Courses for all activists looking to improve their knowledge and skills.
To apply see “How to Apply” section below course listings
Introduction to Negotiating Skills
This 1-day in-person course will explore what negotiating is, the key skills and techniques involved and provide the opportunity to practise these.
Course fee to branches £30
| Date | Venue | Closing date | Course code |
| 23 June 2026 | Nottingham | 26 May 2026 | 0054 |
Further Representation Skills
This 2-day in-person course is for stewards with more than 6 months’ experience and focusses on building confidence in handling grievance and disciplinary cases. The course will cover:
- Exploring what is and isn’t a case
- Sources of information, especially the ACAS code
- Preparing for a case, including planning and building a case and interviewing witnesses
- Possible outcomes from cases
- Building confidence, getting organised and looking after yourself.
Completion of this course will extend existing stewards’ ERA accreditation by five years provided they remain an elected rep.
Course fee to branches £60
| Dates | Venue | Closing date for applications | Course code |
| 7 & 8 July 2026 | Nottingham | 12 June 2026 | 0052 |
| 11 & 12 November 2026 | Derby | 14 October 2026 | 0053 |
Introduction to Employment Law
This popular online course runs over two days via Teams and covers employment rights, contracts of employment, types of dismissal and an overview of discrimination law.
The course fee includes a copy of the Labour Research Department’s latest ‘Law at Work’ book.
Completion of this course will extend existing stewards’ ERA accreditation by five years provided they remain an elected rep.
Course fee to branches £70
| Dates | Venue | Closing date | Course code |
| 16 & 17 November 2026 | Online | 30 October 2026 | 0055 |
Risk Assessments
This 2-day in-person course includes:
- Refresher on the basics of risk assessments.
- Looking at risk assessments in more depth.
- How to be pro-actively involved in risk assessments in the workplace.
Course fee to branches £60
| Dates | Venue | Closing date | Course code |
| 18 & 19 May 2026 | Derby | 20 April 2026 | 0060 |
Sickness Absence Policies
This 2-day in-person course includes:
- Common sickness absence problems.
- Assessing and improving sickness absence policies.
- Dealing with workplace injury/ill health.
- Disability discrimination.
- Sickness absence dismissals.
Course fee to branches £60
| Dates | Venue | Closing date | Course code |
| 15 & 16 September 2026 | Leicester | 21 August 2026 | 0057 |
Tackling Bullying and Harassment
This course is in-person and looks at what constitutes bullying and harassment at work, methods of challenging bullying and harassment both individually and collectively and includes action planning.
Course fee to branches £60
| Dates | Venue | Closing date | Course code |
| 13 & 14 October 2026 | Nottingham | 18 September 2026 | 0058 |
Tackling Stress
This 2-day in-person course will cover:
- What is stress?
- Employers’ responsibilities, including risk assessments.
- Stress prevention.
- Improving stress policies and procedures.
Course fee to branches £60
| Dates | Venue | Closing date | Course code |
| 1 & 2 December 2026 | Nottingham | 6 November 2026 | 0059 |
HOW TO APPLY
Please read the Guidance notes for Applicants below and complete the application form below.
Course places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Provided the course still has places available, your course place will be confirmed on receipt of your application
Important: Your course place will however be subject to your branch approving your attendance on the course and your offer of a place will be withdrawn if the branch refuse approval
Activist Education Course Guidance for Applicants 2026
Activist Education Course Guidance for Branches
Activist Course Application Form