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The Employment Rights Act introduces major reforms to UK employment law, with changes being implemented in stages from December 2025 through to 2027.

Employment Rights Act

Certificate in employment law

The TUC's stage 2 course for workplace representatives.

This is a practical training course, designed for trade union workplace reps. It approaches the law from this perspective and its principal concern is how knowledge of and confidence in using employment law can improve workplace bargaining. It is not aimed at legal professionals or the finer points of technical interpretation of the law.

Who is this course for?

union representatives who have already completed the TUC Stage 1 Union Representatives Course or its union equivalent.

It is not aimed at legal professionals or the finer points of technical interpretation of the law.

How long is the course?

This course will be delivered over 10 weeks (one term).

What will the course help me to do?

The course will help you:

build confidence and knowledge in exploring, questioning and using employment law
develop and consolidate research skills in finding out how legal provisions impact upon workplace rights
review changes and challenges to workplace rights
plan what needs to be done in relation to your union and workplace situation
apply representational, organising and collective bargaining skills to making the most of the law at work
work collectively in planning collective action
prepare for/facilitate progression to advanced work on union issues, including advanced courses and union roles.

What are the entry requirements?

Union representatives who wish to take this course should have:

previously attended the TUC stage 1 reps' course; or
obtained a suitable equivalent to the one above through their own union's courses or from elsewhere.

Please ensure that you have time off to attend this course and that you have checked with the appropriate union branch official or officer that you intend to take the course.

Please be aware that funding restrictions in some areas may mean that a college cannot accept your application: if this is the case you will be notified which college to reapply to.

How much is the course?

There are no course fees for union reps from TUC affiliated unions.

See our course listings page for availability.

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