Courses in the North West region
Representing courses
Organising courses
Health & safety courses
Equality courses
Bargaining courses
Specialist courses
These are the courses for branch reps and activists currently running in North West region.
If there are no dates listed for the course you'd like to attend, or if you'd like to be made aware of further dates, please register your interest here.

Workload rep training 1: introduction to the workload campaign and the role of the workload rep - October 2025, Online
This half day course is open to UCU activists and reps who want to build upon their knowledge of workload as a health and safety hazard in the workplace. You should ensure you have branch approval prior to attending and tick the relevant box on the application form. The UCU workload campaign gives us the tools to tackle increasing workloads and working hours. The failure of employers to protect staff from excessive workloads and stress is damaging our health, our students' education, and our ability to organise to defend ourselves and our sector. This course will give you a generic overview of workload campaign and the role of the workload rep. You must complete workload reps 1 before attending workload reps 2.

Workload rep training 2: Workload campaign in action, inspections and investigation - November, Online
This short course is open to UCU activists and reps who want to build upon their knowledge of workload as a health and safety hazard in the workplace. The UCU workload campaign gives us the tools to tackle increasing workloads and working hours. The failure of employers to protect staff from excessive workloads and stress is damaging our health, our students' education, and our ability to organise to defend ourselves and our sector In this course you will work through practical examples and explore ideas around how to use the safety rep functions to identify and reduce excessive workloads.

Rep 1 :UCU reps induction - September 2025, In person
This course is aimed at new reps and activists who will be undertaking this role in the near future. Existing reps who have not attended training before are also encouraged to attend. The course will cover all aspects of your role as a rep including your rights as a rep, union democracy, recruitment and communication. You should complete this course prior to applying for the Rep 2 course.

Rep 2: Representing UCU members - June 2026, In Person
This course is for reps who have completed UCU's Rep 1, H&S 1, or Introduction to case work. The course also assumes you are actively engaged with your branch and understand UCU's democratic structures both in the branch and nationally. This comprehensive course is designed specifically for trade union representatives seeking to strengthen their ability to support and represent members effectively.

Effective negotiating & bargaining skills: June/July 2026, In Person
This course is for those who are currently negotiating with management or those in the branch who want to learn more about the negotiating process. Negotiating with discipline, cohesion and winning strategies are fundamental to obtaining the best deals for members. This course will allow you to explore tactics, practices and processes that can be applied in local negotiations. You will also look at ways of involving members and organising for increased leverage.

H&S 1: Induction (health & safety role and functions) - October 2025, In Person
This classroom based course forms the first part of the health and safety training programme. This course is for new health and safety reps, those who have been in the role sometime but never been trained along with those in the branch who want to further understand the role and legislation that enables health and safety reps to hold institutions to account.

H&S 2: Organising and bargaining for health and safety - February, 2026, In Person
This course is for those who have completed the UCU H&S 1 course and wish to extend their H&S knowledge around organising and bargaining. The course will help you learn how to involve members along with developing bargaining strategies to win better H&S conditions for members.

Bargaining for a Green New Deal: December 2025, Online
This course is for all Green reps along with those in the branch who are interested in bargaining around environmental issues. The course will help reps navigate UCU Green New Deal bargaining advice and enable you to work on a potential claim to the employer along with looking at a deep organising approach to any campaign strategy.

Bargaining for equality: November 2025, Online
This course is the second day of the Equality Reps course, however it is also open to other branch officers and reps who want to deepen their understanding around the conditions and issues facing UCU members. The course will look at equality through the lens of social justice and examine structural change in the workplace, it will discuss the practical application of intersectionality in case work, collective bargaining and organising.

Equality Reps: Induction - October 2025, Online
This course is aimed at new Equality reps and those who have been doing the role sometime but have not yet attended the Equality reps introduction. This course is the first part of a two day programme for all equality reps and there is an expectation that you will attend both sequentially. This course will help you explore equality through an allyship lens, understand your rights as a UCU Equality Rep, and gain practical tools to engage members and influence change. You will look at legal frameworks, intersectionality, branch organising, and the social model of disability. This course will underpin concepts explored further in day 2 (Bargaining for Equality). If day 2 is not currently advertised in your area you may attend in alternative regions/devolved nations.

Job evaluation: A collective approach - November 2025, UK wide course, online
This one day course is for branch reps and activists who are involved and interested in learning more about the importance of trade union involvement and representation in job evaluation schemes. The focus of the course will be around the use of collective action wherever possible.

Job evaluation: A collective approach, - April 2025, in person,
This one day course is for branch reps and activists who are involved and interested in learning more about the importance of trade union involvement and representation in job evaluation schemes. The focus of the course will be around the use of collective action wherever possible.
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