Council Employee Development

In an ever-evolving legislative landscape, it is vital that councils ensure they have the most up-to-date understanding of their data protection obligations.

Learn how to organise your Gmail inbox, including creating contact lists, setting up an email signature and using the holiday responder.  Demonstrations include Google Drive, Google Calendar, and Google Keep.  If there is a need Google Docs and Google sheets can be covered (the basics)

Learn how to create a public communications strategy that supports the delivery of your council’s priorities, aims and objectives.

Learn how to set up Mailchimp and create engaging templates to send parishioners e-newsletters.

This session deep dives into how councils are required to demonstrate accountability with UK GDPR.

Explore how to create a social media strategy, how to get the most out of Facebook in particular, and make use of tools and techniques, saving councils time and effort.

This data protection session considers how to deal with data subject rights requests, including Subject Access Requests.

Discover the tools, strategies and techniques needed to better promote your own messages but also to better respond to the voices within your local community.

In this session we explore what we actually mean by the term ‘young people’, what issues matter to different groups of younger people and how to effectively reach and engage them, both online and offline

This session will give an understanding of the need for internal controls and how they work, with practical examples and case studies.

A session on top tips (including what must be minuted for audit purposes).

In this session we  explore how to get the most from each of the key social media platforms and how to ensure your social media content is delivering on your council’s communications objectives.

For clerks, finance staff and councillors from councils that are not VAT registered, but reclaim VAT using Form VAT126.

This session takes participants through the detail of preparing for a crisis no matter what form it may take, passing on expert tips and guidance on being as prepared as you can be should the worst happen.

This course looks at what requirements and obligations local councils have when it comes to Freedom of Information.

In this session we explore how you can build effective two-way relationships with journalists, how to write effective press releases and how to get regular coverage in your local and regional media.

In this session we explore practical techniques to manage difficult conversations and situations in a council environment.

For anyone involved in procuring goods and services, preparing tenders or entering into contracts on behalf of local councils.

Learn how Trello works and how it can be used to manage daily tasks and keep track of projects.

Learn how to create a public communications strategy that supports the delivery of your council’s priorities, aims and objectives.

Learn how to create a calendar checklist for a 'year in the life' of your parish council so that important tasks and timescales are always met.  An introduction to time blocking and prioritisation of workload.

"Genuinely one of the most beneficial training sessions I have taken part in for ages! I have started using the suggested online tools and feel more organised already! Would really recommend this session to any busy Clerk looking to make the best use of their time"

For councillors and officers that want to understand the role of the internal auditor and how to appoint one. (Please note, this is NOT a training session for people who want to undertake internal audits)

In an ever-evolving legislative landscape, it is vital that councils ensure they have the most up-to-date understanding of their data protection obligations.

Learn how to create a public communications strategy that supports the delivery of your council’s priorities, aims and objectives.

Discover the tools, strategies and techniques needed to better promote your own messages but also to better respond to the voices within your local community.

For clerks, finance staff and councillors from councils that are VAT registered, who wish to develop their knowledge (VAT registered councils have a 9-digit registration number, submit quarterly VAT returns online and charge VAT on taxable sales. If your council submits a VAT126 claim, it is not VAT registered).

This session deep dives into how councils are required to demonstrate accountability with UK GDPR.

What to do if you consider a bad / unlawful planning decision has been made. Suitable for new to role councillors, refresher for existing and experienced councillors. beneficial for clerks and their teams where they have one.

In this session we explore what we actually mean by the term ‘young people’, what issues matter to different groups of younger people and how to effectively reach and engage them, both online and offline

Explore how to create a social media strategy, how to get the most out of Facebook in particular, and make use of tools and techniques, saving councils time and effort.

Learn how to create a calendar checklist for a 'year in the life' of your parish council so that important tasks and timescales are always met.  An introduction to time blocking and prioritisation of workload.

"Genuinely one of the most beneficial training sessions I have taken part in for ages! I have started using the suggested online tools and feel more organised already! Would really recommend this session to any busy Clerk looking to make the best use of their time"

+++  Spaces limited book early +++

Developed to help support the work undertaken on Civility & Respect in the parish and town council sector. For clerks, council employees and councillors.

This data protection session considers how to deal with data subject rights requests, including Subject Access Requests.

In this session we explore practical techniques to manage difficult conversations and situations in a council environment.

This session takes participants through the detail of preparing for a crisis no matter what form it may take, passing on expert tips and guidance on being as prepared as you can be should the worst happen.

For officers who want to understand how to prepare their council’s Annual Governance & Accountability Return and comply with the requirements of the audit process.

This session does NOT cover exemption from audit or the Transparency Code for smaller Authorities. We have alternative sessions for councils under £25,000 that need those topics.

For clerks, finance staff and councillors of councils that lease or hire out land and buildings such as village halls, community centres, meeting rooms, sports facilities or markets, who need to understand when their council is at risk of not being able to reclaim VAT.

Essential for any council contemplating major building projects, or incurring significant expenditure on running these facilities.

In this session we explore how you can build effective two-way relationships with journalists, how to write effective press releases and how to get regular coverage in your local and regional media.

In this session we  explore how to get the most from each of the key social media platforms and how to ensure your social media content is delivering on your council’s communications objectives.

This course looks at what requirements and obligations local councils have when it comes to Freedom of Information.

For clerks, finance staff and councillors from councils that are not VAT registered, but reclaim VAT using Form VAT126.

Learn how to set up Mailchimp and create engaging templates to send parishioners e-newsletters.

For officers who want to understand how to prepare their council’s Annual Governance & Accountability Return and comply with the requirements of the audit process.

This session does NOT cover exemption from audit or the Transparency Code for smaller Authorities. We have alternative sessions for councils under £25,000 that need those topics.

In an ever-evolving legislative landscape, it is vital that councils ensure they have the most up-to-date understanding of their data protection obligations.

For anyone involved in procuring goods and services, preparing tenders or entering into contracts on behalf of local councils.

For officers who want to understand how to prepare and publish their council’s Annual Governance & Accountability Return on a receipts and payments basis, complying with the Accounts & Audit Regulations and the Transparency Code for Smaller authorities.

Learn how Trello works and how it can be used to manage daily tasks and keep track of projects.

This course looks at what requirements and obligations local councils have when it comes to Freedom of Information.

This session deep dives into how councils are required to demonstrate accountability with UK GDPR.

In this session we explore how you can build effective two-way relationships with journalists, how to write effective press releases and how to get regular coverage in your local and regional media.