Trade Union Leadership and Innovation Programme (T.U.L.I.P)

About The Course

As working people and their trade unions face unprecedented challenges, our Movement needs leaders with the skills, ideas, and drive to make the world a better and fairer place. This programme is aimed at those in middle and senior management roles in trade unions who are looking for a course that will help them reflect on their work, and the importance of developing as effective and ethical leaders of large, complex organisations. It draws on established research in leadership and management, across a range of issues, and applies this critically to the very specific context of democratic, member-led trade unions.

The course provides a unique combination of cutting-edge theory and research, practical exercises to support personal development and a political analysis that recognises the imperative for trade union renewal in a time of economic, social and technological  dislocation.

TULIP cohorts are made up of participants from across the trade union movement. Learning with, and from, those who work in different trade unions and diverse contexts, is an experience that participants value highly.

In addition to the attended sessions, there are some great online learning materials that are included in the course, which can be accessed anytime.

Becoming an Effective Leader: 15 – 16 January 2026

• Leadership styles and addressing the challenges that face us
• Thinking and acting strategically
• Creating and communicating a compelling vision

Coaching and Mentoring Skills: 2 – 3 February 2026

• How coaching skills can help you as a manager
• Developing your coaching skills
• Implementing coaching techniques in your organisation

Developing People: 16 – 17 March 2026

• Managing people and their performance
• Handling difficult situations and conversations
• Embedding development in your union

Managing Budgets and Finance Together with Managing a Safe and Healthy Environment: 7 – 8 April 2026

• Creating and managing budgets
• Your financial responsibilities
• H&S from an employer’s perspective – your responsibilities and legal obligations
• Employee wellbeing

Leading Innovation and Change: 14 – 15 May 2026

• Managing change
• Facilitating creativity (in yourself and others)
• Challenging the orthodoxy
• Acting bigger than we are

Your Commitment

• Attend all 5 residential sessions (run over two days each at Quorn Grange Hotel, the GFTU’s Hotel in Leicestershire).
• Commit to one-to-one online sessions with the programme tutor.
•  Complete the “self-study” elements according to the level you sign up to.
• Have the backing of your union in terms of course fees and time to complete the course and the support of a mentor.

GFTU-accredited and ILM-accredited pathways available

This course is available through two pathways. The basic programme comprises all taught elements, including access to study materials in between taught sessions. There is no formal assessment and accreditation is provided by GFTU. The ILM-accredited programme provides access to a Level 4 Certificate in Leadership and Management, awarded by the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) and formally accredited by City and Guilds. This pathway involves the successful completion of three assignments. All assignments are based closely on participants’ own work contexts and offer a practical opportunity to link key course concepts
to real world work challenges.

GFTU-accredited programme

• Attend tutor led sessions
• Access to e-learning materials
• Pre-course work for each session
• Complete a learning review log

Affiliate price: £1250

Non-affiliate price: £1750

ILM-accredited programme –  ILM Level 4 Certificate in Leadership and Management

• Attend tutor led sessions
• Access to e-learning materials
• Pre-course work for each session
• Complete a learning review log
• Completion of up to 6 workbooks with associated assignments (3 of which are mandatory)

Affiliate price: £1750

Non-affiliate price: £2250

The prices shown include all accommodation, food, and course materials for the five two-day sessions outlined overleaf.

We have very deliberately established this as a blended programme with a number of “taught” residential sessions. Teaching is led by Professor Howard Stevenson. Howard is an experienced academic, adult educator and trade union activist. He has published widely in the areas leadership and management, trade union renewal, and union organising. The programme is supplemented with contributions from several visiting speakers who have extensive experience of leadership in trade unions, including at General Secretary level.