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: 22 – 23 September 2025
Leadership styles and addressing the challenges that face us
Thinking and acting strategically
Creating and communicating a compelling vision
Coaching and Mentoring Skills: 6 – 7 October 2025
How coaching skills can help you as a manager
Developing your coaching skills
Implementing coaching techniques in your organisation
Developing People: 24 – 25 November 2025
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: 9 – 10 February 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: 2 – 3 March 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.
Application deadline: 8 September 2025
You may also like the following events from GFTU Educational Trust:
- This Monday, 28th July, 10:00 am, Bargaining, Organising & Campaigning Around AI and Data in Loughborough
- Next Monday, 4th August, 10:00 am, Workplace reps stage 2 (5 day course) in Loughborough
- Next month, 11th August, 10:00 am, Fully Booked GFTU Summer School in Loughborough
Also check out other
Workshops in Loughborough,
Arts events in Loughborough,
Theatre events in Loughborough.
