Courses in the Northern region

Representing courses Representing courses
Organising courses Organising courses
Health & safety rep courses Health & safety courses
Equality rep courses Equality courses
Bargaining courses Bargaining courses
Specialist courses Specialist courses

These are the courses for branch reps and activists currently running in Northern 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.


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Challenging redundancy: November 2024, in person

The threat of redundancy has never been more acute for UCU members. This course is for all branch reps & activists who are likely to be involved in challenging redundancies and/or supporting members facing redundancy.

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H&S 1 - induction: (health & safety role and functions) June 2025, In person

This course forms the first part of UCU's health and safety training programme. This course is for new health and safety reps, those who have been in the role sometime but have 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.

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Introduction to the Further Education Just Transition Framework: 27, February, 2025, Online, 1 hour session

This short online session is for any branch rep interested in learning more about the recently signed agreement with the AOC around a just transition. The session will introduce the agreement, consider what it means for branches and looks at ways UCU branches can shape its adoption within colleges.

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Introduction to the Further Education Just Transition Framework: 4, March, 2025, Online, 1 hour session

This short online session is for any branch rep interested in learning more about the recently signed agreement with the AOC around a just transition. The session will introduce the agreement, consider what it means for branches and looks at ways UCU branches can shape its adoption within colleges.

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Job evaluation: A collective approach, April 2025, UK wide course, 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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Reasonable adjustments: supporting members, July 2025, in person

This course is for reps and activists involved in their local branch who want to learn more about supporting members around reasonable adjustments. This course will give you the knowledge and skills to support individuals through the process, along with looking at how positive changes can be made through organising and campaigning.

Rep 1 - UCU reps induction: June, 2025, in person

This classroom based course is aimed at new reps/caseworkers 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.

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Rep 2 - representing UCU members: March 2025, In person

This classroom course is for reps who have completed UCU's Rep 1 course, or our introduction to case work (alt. H&S1, or Barg for Equality, ULR) and are now actively engaged in representing individual members. The course assumes you are actively engaged with your branch and understand UCU's democratic structures both in the branch and nationally.

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Representing individual members: an introduction to casework - March 2025

This is a course for reps who are new to representing individual members or those who are considering becoming more involved in the direct representation of individual and groups of members. Those who have been practicing for some time may also find this course to be a useful refresher of best practice.

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ULR 2: Bargaining for better learning agreements: April 2024, National course, in person

This course is for branch union learning reps or those reps and activists interested in finding out more about negotiating effective and inclusive learning agreements. The course will assume you have some knowledge around the bargaining structure in your institution.

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Understanding and handling media: March 2025

This is a course is for branch reps who are interested in learning more about handling both print and social media. The course will be taught by a member of the National Union of Journalists with support from UCU Press office.

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Workload rep training 1: introduction to the workload campaign and the role of the workload rep - February 2025, UK wide course

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.

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Workload rep training 1: introduction to the workload campaign and the role of the workload rep - April 2025, UK wide course.

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.

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Workload rep training 2: Workload campaign in action, inspections and investigations - April 2025, UK wide course.

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. You must have completed the Workload reps 1 course to be eligible to attend this course. Please be aware we must have conformation that you have attended the Workload reps 1 course prior to offering a place for this course.

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Workload rep training 2: Workload campaign in action, inspections and investigations - March 2025, UK wide course.

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. You must have completed the Workload reps 1 course to be eligible to attend this course.