WEST MIDLANDS REGIONAL EDUCATION
A message to Unite Representatives
I am pleased to welcome you to the 2024/ 2025 Unite Education Programme for the West Midlands Region. You will find the wide range of courses that are available to you as a Unite Representative.
All newly elected Reps should attend their induction training within 12 months of being elected. You are entitled to time off with paid release from your employer to attend. Please make sure you have permission before applying. Any problems with time off please contact your Regional Officer.
Most of our courses are held at our Unite offices across the West Midlands and on site if required, ensuring there are always courses available close to your home or workplace. We are also continuing to offer courses online via a virtual Classroom as an alternative.
All Unite Courses run from Monday to Friday, commencing at 9:30 and conclude each day around 4:30.
The cornerstone of our regional provision is the Unite Workplace Representative Introductory Course that you need to complete over 10 days (two 5 day blocks), followed by the Negotiating & Bargaining in the Workplace 1 & 2. For more experienced reps and those who have completed the 20 day Introductory ones there is the advanced Workplace Reps 2A and 2B.
For Health and Safety Representatives we offer a 20 day training package split into four modules of five days each.
For those having completed their 1A and 1B courses, we highly recommend the five day Equality Course and the five day Mental Health Awareness Course. Those that have not attended these two courses are encouraged to do so now as they are for all reps and give you the tools to support our members during these challenging times.
These certificated courses provide clearly structured education progression for shop stewards and Reps. If you or any of your fellow shop stewards or reps have yet to attend, please contact the Education Department at the Regional office to reserve your place.
Our courses are run by experienced tutors in a supportive learning environment where members share their own experiences and knowledge and learn from each other. They are all fully accredited and you will be expected to complete the course work with support from your tutor and other Reps.
Unite education courses will provide you with the organising skills, knowledge and tools to win better pay and conditions in the workplace for the members you represent and give workers a voice.
To apply for courses please contact your education department. Please take a few minutes to look through the programme and sign up for one of the many courses on offer.
To apply for your place please email with your name, membership number, course title, venue and date to the WM Education Team at [email protected] or telephone 0121 647 4797. You will then receive confirmation of your booking.
Please make sure that you book the corresponding second part of your course (usually a month later). Please do not book specific dates/arrange your paid release until you have received confirmation of your course place.
Alternatively, you can view and apply for all of our courses online at: https://www.unitetheunion.org/why-join/member-services/education/training-and-courses/west midlands-courses together with full information on Unite education services.
For the online courses you will need to access the course individually on a PC or laptop, with a camera, a tablet can be used (if you are able to download, amend and upload documents) and you will need good internet connection.
Please note that it is not possible to share computers and many employers have firewalls preventing access to Google therefore you will need to attend from home.
I look forward to welcoming you at one of our courses in the near future.
In solidarity
Lesley Hoo
Regional Education Officer
As an elected Workplace Representative it is essential you access your initial training as soon after election as possible. Your initial training consists of Module 1A and 1B. It is best to book both courses at the same time to ensure you have a place reserved on each course.
Workplace Reps Module 1A - 5 Consecutive Days
Course description:
This course is designed to be the core initial training for Unite workplace reps. The course covers the wide range of knowledge and skills needed by the new Rep including:
• Key skills for organising your workplace
• Handling discipline and grievance cases
• Communication skills
• Introduction to Employment Law Equality at Work
Workplace Reps Module 1B - 5 Consecutive Days
Course description:
For reps who have completed Module 1A.
This course covers:
• Evaluating and assessing your experience since the Stage 1 course
• Understanding the concept of ‘good work’
• Understanding and dealing with Issues around Dignity and Respect in the workplace
• Problem solving skills
• Bargaining skills
• Work-life balance
• Building a strong workplace union
Bargaining and the Law Part 1 - 5 Consecutive Days
Course description:
This course is designed for Reps who have completed the Workplace Reps Introductory Certificate Modules 1A & 1B. Reps need to complete Part 1 and Part 2 to achieve accreditation within the academic year.
The course includes:
• Understanding the trade union approach to Employment Rights
• Workplace rights
• Rights to information
• Understanding employment rights relating to Industrial Action
• Collective bargaining legal framework
Bargaining and the Law Part 2 - 5 Consecutive Days
Course description:
Reps must have completed Part 1 in order to complete this course.
The course includes:
• Presenting trade union information to members
• Agreements
• The case for collective agreements
• Planning for getting an agreement
• Collective bargaining and negotiation
Workplace Representatives Module 2A - 5 Consecutive Days
Course description:
This course is an advanced course designed for Reps who have completed the Workplace Reps Introductory Certificate Modules 1A & 1B and the Bargaining & the Law Part 1 and Part 2. Reps will be required to complete both 2A and 2B.
This course covers
• Understanding the trade union approach to workplace issues and how to use sources of information
• Understand Collective bargaining in today’s economy
• Understanding and applying Unite’s organising and bargaining strategies in the workplace
• Leading in the trade union collective agenda
Workplace Representatives Module 2B - 5 Consecutive Days
Course description:
Reps must have completed Module 2A within the academic year.
This course covers:
• Planning, Organising and campaigning for Trade Union Reps
• Developments in employment
• Recognise, negotiate and evaluate workplace issues and priorities
• Understand key aspects of union principles, structure and resources
As an elected Health & Safety Representative it is essential you access your initial training as soon after election as possible. Your initial training consists of Module 1A and 1B. It is best to book both courses at the same time to ensure you have a place reserved on each course.
Health & Safety Representatives Module 1A - 5 Consecutive Days
Course description:
This course is the essential course for all new Unite Health and Safety Representatives. It is designed to help you build the skills, knowledge and confidence to organise effectively in order to carry out your work as a Safety Rep as well as to create understanding of how economic and others aspects affect the working lives, health, safety and welfare of working people.
The course covers:
• Understanding the role of a Unite Safety Rep
• The legal framework of Health and Safety
• Rights of Safety Reps
• Involving the members in Health and Safety
• Accident Investigations – Risk Assessments
Health & Safety Representatives Module 1B - 5 Consecutive Days
Course description:
The course develops the skills and knowledge learnt in Module 1A:
• Examining your workplace risk assessment and evaluating them
• Understanding health & safety audits and company accident statistics
• Appreciate health & safety legislation including aspects of criminal and civil law
Health & Safety Representatives Module 2A - 5 Consecutive Days
Course description:
Module 2A of Unites Health & Safety training builds upon the knowledge learnt in Modules 1A and 1B.
The course covers:
• Assessment of workplace action plan
• Understanding COSHH and related hazards
• Carrying out a workplace audit
• Explore manual handing and ergonomic risks
• Creating a healthier work environment
Health & Safety Representatives Module 2B - 5 Consecutive Days
Course description:
Module 2B of Unites Health & Safety training builds upon the knowledge learnt in Modules 1A, 1B and 2A.
This course covers:
• Assessment of workplace action plan
• Understanding accidents and finding route cause
• Investigation techniques
• Managing risks and incidents
Course description:
Designed to give all Unite Reps the confidence and knowledge to address equality and diversity issues, the course provides a comprehensive overview of equality in the workplace.
On completion of the course Reps should be able to:
• Recognise equality issues within the workplace
• Know what constitutes discrimination, harassment and bullying
• Challenge their perception of equality & diversity
• Understand the key points of new equalities legislation, measures and legal decisions
• Decide how best to support workers in response to new equalities legislation
• Use interviewing techniques to deal with individual and workplace equality issues
• Develop equality policies and practice
Course description:
This course is designed to be the core initial training for all Unite Union Learning Reps (ULRs). It helps them develop the basic
knowledge and skills needed as a new Rep, enabling them to work with colleagues in the workplace to analyse training needs. The course forms a solid foundation for the new ULR to develop their skills and their own personal development.
We offer a wide range of additional courses open to representatives. You may find some of these suitable for enhancing your existing skills. We advice that you complete your initial reps training before accessing these additional courses.
Mental Health Awareness - 5 Consecutive Days
Course description:
This course will help Reps develop a better understanding on mental health issues and how they affect members in the workplace. You will develop a better understanding of Disability Discrimination Law and how it applies to people with mental health illnesses. The training will enable you to develop a strategy to deal with workplace mental health issues and ensure employees are not discriminated against.
Branch Officials Course - 5 Consecutive Days
Course description:
The Branch Secretary is a key player in the Unite team. The concept of this course is to develop Branch Secretaries within Unite by providing them with the knowledge and skills, and nurturing their passion, to drive forward the ideology of our union, to develop our activist base and grow and strengthen our membership. This course is designed for all new Branch Secretaries, and for those who have not attended the course recently.
The course covers:
• The administrative role of the Branch Secretary
• How the union works
• How ‘lay democracy’ starts at local branch level
• Understanding organisation procedures
• Encouraging active participation within the Unite structure
• Branch Finance
• Understanding the ‘Strategy for Growth’ and the crucial role that the branch plays
• Setting out a local ‘strategy for growth’ for recruitment, retention and participation in branch life
• Branch Portal
• Chairing and Organising Skills
Pensions Stage One - 5 Consecutive Days
Course description:
This course is designed to provide an understanding of pensions to enable Workplace representatives to develop their representational skills in basic pension provision.