental organisation founded in Switzerland in 1926 to safeguard the interests of tenants
National Housing Federation
housing.org.uk
Body styling itself as the voice of affordable housing, representing 1300 independent social housing associations in England, which provide around 2 million homes for 5 million people
Shelter
shelter.org.uk
UK-wide charity working to improve the lives of homeless and badly housed people
Human rights and civil liberties
Campaign for Freedom of Information
cfoi.org.uk
Non-profit organisation working to improve public access to official information and ensure the Freedom of Information Act is implemented effectively
European Commission Humanitarian Aid
europa.eu.int
Information on the EU’s response to humanitarian disasters worldwide
European Court of Human Rights
echr.coe.int
Homepage for the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
Home Office
homeoffice.gov.uk
Government department responsible for internal affairs in England and Wales. It is charged with building a safe, just and tolerant society
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
ohchr.org
Plays a leading role on human rights issues and emphasises the importance of human rights at international and national levels
Statewatch
statewatch.org
Independent research and education trust dedicated to the preservation of civil liberties and democratic standards in Europe
University of Minnesota Human Rights Library
www1.umn.edu/humanrts
Massive international human rights database
Industry
The Competition Commission
competition-commission.org.uk
Independent public body which conducts in-depth inquiries into mergers, markets and the regulation of the major regulated industries
Office of Fair Trading (OFT)
oft.gov.uk
The OFT plays a leading role in promoting and protecting consumer interests throughout the UK, while ensuring that businesses are fair and competitive
Information resource centres and directories
Advice Guide
adviceguide.org.uk
Online service from the Citizens Advice Bureau, providing practical, reliable, up-to-date information on a wide range of topics, including benefits, housing, employment and debt, consumer and legal issues
British Library
bl.uk
The British Library’s collection of over 150 million items covers every age and place of written civilisation, from unique historical documents to the latest information sources for business, industry and research
Citizens Advice Bureau
nacab.org.uk
Details of your nearest CAB office, breakdowns of social policy issues and latest CAB news
Directgov
directgov.uk
The easy way to government information and services online
House of Commons Library Research Papers
commonslibrary/research
Access to the text of research papers compiled for the benefit of British MPs. Usually deal with topics of current parliamentary interest and aim to be politically impartial
London Business School
london.edu
For all sorts of business, finance and management education programmes
World Factbook
cia.gov/factbook
Geo-political information and statistics produced by the CIA