Learning to count: a challenge facing trade unions in their educational role

PurposeThe purposes of this paper are to explain how the need arose for trade unions to develop accounting systems to monitor learning outcomes and to illuminate how trade unions rose to that challenge.Design/methodology/approachA semi‐structured interview study of the full‐time educational officers of a number of the UK trade unions produced transcripts that were analysed using template analysis and were supplemented by collection of documentary evidence from the trade unions and interviews and documents from related organizations.FindingsTrade unions are starting to compile extensive information about the learning opportunities that they are facilitating.Practical implicationsInformation produced by the trade union's accounting systems highlights the value of the government's investment in the union learning fund (ULF).Originality/valueThis is the only study to address the systems of monitoring developed by trade unions in response to the receipt of funds from the ULF in the UK.