Skills Academy Courses 2024

Fórsa Induction is an online information session, open to all members and delivered on the second Wednesday of every month in the morning (09:30 – 12:00) and in the evening (18:00 – 20:00).

The aim of this information session is to understand how important you are as a union member, encourage you to engage with your colleagues to achieve successful outcomes where you work, and how Fórsa operates and supports all our members and representatives to secure better workplaces.

These sessions are advertised every month in the union’s fortnightly bulletins issued by our Communications unit, which contain a live link to our online application form. If you choose the morning session, we will contact your line manager to arrange a paid release from your workplace. However, many of our members avail of the evening session which doesn’t require us to seek such a release.

Lunch & Learn is a monthly online series of talks on work-related and topical issues which is open to all members. The topics will have broad interest and often complement existing skills training for representatives. Monthly topics with an invitation to register will be advertised on the union’s fortnightly bulletins issued by our Communications unit, and are also sent directly to branches by email. Previous topics have included: Talking about your union, Digital activism, CV and interview preparation, and additional benefits of your Fórsa membership. All of these sessions are recorded and can be viewed on the Skills Academy YouTube channel.

WRT Level 1 is a 3-day course for new Workplace Representatives, who have previously undertaken the Fórsa Induction session and have little to no representative experience or training.

This course enables you to develop your communications skills and representative knowledge to effectively undertake the role and create strong teams of union members in your workplace. This will improve local participation to strengthen your influence and achieve better outcomes.

Our Level 2 Workplace Representatives training programme comprises three parts delivered over 4 days, and is aimed at those who have completed the Level 1 course. It is delivered as follows:

• Part 1 focusses on organising your workplace (day 1) and provides practical opportunities to develop your individual representative skills (day 2).
• Part 2 covers equality legislation and diversity in the workplace (day 3).
• Part 3 covers health and safety practices, risk assessment, and an overview of legislation (day 4).

All three parts must be completed.

Data protection for Branches is an online course open to all Branch Executive Officers and Workplace Representatives. It covers all aspects of data protection from an explanation of the legislation to its practical application at branch level. This is an essential course for anyone in a representative role, but particularly those who handle membership lists and data.

Branch Chairpersons and Secretaries training is open to newly elected Chairpersons (and Vice-Chairpersons,) and Secretaries (and Vice-Secretaries). It will explain their roles and responsibilities, along with an outline of duties.

It will provide an opportunity for participants to develop key skills in organising and handling meetings, including agenda setting, chairing, and facilitating a dynamic and engaging meeting which is effective and inclusive for all.

Branch Treasurers training is open to newly elected Treasurers (and Vice- Treasurers) and focusses on their roles and responsibilities. It covers all aspects of branch funding and financial responsibility (financial regulations and accountancy practices), along with outlining how best to administer and utilise branch funds in order to achieve our strategic objectives.

The Annual Branch Returns (ABR) workshop complements the above training and covers financial and accountancy obligations of branches. This is an opportunity for treasurers to complete their annual branch returns during the workshop, assisted by the Head Office finance team.

Both courses are open to Treasurers and Vice-Treasurers, or those planning to take on this role within the next 12 months.

On this course you will learn about the effective use of email and other types of communication
with union members, how to build the profile of your branch, gather stories and create content for social media, and how to use digital activism to support industrial relations.

It is most suitable for Branch Officers who regularly communicate with union members and who have a basic level of understanding of social media. Especially useful for those with an interest in ‘digital activism’.

This is a one-day practical workshop which aims to equip participants with the essential negotiation skills required to become an effective negotiator and achieve successful outcomes.

It is primarily aimed at Branch Executive Officers who work closely with their Fórsa assigned official and attend management meetings.

The workshop covers the fundamentals of negotiations, different styles and approaches, planning and preparing along with developing useful strategies and techniques.

This two-day course (over two weeks) is developed specifically for Branch Training Officers. It provides practical opportunities to develop confidence in presentation skills to deliver branch induction sessions for new members.

Unfilled places will be offered to other Branch Executive Committee Officers on a first-come, first-served basis.

This course is about learning effective time management, which is an asset for all but particularly those operating as officers of the Branch, Divisional or National Executive Committees, who regularly need to balance of balancing their union role with employment and other personal responsibilities.

Through this one-day course, participants will learn effective time management skills which will have an immediate positive impact on their lives and covers effective planning, prioritising tasks, delegation, smart goal setting – short, medium, and long term, and tackling procrastination.