Wales TUC Education trains union reps to work with union members and officers to make a difference in their workplace.
Wales TUC Education offer courses for all types of union reps. Whether your 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 2024 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. More details of these programmes will be added to this page soon, in the meantime please email wtuc@tuc.org.uk to register your interest.
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 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.
Our courses are accredited and allow reps to receive nationally recognised qualifications through the award of units on the Qualifications and Credits Framework (QCF).
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.
Courses are fully funded - there are no course fees for union reps from TUC affiliated unions.
Course title |
Provider |
Start date |
Venue |
Pattern |
Contact |
Grievance and Disciplinary | Adult Learning Wales | 29 May | Online via Teams | 2 Wednesdays | nicholas.paul@adultlearning.wales |
Negotiating for a Just Transition |
Coleg Gwent | 3 June 2024 | Online via Teams | 3 Mondays |
07527 450276 |
Women Activists' Development Programme | Wales TUC Cymru | Summer 2024 - dates to be confirmed | TBC | TBC | More information and register your interest |
Pattern |
Start date |
End date |
Venue |
Provider |
Book a place |
|
Union Reps Stage 1 |
10 Fridays |
13/09/24 |
22/11/24 |
ALW Cardiff |
ALW |
|
Union Reps Stage 1 |
10 Fridays |
13/09/24 |
22/11/24 |
ALW Wrexham |
ALW |
|
Health and Safety Reps Stage 1 |
10 Tuesdays |
24/09/24 |
03/12/24 |
Newport, Nash Road Campus |
Coleg Gwent |
|
Union Learning Reps Stage 1 |
4 Wednesdays |
25/09/24 |
12/10/24 |
Online |
Coleg Gwent |
|
Introduction to environmental awareness (for reps) |
1 Thursday (half-day) |
05/09/24 |
05/09/24 |
Online |
ALW |
|
Greening our workplaces – green rep skills |
3 Mondays |
23/09/24 |
07/10/24 |
Online |
ALW |
|
Handling Redundancies |
2 Wednesdays |
07/10/24 |
14/10/24 |
Newport, Nash Road Campus |
Coleg Gwent |
|
Social Partnership |
2 Mondays |
16/09/24 |
23/09/24 |
Newport, Nash Road Campus |
Coleg Gwent |
|
Tackling & Preventing Sexual harassment |
3 Wednesdays |
07/11/24 |
20/11/24 |
Online |
ALW |
|
Disability in the Workplace |
3 Mondays |
04/11/24 |
18/11/24 |
Online |
ALW |
|
Social Partnership |
2 Tuesdays |
12/11/24 |
19/11/24 |
Online |
ALW |
Course name |
Pattern |
Start date |
End date |
Venue |
Provider |
Book a place |
|
Union Reps Stage 1 |
10 Mondays |
13/01/25 |
24/03/25 |
Newport, Nash Road Campus |
Coleg Gwent |
|
|
Health and Safety Reps Stage 1 |
10 Fridays |
17/01/ 25 |
28/03/25 |
ALW Cardiff |
ALW |
|
|
Health and Safety Reps Stage 1 |
10 Fridays |
17/01/25 |
28/03/25 |
ALW Wrexham |
ALW |
|
|
Union Reps Stage 2 |
10 Fridays |
24/01/25 |
04/03/25 |
Online |
ALW |
|
|
Health and Safety Reps Stage 2 |
10 Tuesdays |
14/01/25 |
25/03/25 |
Online |
Coleg Gwent |
|
|
Union Learning Reps Stage 1 |
4 Mondays |
27/01/25 |
17/02/25 |
Online |
ALW |
|
|
Union Learning Reps Stage 2 |
4 Wednesdays |
05/03/25 |
26/03/25 |
Online |
Coleg Gwent |
|
|
Introduction to environmental awareness (for reps) |
1 Tuesday (half day) |
14/01/25 |
14/01/25 |
Online |
ALW |
|
|
Greening the workplace – green rep skills |
3 Mondays |
27/01/25 |
10/02/25 |
Online |
Coleg Gwent |
|
|
Negotiating for a Just Transition |
3 Wednesdays |
29/01/25 |
12/02/25 |
Online |
ALW |
|
|
Social Partnership |
2 Wednesdays |
15/01/25 |
22/01/25 |
Online |
Coleg Gwent |
|
|
Menopause in the Workplace |
3 Mondays |
10/03/25 |
24/03/25 |
Online |
ALW |
|
|
Social Partnership |
2 Tuesdays |
18/03/25 |
25/03/25 |
Online |
ALW |
|
|
Autism Awareness/ Neurodiversity in the Workplace |
2 Tuesdays |
04/03/25 |
11/03/25 |
Online |
ALW |
|
|
Mental Health – from resilience to resistance |
2 Mondays |
31/03/25 |
07/04/25 |
Online |
Coleg Gwent |
|
Course name |
Pattern |
Start date |
End date |
Venue |
Provider |
Book a place |
|
Union Reps Stage 1 |
10 Fridays |
02/05/25 |
11/07/25 |
ALW Cardiff |
ALW |
|
|
Union Reps Stage 1 |
10 Fridays |
02/05/25 |
11/07/25 |
ALW Wrexham |
ALW |
|
|
Health and Safety Reps Stage 1 |
10 Tuesdays |
06/05/25 |
15/07/25 |
Newport, Nash Road Campus |
Coleg Gwent |
|
|
Union Reps Stage 2 |
10 Mondays |
28/04/25 |
14/07/25 |
Online |
Coleg Gwent |
|
|
Health and Safety Reps Stage 2 |
10 Fridays |
09/05/25 |
18/07/25 |
Online |
ALW |
|
|
Union Learning Reps Stage 1 |
4 Wednesdays |
30/04/25 |
21/05/25 |
Online |
Coleg Gwent |
|
|
Union Learning Reps Stage 2 |
4 Tuesdays |
14/05/25 |
11/06/25 |
Online |
ALW |
|
|
Introduction to environmental awareness (for reps) |
1 Wednesday (half day) |
7/05/25 |
7/05/25 |
Online |
ALW |
|
|
Greening our workplaces - Green Representatives Skills |
3 Mondays |
02/06/25 |
16/06/25 |
Online |
ALW |
|
|
Negotiating for a Just Transition |
3 Tuesdays |
10/06/25 |
24/06/25 |
Online |
Coleg Gwent |
|
|
Tackling and preventing sexual harassment |
3 Thursdays |
08/05/25 |
22/05/25 |
Online |
Coleg Gwent |
|
|
Advanced Casework |
2 Mondays |
05/05/25 |
12/05/25 |
Online |
Coleg Gwent |
|
Click on the name of the course below for more information about what you'll learn.
As a new union rep this course is essential. You'll find out:
You'll understand the role and responsibilities. These include working together with members and other union reps, talking to members and dealing with their problems, recruiting members and getting them involved in the union, meeting management to discuss a range of issues at work and keeping members informed.
If you have completed the union reps part 1 or your union equivalent, this course will help you advance within your trade union role. The course covers:
The best protection in the workplace is effective organised trade unions however understanding what our rights are and how to make best use of them is essential to your role. You will learn about:
As a new Health and safety rep, this course is essential. You'll find out
You will look at the health and safety law, safety inspections, risk assessments and preventative measures. This course will provide a thorough grounding in health and safety issues and give you the skills, knowledge and confidence to undertake your role effectively.
If you have completed the health and safety part 1 or your union equivalent, this course will help you to deal with those bigger issues. The course will cover
While we try to ensure safer workplaces for our members, we must also recognise the need for equality and diversity. Throughout the course, you will explore equality based issues such as:
Mental health awareness
Mental health in the workplace is increasingly important. This course covers why it is important and how reps can deal with mental health issues.
This course is for reps who want to increase their awareness of how the workplace can affect mental health and who want to improve policies for their members.
The course will help reps to:
If you’re a new Union Learning Rep (ULR), this course is essential. It will give you the skills and knowledge that you need to be an effective ULR. The role of a ULR is much more than simply setting up courses in your workplace. It is about working within your branch, with your employer and with providers and funder to widen access to learning and ensure equality of opportunity in your workplace. The course will teach you:
This course is aimed at both new and experienced green/environmental reps as well as other trade unionists who wish to take practical action on the climate and nature emergency in their workplace.
Course duration: 3 days of learning (1 day per week spread over 3 weeks).
All trade unionists who wish to take action on the climate and nature emergency in their workplace, including union officers, branch officials, reps, health and safety reps, union learning reps, equality reps.
This course will help to equip union reps, health and safety reps, green reps and branch officials with information and ideas about how to respond strategically to the challenge of giving workers a voice on the transition to a net-zero economy.
It will help union reps to develop negotiation strategies on workplace transition planning and develop an understanding of the wider impact of the transition on issues such as workplace skills, jobs and health and safety.
Course duration: 3 days of learning – 1 day per week spread over 3 consecutive weeks
All trade unionists who wish to take action on the climate and nature emergency in their workplace, including union officers, branch officials, reps, health and safety reps, union learning reps, equality reps.
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.
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
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.
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 Greener Workplaces Network and Union Learning Reps Network. We plan to launch a new health and safety reps network in Spring/Summer 2024. More details will be added to this page soon.
This PDF has a summary of the course dates - handy to pin up on notice-boards.
This booklet provides details of our latest courses. If you’re unable to find a course to suit your interests/needs or you have any queries please don’t hesitate to contact the Wales TUC education team at wtuc@tuc.org.uk.
The booklet covers:
- Course listings
- How to apply
Download course directory booklet (pdf) English | Cymraeg