GFTUET Annual Report
Introduction
We are pleased to present the General Federation of Trade Unions Educational Trust’s (GFTUET) Annual Report for 2024/25. Over the past year we have delivered the largest and broadest education programme we have ever attempted.
We continue to integrate 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. This year, our programme has over 90 courses online and residential and continues to deliver independent trade union education for the whole movement.
“Fantastic course – amazing facilities, tutors and met some fab people. Please keep doing what you’re doing, and never stop running these courses.”
Health and safety reps stage 2, course participant
Course Highlights
Top 10 unions as % of all registrations
- Unite the Union, 11%
- Bakers Food and Allied Workers’ Union, 8%
- Prison Officers Association, 7%
- National Education Union, 6%
- Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association, 6%
- Communication Workers Union, 5%
- UNISON — the Public Service Union, 5%
- NAPO, 5%
- University and College Union, 5%
- Public and Commercial Services Union, 4%
Bargaining, organising & campaigning around AI and data
- Residential: 2 days
- Frequency: 2 times
A course for union stewards, branch officers leaders to explore resistance and organisation around AI and data.
Bargaining and organising for neurodiversity part 1
- Residential: 2 days
- Frequency: 2 times
A course for union reps and activists, we will learn the meaning of the term ‘neurodiversity’ and related terms such as neurodiverse, neurodivergent, and neurotypical.
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
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
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
Roots of Racism
- Residential: 2 days
- Frequency: 2 times
Discussing the historical development of racism and what it means today.
Solidarity Series
- Online: 6 days
- Frequency: 1 times
Hour webinars showcasing campaigns that enhance, develop and build solidarity across the world around us.
Strategy Series
- Online: 7 days
- Frequency: 1 times
Hour webinars with leading thinkers, ideas and theories to challenge and grow our movement. Building strategy for everyone.
Tackling Sexual Harassment
- Online: 1 days
- Frequency: 1 time
Exploring approaches to tackling sexual harassment in our workplaces, including new changes to the law.
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: 3 times
Delivered in Scotland through
Scottish TUC funding and twice
in England.
Workplace 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
Young Members Development Weekend
- Residential: 10 days
- Frequency: 1 time
Training for leaders and
aspiring leaders within our
trade unions.
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’re launching the education fund to ensure our independent trade union education is available to all. If you’re a union branch or region from a non-GFTU affiliated union or from a local Trades Union Council (TUC), you can, for the first time ever, access our growing education programme for an annual donation to our Educational Trust. The Education Fund helps ensure that GFTUET’s independent education offer remains open to all. If your union branch or region is not formally affiliated to the GFTU, you can contribute to the Fund and ensure your members still have full access to our high-quality education programmes.
Donation
Every donation, big or small, helps us continue our mission to educate and empower workers through education. Your support ensures we can sustain and grow our programmes for the benefit of the trade union community.
Your donation will directly contribute to:
Trade Union Education
We offer a range of courses and workshops designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of trade union members. Your contribution will enable us to expand our educational programmes and reach more individuals who are passionate about workers’ rights.
Affiliation to the GFTU
Nearly all of the GFTU Educational Trust programme is free to those affiliated to the General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU). Our affiliates get free places on our courses, and their affiliation fee helps fund the incredible programme we offer. We are committed to the promotion and development of collective worker education, independent for the whole movement. Be a part of building the next generation of trade union activist leaders in our movement today.
