Courses for trade union reps in Wales

What is trade union education?

TUC Cymru Education trains union reps to work with union members and officers to make a difference in their workplace.

Who is it for?

We offer courses for all types of union reps. Whether you're a workplace rep, shop steward, health and safety rep, union learning rep, green/environmental rep, equality rep or any other type of rep, you’ll find training available that will give you the skills you need as a rep to be effective in the workplace.

Whether you're considering becoming a new rep or are an experienced rep looking to update your knowledge, we have a course for you. 

In 2025 we are offering specialist development programmes targeted at groups currently under-represented in the movement, including specialist development programmes for women activists, Black activists and young activists. These programmes are aimed at supporting members to become more active as reps. 

Time off for training

Union reps have a right to reasonable paid time off to carry out union duties and undertake training. They also have the right to reasonable unpaid time off to undertake union activities. There are separate regulations covering union health and safety representatives, workplace representatives and Union Learning representatives (ULRs). You can find more information about rights to time off for training here.

Courses

Courses are run in partnership with our trade union studies centres at Adult Learning Wales and Coleg Gwent. Union reps attend from a wide range of industries and unions. 

Accredited training

Our 'core' courses - our Stage 1 and 2 courses for Union Reps, Health and Safety Reps and Union Learning Reps are externally accredited by Agored Cymru and allow reps to receive nationally recognised qualifications through the award of units on the Qualifications and Credits Framework (QCF). 

Accreditation is also available for our short courses - available options for accreditation for these courses includes TUC Cymru digital badges and Agored units of accreditation, depending on which course you do. Your tutor will be able to advise you about what is available on your course. 

Professional tutors

Everyone knows the importance of a good teacher. Our courses are delivered by professional tutors who are experienced trade union reps. They receive regular training and updates from the Wales TUC.  

Fully funded training

Courses are fully funded - there are no course fees for union reps from TUC affiliated unions.

Autumn term 2025 - courses for reps

Further information about the content of each course can be found further down this page.

Standard course hours are 9 am  - 4.30 pm. Where courses are marked as 'half-day' courses the hours are 9 am - 1 pm.

Spring term 2025 - courses for reps

Further information about the content of each course can be found further down this page.

Standard course hours are 9 am  - 4.30 pm. Where courses are marked as 'half-day' courses the hours are 9 am - 1 pm.

Summer term 2025 - courses for reps

Further information about the content of each course can be found further down this page.

Standard course hours are 9 am  - 4.30 pm. Where courses are marked as 'half-day' courses the hours are 9 am - 1 pm.

Course content: what will you learn on each course?

Click on the name of the course below for more information about what you'll learn.

Union Reps Stage 1 (Part A and Part B)

Union Reps Stage 1 (Part A)

This 5-day initial induction course is the first module of our Stage 1 course for union reps, which is in delivered in two separate modules.

This course is essential for new union reps. It will help you to:
-    understand the role of the union rep in the workplace and the wider union
-    identify members’ issues and represent members in discussions with employers
-    build trade union recruitment and campaigns
-    understand rights at work, contracts of employment and key legislation 
-    build confidence in your role and responsibilities as a union rep

To complete your stage 1 initial training, once you complete part A you should enrol on part B of the course. This is another 5-day module and completes your initial induction training as a rep. Courses are offered on a modular basis so you can choose when you want to do the second part of the course.

 

Union Reps Stage 1 (Part B)

Part B is the second module of the Union Reps Stage 1 course and will complete your essential induction as a new rep. You must have completed Part A of the Union Reps Stage 1 course before starting Part B.

This 5-day course will help you to:
-    understand how grievances, disciplinaries and other case work is handled and how to represent members effectively
-    use and make agreements
-    understand union and branch structures
-    organise and map your workplace 
-    further develop communication and other skills you need to be an effective rep

Union Representatives Qualification Pathway
Reps who complete part A of the Union Reps Stage 1 course and submit the necessary evidence of achievement can receive an initial Level 1 Award for Trade Union Representatives. Once you successfully complete part B of the course you can receive the full Level 1 Certificate for Trade Union Representatives qualification. Agored Cymru is the awarding body for these qualifications. 

 

 

 

Health and Safety Reps Stage 1 (Part A and Part B)

Health and Safety Representatives Stage 1 (Part A)

This 5-day initial induction course is the first module of our Stage 1 course for trade union health and safety reps, which is in delivered in two separate parts.

This course is essential for new health and safety reps. You will learn about:
•    The key functions and rights of a health and safety rep
•    The legal duties of employers under health and safety legislation
•    Working with members to identify health and safety issues
•    How to use and apply the law – key legislation and regulations
•    Risk assessments
•    Knowledge and information to help reduce accidents and ill health at work

 

Health and Safety Representatives Stage 1 (Part B)
Part B is the second module of the Health and Safety Reps Stage 1 course and will complete your essential induction as a new health and safety rep. Please note you must have completed part A of the Health and Safety Stage 1 course, before you start the part B.

This 5-day course will help you to:
•    Understand the legal rights covering workplace inspections by health and safety reps 
•    Carry out workplace inspections
•    Assess workplace health and safety policies
•    Interview members and write health and safety reports
•    Organise for health and safety
•    Negotiate with employers to improve workplace health and safety

Health and Safety Representatives Qualification Pathway
Reps who complete part A of the Health and Safety Reps Stage 1 course and submit the necessary evidence of achievement can receive an initial Level 1 Award for Trade Health and Safety Reps Union Representatives. Once you successfully complete part B of the course you can receive the full Level 1 Certificate for Trade Union Health and Safety Representatives qualification. Agored Cymru is the awarding body for these qualifications. 

 

 

 

Union Learning Reps Stage 1

This 4-day initial induction course is for all new Union Learning Reps and any who have not previously done training. To be able to work effectively as a union learning rep (ULR) you need to build a broad knowledge and understanding of education and training matters. A good understanding of your union and your workplace is even more important. Knowing who to talk to and when, who makes the decisions and how, and what policies and guidelines can help is fundamental to ULRs making a successful case for members. 

This course will help you:

•    understand union structures, and how your union organises around learning 
•    build a broad perspective of the ULR role 
•    find out about developments in learning and appreciate issues affecting learning 
•    work with members and other reps to define priorities 
•    take a planned approach to your own and your members’ development 
•    develop the skills to put the union case on learning 
•    work collectively as part of the union team. 

Union Learning Reps who complete the Stage 1 Union Learning Reps course and submit the necessary evidence of achievement can receive a Level 1 Award for Trade Union Learning Representatives. Agored Cymru is the awarding body for this qualification.
 

Union Learning Reps Stage 2

This 4-day course has been designed for ULRs who have already completed the Union Learning Representatives Stage 1 course. It continues and extends the core essential training for ULRs. It builds on the knowledge and skills from the Stage 1 course, as well as your own experiences as a ULR in the workplace. It aims to provide you with further knowledge, confidence and skills in taking your role further and promoting union-led learning to all in your workplace.

This course will help you: 
•    develop a trade union approach to building equality and tackling inequality through learning
•    understand neurodiversity in the context of learning
•    understand and address specific barriers to learning faced by members
•    prepare to negotiate union-led workplace learning, including learning agreements
•    identify current and future changes in the workplace and their impacts on learning needs
•    identify sources of funding for learning

Trade Union Learning Reps Qualification Pathway
Union Learning Reps who complete the Stage 1 Union Learning Reps course and submit the necessary evidence of achievement can receive a Level 1 Award for Trade Union Learning Representatives. Once you successfully complete Union Learning Reps Stage 2 you can receive a Level 1 Extended Award for Trade Union Learning Representatives qualification. Agored Cymru is the awarding body for these qualifications. 

Greening our Workplaces - Green Rep Skills

This course is aimed at new and experienced green/environmental reps and other trade unionists who wish to take practical action on the climate and nature emergency in their workplace.

The course covers:
•    Understanding the climate and nature emergency and identifying workplace impacts
•    Working with the branch and members to identify sustainability issues that need to be raised with management
•    How to carry out environmental audits
•    How to review and develop workplace environmental policies and agreements
•    The role of unions in sustainable development
•    Trade union approaches to ensuring workers have a fair say in shaping changes that affect them - including ‘just transition’ agreements
•    How to build an action plan for your own workplace

Making the Case for Insourcing

This new 1-day course will help equip trade union reps with the knowledge and confidence to make an effective case for insourcing within their workplaces. 

You will learn about:
•    the key features of ‘insourcing’ and ‘outsourcing’ and how these impact on workers and organisations
•    the trade union case for campaigning for insourcing 
•    the current legal and policy framework and opportunities for insourcing
•    the procurement/contracting process and information gathering
•    overcoming barriers 
•    organising and campaigning on insourcing in your own workplace
•    successful union campaigns – case studies and example policies

Social Partnership

This 2-day course will empower reps to use the new Social Partnership and Public Procurement Act for the benefit of members.

It will help build the relevant knowledge, skills and confidence to take forward effective social partnership in your own workplace.

This course will explore the challenges and opportunities presented by social partnership working and reps will have the opportunity to develop a practical action plan for their own workplace.

 

Tackling and Preventing Sexual Harassment

This new 3-day course will help support reps in tackling and preventing sexual harassment in the workplace.

It will help you to:

• Identify sexual harassment and understand the impacts
• Understand employers' legal responsibilities (including the new preventative duty)
• Negotiate effective workplace policies
• Support members affected by sexual harassment
• Develop an action plan for your workplace
   

Introduction to Environmental Awareness (for reps)

This half-day, bite sized course offers trade union reps an essential introduction to environmental awareness. It's aimed at all union reps and no prior knowledge is required.

It offers an introduction to, and raises awareness of, the problems people have created with the environment, the impacts now and in the future, and considers positive steps we can take as trade unionists.
 

Disability in the Workplace

This 3-day course is for all reps who want to improve disability equality in the workplace and tackle discrimination.

It will cover:

• Disability discrimination and how it impacts on members
• The social model of disability
• Employers' legal responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010
• Reasonable adjustments
• Supporting members with 'hidden disabilities'
• Effective workplace policies
• Developing your own workplace action plan

Organising on Stress - from Resilience to Resistance

This 3-day course is designed to support reps to organise on the issue of work-related stress. Resilience is often used to imply that an individual needs to toughen up and simply withstand stress better. Unfortunately it can often be an example of organisations failing to tackle the problem of stress at its root cause. Employers’ promoting the narrative of ‘resilience’ and related training initiatives must recognise that stress is often a result of work itself, requiring a change to work structures, rather than a shift in the behaviours and attitudes of individuals.

Stress does not tend to occur randomly but is triggered. TUC research indicates that the biggest causes of stress at work are:
•    Workload (74%)
•    Cuts in staff (53%)
•    Change at work (44%)
•    Long hours (39%)

This course will help you to:
•    Identify the causes and impacts of excessive workplace stress
•    Learn more about the links between stress and mental health
•    Understand employers’ legal duties 
•    Use available tools such as mapping, stress management audits and risk assessments
•    Review relevant policies and standards and negotiate improvements in the workplace
•    Develop an action plan for your workplace
 

 

AI and Digital Technology in the Workplace

This new 3-day course aims to help increase awareness of the current and potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and other digital technologies on workers. It will help you to consider what safeguards should be in place to ensure that the introduction of new technologies does not result in negative impacts and that potential positive benefits for workers can be realised
By the end of the course, this course will help you to: 
−    Understand the impact of AI and other digital technologies on the world of work
−    Identify specific types of AI and digital technologies used within their own workplace and some of the potential consequences these might have on your members
−    Understand how existing legislation, agreements and structures can effectively be used to challenge poor practice in the implementation of AI and digital technologies
−    Develop an action plan for your own workplace
This course is aimed at all reps and no previous knowledge is required.

 

Toolkits

The Wales TUC has produced a number of toolkits that can be used in the workplace to assist with various areas of equality, workplace learning and environmental issues. Browse and download the full range of of toolkits here.

Interactive guides

We have short bite-sized pieces of learning and longer courses. Each piece of learning is self-contained and contains a mixture of text, video and quizzes. They last between 20 and 45 minutes and can be returned to as many times as you like. Access our interactive guides

Webinars

Our webinars on specific workplace issues are a valuable training tool for reps and members. Sign-up to our upcoming events or watch our past webinars.

Networks

We have a number of active networks where you can receive regular updates on important workplace issues. They also provide ongoing opportunities to network and share experiences with other reps beyond the classroom.

Find out more about our Health and Safety Reps Network, Greener Workplaces Network and Union Learning Reps Network. 

Course directory: PDF version

This PDF has a summary of the course dates - handy to pin up on notice-boards.