This page outlines NATFHE's national programme of training courses from January to December 2006.

INTRODUCTION

NATFHE provides a wide programme of national, regional and branch courses for elected branch officers and representatives. These courses develop the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to help you build and maintain strong and active local branches. Course dates for the current year are shown in the calendar at the bottom of this page or you can download the full 2006 training programme as a single Word document.

The courses are free of charge to NATFHE elected branch officers and representatives and expenses are reclaimable from the union.

Branch officers and elected representatives are entitled under s168 of Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 to time off work with pay for training provided by the union or the TUC. We also encourage branch members to participate in training and many employers provide paid time for this.

Health and Safety representatives have additional rights to time off with pay under the Safety Representatives and Safety Committee Regulations 1977, for training to perform their trade union duties.

Requests for time off to attend any of these courses should be made to management in accordance with ACAS advice, at the same time as your application is made for a place. Any difficulties should be reported to your regional official.

In general the number of course places will be limited to 16 members. Where selection is necessary, new officers and representatives will be given priority. Attempts will also be made to ensure a gender balance across the HE and FE sectors.

RECOMMENDED TRAINING PROGRAMMES FOR BRANCH OFFICERS AND REPRESENTATIVES

NATFHE advises its officers and representatives to undergo general training as soon possible after taking office. The union then encourages them to attend the following as appropriate:

NATFHE stage one reps course consisting of the following:
• The role of the rep (module 1)
• Representing members (module 2)
• Organizing and recruitment (module 3)
• Negotiating and bargaining (module 4)

NATFHE stage one health and safety course consisting of the following:
• Health and safety rep induction (module 1)
• Understanding health and safety law (module 2)
• Using your rights as a health and safety rep (module 3)
• Dealing with accidents and tackling hazards (module 4)
• Trade union action to tackle stress (module 5)
See above for rights to time of for training for H&S reps.

It is important that NATFHE reps attend all modules in the relevant stage one courses to gain maximum skills and development in their role(s) as a NATFHE elected rep. A certificate of attendance is awarded at the end of each completed stage one course.

NATIONAL & REGIONAL COURSES

Stage one reps modules are all taught at regional level. This means you need to apply to your regional office for a course in your region. Regional courses are held in the following locations:
• East & West Midlands regions - Birmingham
• North West region - Manchester
• London, South West & Southern regions - London
• Yorkshire and Humberside region - Harrogate

The courses listed in the calendar below are colour coded according to region. Some health and safety modules, and occasionally other courses in high demand are available in the regions. All other courses are provided at national level, which are open to elected branch reps and branch officers from all regions and are held in London.

EQUALITY

In conjunction with NATFHE's Training Office, the union's Equality Official arranges for officers and representatives with a special interest in furthering the union's policies and developing institutional procedures. NATFHE encourages equality representatives to attend the TUC ten day courses or the NATFHE stage one courses.

NATFHE TRAINING FOR 2006