2023 was a very successful year for Membership Training and Development as we introduced an additional 22 Fórsa 101 information sessions, 12 live Lunch and Learn sessions, 7 new Foundational Workplace Representatives Training courses and delivered eight custom developed workshops for Branches.

This was in addition to the courses and sessions which already existed, where we also added in extra GDPR, Annual Branch Returns training, and ensured our Branch Officers received excellent training to be effective in their role following AGM season.

To make sure new members know about training opportunities we ask all branches to encourage new members to sign up to a Fórsa 101 information session as soon as they join.

Central to this information session is the consistent message outlining the importance of the member, particularly being active and how they can help build our strength through some simple actions.

Our live Lunch and Learn sessions have been immensely popular and have received registrations upward of 450 members. Due to the phenomenal response and the interest from both members and representatives to these sessions, they are set to be a permanent fixture in our calendar next year.

Our last Lunch and Learn for 2023 takes place on 8th December, with our own Dessie Robinson taking the helm and delivering a session on Dignity at Work. 

2024 is set to be another busy year for all of us in Skills Academy and we hope to introduce some exciting new modular courses for our more experienced workplace representatives, along with a Mentoring Programme for our newest representatives which we plan to pilot in January and launch at our Biennial Conference in May.

Workshop for Branch Treasurers: 18th January 2024

The Annual Branch Returns Workshop is targeted at current Branch Treasurers, particularly Treasurers who are new to the role or who have not received this training previously.

The purpose of the training is to equip Branch Treasurers to be competent in completing the Annual Branch Returns in a timely fashion, to help you fully understand the process and avoid potential pitfalls. This is a very practical training day and will afford participants the opportunity to have their finance, tax and audit questions answered by our finance staff and other qualified personnel.

This course will take place in-person on Thursday 18th January 2024 at our Fórsa Head Office, Nerney's Court, Dublin 1 from 10:00 - 16:00.

Fórsa 101 January 2024

Fórsa 101 is a short information and awareness raising session to welcome new members into the Union and highlight how members can become more engaged in the union locally. This session is specifically targeted to those who have never received any training previously or are not currently active within the Union.

It provides basic information to ensure our members understand exactly what a Trade Union is, the structure of Fórsa and how we do our business, along with discussing how members can become more engaged and have their voice heard locally and their issues raised at Divisional and National levels. The next Fórsa 101 sessions will take place on Wednesday 10th January online, there will be both a morning session at 9.30am and an evening session at 6pm.

The sessions will be between 2 to 2 1/2 hours long and online.

You can register to attend here. The deadline for registration is 10th December.

If you have queries about the Skills Academy, please contact Judith on 021 4255221 or 087 4072603 or by email to skillsacademy@forsa.ie.

Fiona Dunne, 

Director of Training.