Trade Union Studies

The TUC Employment Law Certificate (Union Reps stage 2)

Level 2 - Certificate

What is Level 2?

This is the equivalent to GCSE grades 9-4 / A*-C, O Level grades A- C or an Intermediate Apprenticeship.

Who is this course for?

The Employment Law Certificate online is designed for union representatives who have already completed the TUC Stage 1 Union Representatives Course or its union equivalent.

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Prefer to talk? Call 01226 776000 or email advice@northern.ac.uk and one of our team will get back to you.

Level 2

This is the equivalent to GCSE grades 9-4 / A*-C, O Level grades A- C or an Intermediate Apprenticeship.

Find out about progression

Course description

In recent years there have been significant changes to employment law in the UK. The TUC Employment Law Certificate is a practical training course, designed for trade union workplace reps. It approaches the law from this perspective and its principal concern is how knowledge of and confidence in using employment law can improve workplace bargaining, terms and conditions. It is not aimed at legal professionals or the finer points of technical interpretation of the law.

Course content

This course will be delivered over 10 weeks in a classroom every week.

The Key elements of the course are:

Employment rights at work
Sources for researching employment rights
Contracts of employment
Dismissal protection
Keeping, enforcing and improving rights at work
Using employment law at work – a trade union approach
The Employment Tribunal and the role of ACAS
Employment law research project

Course session dates

Tailored Learning Objective

Preparation for further learning

Useful information

Tuesday 29^th April 2025 to Tuesday 8^th July 2025 (No classes Tuesday 27^th May).

This course will be delivered at Northern College

When does this start and end?

29 April 2025 - 8 July 2025

Trade Union Education at Northern College is meaningful, purposeful, accessible and rewarding. There are no exams, or long lectures, the education programme involves practical activities where you will work with your peers. This is an opportunity to step back from your job and your activist work to think and learn. Skills development and confidence building are essential elements of all Trade Union courses.

“Northern College changed my life. A year into studying here I got a job and then became a supervisor.” - Michelle
Learn more about Michelle's story

My learning journey started at Northern College and yesterday I graduated with a Bachelors Hons degree in Social Work.

It's a life changing place. I started the access course in 2013 without a qualification to my name and not much hope. Last year I started my PhD. I'm now a different person.

Two years ago, I first went to Northern College for the first time to do a self confidence course. Approximately eight courses later including counselling and several people skills courses, I am now working in a homeless hostel supporting the vulnerable and encouraging them to attend courses at Northern College.