Training for representatives

The IPA has developed a range of participative training programmes for employee representatives, and for trade union representatives, designed to enhance the contribution collective employee voice can make to organisational success.

"... thank you for the training you did for us yesterday – I am getting great feedback from the reps who really enjoyed it and got a huge amount out of it. They are all fired up to get started now and look like they will be a great group of reps. I am sure this will help us get the best result for the business" HR Manager, Three

Stage 1 training

The Stage 1 training is the foundational course for employee representatives, designed to move employee forums and works councils away from a focus on basic "tea and toilets" issues towards a meaningful system of strategic consultation in which both employees and managers are fully invested. It will equip representatives to understand a strategic agenda and ask the questions necessary to make organisational decision-making more transparent. Read more

Stage 2 training

The Stage 2 training for representatives builds on the learning from Stage 1 and is designed to increase the skills and awareness to enable those representatives to contribute more effectively to the decision-making process. It includes a refresher of the key tools and techniques and detailed discussions how these are being or can be used to solve problems that the representatives have encountered. Read more

How to negotiate effectively

Where employee representatives are required to negotiate with management, this training from IPA provides guidance on how to approach negotiations based on mutual trust and where honest disagreements can be aired and resolved with confidence. Read more

Workshops for Managers and Trade Union Representatives

Personal relationships between the managers and the trade unions are often good but this does not always translate into effective working when discussions relate to pay, policy and re-structures. This joint approach is designed to improve working between managers and trade union representatives, create efficiency and develop shared commitment, understanding and trust at a strategic level. Read more

Coaching for senior representatives

The focus of this one-to-one or group coaching programme is to develop the skills of the individual trade union representatives and how they, in turn, can support the less experienced representatives they are responsible for. Read more

Advanced training for senior representatives

This training programme is designed for senior trade union representatives. It recognises the challenges facing UK organisations today, and the important role representatives have in supporting employers to meet these challenges whilst mitigating any detrimental impact on employees. Read more

Latest

A Guide for Representatives: how to represent people working from home

With a foreword from Susan Clews of Acas, this IPA guide is designed to support both union and non-union representatives in adjusting to the post-COVID world of increased remote working. Working from home on a mass scale poses challenges for collective employee voice, some of which are different to in-person representation, though many of the same key lessons apply.

The Role of IPA in a post-COVID Economy. Reflections from a former Director 2

Another former IPA Director, Willy Coupar, offers his thoughts on what the IPA stands for in a post-COVID economy. With the economic climate looking darker than it has for a long time, he focuses in on three key areas where the IPA has played a role in the past and is needed again today - promoting partnership working, enhancing the quality of work and pushing for stronger legal protections in the workplace.

Working Together in Uncertain Times – If I Was Still a Trade Union Representative

IPA's Derek Luckhurst reflects on his previous career as a trade union representative in this article, looking at how the trade union movement has fared over recent years and how it needs to adapt to meet the challenges of the present and future, in particular around the benefits of working positively in partnership with management.

How to represent people working remotely

The rapid move to remote working in response to Covid has had some positive outcomes but also raises important challenges such as ensuring employee voice continues to be heard on the organisation. This publication, with a foreword by Susan Clews, Chief Executive of Acas, offers a guide and tools for workplace representatives.

Employee voice

Employee voice exists, whether you recognise it or not. The only question is – "are you listening?" The benefits of employee voice for organisations are explained and alternative forms of voice structures explored in this article, which also includes a look at what makes a system of employee voice effective.

Who are IPA?

The IPA is the UK's leading organisation delivering new ways of working based on employee participation, collaboration and trust.

Nita Clarke OBE

IPA Director

Working Well: Perspectives on Good Work and why it matters

To coincide with the government's response to the Taylor Review, the IPA have produced a report which draws together 16 expert perspectives on what Good Work means in modern Britain, why it is important and how to bring it about.

Employee engagement

This training programme focuses around how to use the four key enablers of employee engagement - a strong strategic narrative, engaging managers, employee voice and integrity - to move from a purely transactional approach to engagement to a genuinely transformational one.

Overview of services

Every workplace is different, so every project we undertake is individually developed by our professional and experienced team, and delivered based on the needs and circumstances of the client.

Engagement

Employee engagement is seen by a growing number of organisations as a key issue in measuring employee attitudes, managing the behaviours of management, developing operational and human resource policies, and establishing a strong employer brand. Find out more about what engagement is, the four enablers of engagement, the work of Engage for Success and what the IPA can do to help your organisation boost the engagement of its employees.

Mind over Machines: New technology and employment relations

This report examines the relationship between the introduction of new technology into the workplace and employee wellbeing, autonomy, voice and engagement. IPA for Acas, 2017.

Working Well: preview of IPA publication on good work

On 8th February, IPA will be launching our report on Good Work, to coincide with the government's response to the Taylor Review. This publication draws together 16 expert perspectives on what good work means, why it matters and how to bring it about.

The real impact of the EU on UK employment law

The UK is set to have a referendum on 23 June on whether or not to remain a member of the European Union. In this article, Rachel Suff, Public Policy Advisor at CIPD discusses how ‘the world of work might be affected’ if the UK voted not to remain in the EU. She highlights that a large part of the UK employment law is derived from the EU and that a vote to leave the EU could allow the review or repeal of legislation that came out of EU directives.