Individual Learning Accounts: sharing the learning load - The Government is putting GBP150 million behind the launch this year of its flagship Individual Learning Accounts initiative. The aim is to shift decisively the balance between employers, state and individuals as to their roles in initiating and funding work-related learning, and to raise sharply the number of adults taking part in it. Workers will be encouraged - through public subsidies, course discounts and tax breaks - to open a new form of bank account, and save towards self-funded learning and careers advice. But there will be pressure on their employers, too, to invest money in their staff's accounts, and help organise learning provision at work. Pressure will come from three sources: government, an organisation's own employees and trade unions.