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Your account of reaction to the Wells Review of the NHSU filled me with dismay. The negative tone, principally of higher education representatives, is in marked contrast to the enthusiastic support the NHSU has received from my union and its members.

Innovative workplace schemes are encouraging thousands of poorly paid, unqualified and undervalued National Health Service and social care staff back into learning, and if this activity helps progression to degree-level qualifications, awarded by the NHSU, so much the better.

Unison has a proud record of challenging inequality in access to learning in the workplace and it has found a strong ally in the NHSU. It is a shame that vested interests in higher education don't share this commitment to widening participation.

Steve Williams
Head, Unison Open College