“I’ve learnt the importance of dedicating more of my time to identifying and encouraging leaders within the membership and nurturing their activism.”
Leadership course participant
GFTUET Annual Report
Introduction
We are pleased to present the General Federation of Trade Unions Educational Trust’s Annual Report for 2023/24. As part of our 125th anniversary, we have reconfirmed our core principles of education, solidarity and unity in action.
This programme has been special for us with our new Roots of Racism course, our first ever Women’s in Leadership course delivered in Scotland and our Digital Strategy course for unions. Our programme has integrated the best elements of union education, skill development, and strategic discussion, delivered through hybrid methods. Our state-of-the-art training centre in Quorn continues to support our mission.
“I feel lucky to have attended this course and to have had the opportunity to learn from others, experience. I feel empowered and that change is possible – and trade unions have their place in making this change.”
Women in Leadership course participant
Course Highlights
Workplace reps stage 1 and 2
Stage 1:
- Residential: 3 days
- Online: 2 days
- Frequency: 3 times
Stage 2:
- Residential: 3 days
- Online: 2 days
- Frequency: 2 times
Health & safety reps stage 1 & 2
Stage 1:
- Residential: 3 days
- Online: 2 days
- Frequency: 3 times
Stage 2:
- Residential: 3 days
- Online: 2 days
- Frequency: 2 times
Bitesize Online Programme
- Online: 10 days (for each course)
- Frequency: 1 time (of each course)
Equalities: Ten 30-minute
sessions on equality issues
Employment Law: Ten 30-minute
sessions on employment law.
Young Members Development Weekend
- Residential: 3 days
- Frequency: 2 times
Networking and education for
new union members.
Trade Union Leadership Innovation Programme (T.U.L.I.P)
- Residential: 10 days
- Frequency: 1 time
Training for leaders and
aspiring leaders within our trade
unions.
Women in Leadership
- Residential: 3 days
- Frequency: 1 time
An innovative partnership with
the Scottish Trade Union
Congress (TUC) held in Glasgow.
Roots of Racism
- Residential: 2 days
- Frequency: 3 times
Discussing the historical
development of racism and what
it means today.
Tackling Sexual Harassment
- Online: 1 days
- Frequency: 2 times
Exploring approaches to tackling
sexual harassment in our
workplaces.
Digital Strategy for Unions
- Residential: 3 days
- Frequency: 2 times
A course for trade union leaders
to explore national digital
strategies.
Friends of the educational trust
Our Friends of initiative is a cornerstone of our funding and engagement strategy. By becoming a Friend, members can support the future of trade union education and choose their level of involvement:
- Gold Friend: £25 per month, includes comprehensive benefits such as newsletters, event invitations, and exclusive gatherings.
- Silver Friend: £10 per month, offers newsletters and select event invitations.
- Friend: £5 per month, provides access to our monthly newsletter.
Knowledge transfer partnership
We are delighted to say that as part of our fundraising strategy for this educational programme 2023-2024, we have been able to secure a knowledge transfer partnership with SOAS, the School of Oriental and African Studies (University of London). This means we will be developing in depth political economy courses. Working closely with the expertise of the economics department of SOAS, we will welcome a new Associate to help us expands our capacity for delivering political economy training. Through this collaboration, we will produce political economy courses and resources for the whole trade union and labour movement.
