Trade union recognition is no longer a distant prospect for many employers. Are your team ready?
Rising union membership, the Employment Rights Act 2025 and lower recognition thresholds mean that more organisations will face recognition requests in the coming months. Getting the early stages wrong, whether through ignorance of the process, a misjudged first response, or failure to understand what the law now requires, can set the tone for years of difficult relations. The cost, in time, disruption and reputation, is significant.
This half-day course gives HR professionals and people managers a clear, practical grounding in how trade unions work, what the recognition process involves, and how to build a productive working relationship with union representatives from day one. Delivered by a trainer with direct experience on both sides of the table, it combines legal clarity with real-world insight.
What you'll take away:
• A clear understanding of the statutory and voluntary recognition process
• Confidence in your legal obligations under the Employment Rights Act 2025
• Practical tools for first contact, communication, and setting ground rules
• Early warning signs of union organising and how to respond appropriately
• A personal action plan to apply back in your organisation immediately
Why attend now:
The Employment Rights Act 2025 has reduced recognition thresholds and strengthened union access rights. Employers who are underprepared will find themselves reacting rather than leading. This course puts your team in front of the issue before it becomes a problem.
CPD eligible — certificate of attendance provided, with hours and content confirmed for your professional body.
- Trade Union Structures – how unions are organised, governed and funded
- Recognition Routes – statutory vs voluntary processes compared
- Employment Rights Act 2025 – what has changed and what it means for employers
- Facility Time and Representative Rights – your legal obligations in practice
- Day One Best Practice – first contact protocols and setting the right tone
- Communication Frameworks – when to inform, consult and negotiate
- Early Warning Signs – identifying union organising activity and responding lawfully
- ACAS and External Support – when and how to bring in third-party assistance
- Avoiding Common Mistakes – the errors that cost employers dearly, and how to sidestep them
- Action Planning – translating learning into immediate organisational steps
09:30 - 09:45 Welcome and Scene-Setting
- Introductions and housekeeping
- Objectives for the session and what delegates will take away
- A quick poll: where are you in your trade union journey?
- Ground rules for open, confidential discussion
- Overview of the Employment Rights Act 2025 and why this moment matters
09:45 - 10:45 Understanding Trade Unions: Role, Structure and the Law
- What trade unions are, how they operate and what drives membership
- Types of union and the difference between recognition, information and consultation
- The legal framework: Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 and ERA 2025
- Statutory and voluntary recognition: how each route works and when each applies
- Rights of union representatives, facility time, and your obligations as an employer
Interactive element: group exercise - delegates map their own organisation's readiness and identify immediate priorities.
10:45 - 11:00 Comfort break
11:00 - 12:00 Starting the Recognition Process: Practical Steps and First Moves
- Recognising the early signs of union organising in your workplace
- The statutory recognition process step by step, from application to ballot
- Voluntary recognition: setting terms, agreeing scope, and drafting a recognition agreement
- Day one best practice: first contact, communication protocols and setting the right tone
- Common mistakes employers make in the early stages and how to avoid them
Interactive element: group exercise - delegates map their own organisation's readiness and identify immediate priorities.
12:00 - 12:50 Working Effectively with Union Representatives
- Roles and responsibilities of shop stewards, safety reps and full-time officials
- How to build a constructive working relationship from the outset
- Communication best practice: what to say, when, and in what format
- The difference between informing, consulting and negotiating, and when each applies
- Managing disagreement without escalation: early intervention and the role of ACAS
Interactive element: paired discussion - a realistic scenario involving a first formal meeting with a union representative.
12:50 - 13:25 Dos, Don'ts and Action Planning
- The ten most common employer errors in union relations and how to sidestep them
- What good looks like: case examples of constructive union partnerships
- Personal action planning: three things delegates will do in the next 30 days
- Signposting to ACAS guidance, BFI resources and further training in the pathway
- Final Q&A
Interactive element: Poll knowledge check covering legal obligations, recognition steps and best practice.
13:25 - 13:30 End of training
This course is designed for:
• HR professionals and employee relations practitioners new to trade union engagement
• People managers and line managers whose teams may be subject to recognition
• Operations and business leaders in sectors with rising union membership
• HR business partners supporting organisations through their first recognition process
• Anyone who needs to understand the legal landscape before being thrown in at the deep end
By the end of the course, delegates will be able to:
• Explain how trade unions operate and what drives recognition requests under current legislation
• Identify the key steps in both statutory and voluntary recognition processes and understand their obligations at each stage
• Recognise early signs of union organising and respond appropriately and lawfully
• Apply best practice in first contact, communication and relationship-building with union representatives
• Distinguish between informing, consulting and negotiating and use the correct approach in context
• Leave with a concrete personal action plan to implement within their organisation
What does BFI specialise in?
BFI provides expert-led training in HR compliance, employment law, immigration for employers, union relations, workplace inclusion, and AI and talent solutions.
Who typically attends your courses?
Attendees include HR managers, legal teams, compliance officers, operations leaders, and public sector employers.
Are your trainers practitioners?
Yes. All trainers are experienced specialists; we feature practitioners from the public and private sectors as well as lawyers, policy advisers, former regulators, and consultants.
How do I book a course?
Choose an event on the website and click Register. You can pay online with a credit card or request an invoice.
Do you accept purchase orders?
Yes. Public and private-sector organisations may use PO numbers. These can be added during the registration process, or can be retrospectively added to am invoice if the place has been booked already.
We need to set you up as a Supplier, can you complete a form or send me over your company information?
Yes, we can do either; please contact us via info@bfi.co.uk
Can I get a PO number added to our invoice?
Yes, please send details through to info@bfi.co.uk or reply to us using your confirmation email
Do you offer group discounts?
Yes. Discounts for multiple bookings are automatically applied at checkout. For groups of over ten, it may be more cost-effective to run the course in-house. Call 01983 861133 for details
Can I transfer my place to another date or colleague?
Yes. Substitutions are free, and transfers are typically allowed within a set timeframe.
What is your cancellation policy?
BFI follows standard UK training-industry cancellation terms.
How are online courses delivered?
Training is delivered live via Zoom with interactive Q\&A and case-based discussion.
Will I receive slides and supporting materials?
Yes. Attendees receive slides, templates (where relevant), and many other useful documents and links.
Will I receive a copy of the event recording?
Our monthly subscription and webinar clients receive recordings of the live sessions; otherwise we do not record our courses to encourage confidential discussion and questions under the Chatham House Rule
What time zone are online events delivered in?
All events are delivered in UTC / London time unless otherwise stated
What is included in in-person events?
Full-day training includes refreshments, full documentation which is emailed prior to the event and networking opportunities.
Are your venues accessible?
Yes. All venues are fully accessible.
Is your training CPD certified?
All our courses are either CPD accredited or CPD eligible, so every certificate of attendance can count towards your CPD requirements. Look out for the CPD badge on each course page to see which applies.
Can I ask questions about my organisation’s situation?
Yes. Trainers answer questions during the session and can respond afterward.
Will the training help us prepare for an audit?
Yes, on our audit courses you will learn what triggers visits, what officers look for, and how to evidence compliance.
Will I receive a certificate?
Yes. All attendees receive a digital certificate of course completion.
Do you offer private or in-house training?
Yes. All courses can be tailored for your team. Visit https://bfi.co.uk/team-training/
Can I ask questions about my organisation's situation?
Yes. Our trainers answer questions live during sessions and can follow up briefly afterwards, but we don't offer ongoing case-by-case advice by email. If you need dedicated support on a specific situation, we offer paid consultancy - contact us to find out more.
Do you offer consultancy?
Yes. BFI offers policy reviews, audit preparation, HR compliance support, and workforce advisory services.