Understand the who, when and why of workforce consultation

Our consulting staff – training course clarifies when consultation is needed, why consultation is needed, the fears and worries that come with it and the skills that help enable win-win outcomes

Content

Situations where consultation may apply
This session considers the wide range of situations where consultation can deliver business benefits and highlights areas where consultation is required by law

When and why consult
- Business Strategy and Direction
- Organisational Standards and Expectations
- New workplace policies, procedures and protocols often driven by mandatory requirements or those reflecting expected best practice as well as organisational changes
- Legal duty
The Information and Consultation of Employees (ICE) Regulations
Changing to Contracts of Employment
Changes to pay and benefit arrangements
Health and Safety related matters
Redundancy, TUPE and other forms of “dismissal”

Fears, Concerns and Worries associated with Consultation
Fears and worries, often ill founded, can hinder effective consultation. This session addresses typical fears and in doing so aims to help participants approach consultation in a more positive manner.

Typical issues include:

Interference with the organisations operational style
Loss of power – a perception that the management role might be devalued
No time for perceived long term ideas – time is needed to fix more immediate issues
Extra work for managers and workforce participants
Too much follow on work and commitment
Off job – reduction in productivity and related bonuses
Extra costs and time demands for the organisation
Fear that consultation will be wasteful talking shops
Management won’t listen to the workforce
Cynical – world weary – seen it all before, another tick box exercise

Skills needed to deliver effective consultation
Consultation is often a significant different duty to any employee’s daily job role. Being effective during any consultation process often demands a very different range of skills be used. This session looks at the various skills needed and provides a raft of easy to understand and apply, hints and tips for each one.

Communication
Meetings and Minutes
Negotiating
Assertiveness and Influencing
Reporting Back and Public Speaking
Planning and Organising
Empathy, Counselling and Support

Developing Personal Effectiveness
Against the back drop of the skills needed, participants are encouraged to consider their own personal skills profile, their areas of strength and the skills they may wish to develop further.

REDUNDANCY RELATED TRAINING COURSES

Redundancy and Tupe Reference Guides

Concrew Training’s papers and guides on Redundancy and TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations, are designed to help you get process right. They highlight good practice as well as the common errors employers make. Our redundancy and TUPE training courses build on these help make the process smooth and effective for all parties.

The Redundancy Process Explained

The redundancy process is complex. Don’t get caught out. This free reference guide explains the steps and stages in an easy to understand way.

Redundancy 12 Common Employers Errors

This free reference guide highlights the common errors and mistakes employers make in redundancy situations. It raises awareness and in turn helps employers implement the correct redundancy process

Individual Consultation Explained

Collective consultation is required by law, but so is individual consultation. Each and every employee who is affected by the changes needs to be consulted in a meaningful way. This demands several meetings. Our free resource document explains.

Redundancy Meetings – making them easier and more effective

Seven short tips to help ease anxieties and move conversations along at different parts of the individual consultation process. These approaches transferable to most meetings.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions ABOUT CONSULTATION

What is this training course about?

This training course helps those attending understand what consultation is, when it applies and what makes it effective. It explains all common types of consultation from business development to collective consultations.

Who is this training for?

It is essential training for managers and employee representative alike. It encourages and supports win-win outputs across all types of consultation.

When is consultation needed?

There are a wide range of situations when employers may wish or need to consult with their employees.

How employers consult with employees will differ, depending on the organisation and the issue or changes the employer wants to consult on. Employers may wish to consult via recognised trade unions, officially recognised employee representation forums or directly with employees.

Who Represents the workorce during Formal Workforce Consultation?

Formal workforce consultation is usually carried out through recognised trade union(s) either alongside or fully separate from an employee representative scheme based on forums/committees/champions. In organisations where there is no formal union representation the role is often taken on by an employee representative scheme based on forums/committees/champions.

These schemes are usually anchored in elections to secure companywide representation and operate within mutually agreed working arrangements.

Consultation is a critical part of an employer’s day-to-day management processes and plays a key roles in delivering success.

what is Direct consultation?

Direct Consultation can take a number of forms, including:

informal discussions with individual employees
formal group meetings or seminars

What is Indirect Consulation?

Indirect consultation usually focuses on

good practice consultation’ – for when consultation could be a useful tool, for example fact-finding or exploring whether to introduce a working from home policy
‘consultation under the law’ – for when there is a potential legal implication, for example in redundancy situations where individual consultation is required as part of a fair process
‘collective consultation’ – for when the law requires an employer to take all reasonable steps, following a set process, to consult with employee representatives
And is best carried out in a formally set up group such as:

joint consultative committee made up of managers and employee representatives who work to promote good practice in the way an organisation is managed
joint working party set up to consider and suggest ways of resolving specific issues affecting the organisation, for example a high rate of employee turnover or problems with the pay system
recognised trade union and/or an employee forum as described above

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions about this Training

If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, feel free to contact our support team.

Why should you use Concrew Training?

Specialist HR, Employment Law & Compliance training provider
We reference to official Government bodies such as ACAS, ICO, EHRC
Content tailored to your policies and procedures
CPD certificates included
12 months of post-course support
UK-wide delivery
Online and face-to-face options
Open and transparent pricing

What information is available on course content?

We publish detailed course overviews for all courses. These provide indicative content based on the course learning plans. Final content is tailored to each client’s individual requirements.

What other information is available on individual courses?

Free reference guides and resources to help employers evaluate training quality and improve workplace compliance

Downloadable resources available via our website
Customer feedback and testimonials published on our website

Can you include our company policies and procedures in the training?

Yes. We actively encourage this approach. Including your policies and procedures helps demonstrate how, where, and why good practice applies within your organisation. This contextualises the learning, improves engagement, and increases the practical value of the training. There is no additional charge for incorporating your policies and procedures.

How long do Concrew Training courses last?

Standard courses: 6 hours of learning (approx. 7 hours including breaks)
Condensed 3-hour sessions available
Extended sessions or multi-day programmes available

How many people can attend each course?

Online courses: up to 15 participants
Face-to-face courses: up to 20 participants
Whole workforce awareness sessions: available for larger groups

Where does Concrew Training deliver training?

Online: via your preferred video conferencing platform (Zoom, Teams, etc.) across the UK
Face-to-face: on your premises in England, Scotland, and Wales

How much does your training cost?

Typical prices range from £800 to £2,000 excluding VAT. Final cost depends on course duration, location, number of participants, and payment terms.

Full pricing details available on our website
No hidden charges
Formal quotations remain valid for 30 days

What are your courses like?

Our courses are delivered as interactive workshops rather than traditional lectures, and typically include:

Subject specialist input
Interactive quizzes
Group discussions
Practical exercises
Real-world case studies

We incorporate your organisation’s policies and procedures wherever possible to ensure the learning is relevant, engaging, and immediately applicable.

Who delivers the training?

Training is delivered by experienced subject specialists with extensive knowledge in their field. Our trainers:

Have significant practical experience
Can answer most participant questions during the session
Provide follow-up responses for complex questions
Are skilled facilitators who make technical subjects engaging

Do you issue CPD certificates?

Yes. All participants receive a CPD certificate detailing learning hours completed and headline course content.

Who uses your training services?

We work with organisations of all sizes, including:

Large international organisations
Public sector employers
Charities and not-for-profits
SMEs and local businesses

Attendees commonly include directors, senior leaders, HR professionals, operational managers, line managers, employee representatives, and staff teams. Customer feedback and testimonials are available on our website.

Why should I book a Concrew Training course?

Our training is:

Delivered live by subject specialists
Designed for real-world application
Suitable for teams of up to 20 participants
Available face-to-face in England, Scotland, and Wales
Available online across the UK
Practical, engaging, and immediately applicable
High-quality and competitively priced

Suitable for directors, senior leaders, HR teams, operational managers, line managers, staff teams, and employee representatives.

How far in advance should we book training?

We recommend booking training 2–3 months in advance. Availability is generally good with a three-month lead time. Dates are only reserved once a booking is confirmed. Short-term bookings may be limited.

How do I book a course?

Complete our quote request form
Receive a formal quotation and provide any delivery details
Confirm your booking
Receive a formal Delivery Confirmation and “What Happens Next” guidance

Is there anything else I will need to do?

For online courses

Schedule the event on your video conferencing platform
Share joining details with attendees
Provide the trainer profile and course overview

For face-to-face courses

Book the room/venue and required equipment
Share trainer details and course overview with attendees
Print and provide handouts to the trainer prior to the session

After the course

Distribute post-course handouts and CPD certificates

How does your 12-month post-course support service work?

Email us with any training-related questions that arise following the course. We provide guidance and support relating to the training content covered.

Note: This service is not a substitute for legal advice.

What happens if I have more questions?

We’re here to help. You can contact us at any stage before, during, or after your training programme, and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have.