Training and Industrial Relations

An official may seek time off to train for their duties. The training must be:

relevant to those official duties
approved training.

Relevant training

Training must be relevant to the official duties performed by the official. This includes training in issues that are likely to become relevant in the future.

Approved training

The training course must be approved either by the TUC or the official's own union. The fact that the TUC or the union may consider that a course is relevant is not conclusive. The ACAS code of practice suggests that an employer should consider releasing an official for initial training in basic skills as soon as they take office. Other occasions when additional training is likely to be required are when circumstances change, or when new legislation is likely to be relevant.