Training & Events

Click here for demo Main Features Every time we buy a product, sign up to a service or get a new job, we willingly hand over our personal information, placing our trust in countless companies to handle our data securely and responsibly, despite frequent news of hacks and data breaches. […]

Click here for demo Developed by experienced training specialists, Creative Learning Solutions, this Display Screen Equipment course addresses the fact that it is not the equipment in our daily office lives that is responsible for poor health and absenteeism, but the way in which we use it. The course will […]

Click here for demo Developed by experienced training specialists, Creative Learning Solutions, this Display Screen Equipment course addresses the fact that it is not the equipment in our daily office lives that is responsible for poor health and absenteeism, but the way in which we use it. The course will […]

Click here for demo Free 45-minute CPD certified Environmental Awareness Essentials. It explores the importance of being environmentally aware in your workplace and the steps we can all take to reduce our negative impact on the climate. By the end of this course you will: Recognise the benefits of a […]

Click here for Demo Certain characteristics are protected by the equality law and it is necessary for every employee to know what these are, so they can abide by the equality legislation. If a person feels your organisation (or someone in your organisation) has treated them unfairly, they can start […]

Click here for demo The risk of fire and the resulting threat to human life is very real. You will no doubt be aware of the devastating consequences fire can have, but do you know how to prevent fires and what to do in the event of a fire? This […]

This introductory session is FREE for inexperienced clerks of councils in membership of HAPTC in their year and is designed to give them an overview of a council’s year, along with a basic understanding of the RFO’s role. If you have 9 month’s experience or more, this session is unlikely […]

This session is seasonal and held in the autumn when budgets are set Course content When to start the budget-setting process The role of the Responsible Financial Officer and councillors in preparation of the budget How to go about preparing the budget and setting the precept Budget monitoring The importance […]

This session is for councillors only and is designed to give them a greater understanding of their duties with regard to the council’s finances. Topics include: • Roles and responsibilities • setting a budget and precept • Financial control • The Annual Governance & Accountability Return • Internal and external […]

This session give councillors and clerks an understanding of the need for internal controls and how they work, with practical examples and case studies. Topics include: • Roles and responsibilities • Financial risks • Purpose of internal controls • Case studies • Examples of controls • Review of internal controls […]

For anyone involved in procuring goods and services, preparing tenders or entering into contracts on behalf of local councils. Please note that on 12 September the Government decided to postpone implementation of this Act by 4 months, giving authorities more time to prepare for the changes and allowing the Government […]

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) This session explains the role of the internal auditor in providing assurance to the council […]

The learning content, live workshop, and toolkits will enable participants to deal with various role-focused challenging situations and explore how we can work with others more effectively. We will consider different leadership styles and approaches in the context of your role, exploring which styles we personally ‘default’ to and which […]

This a practical workshop to help you thrive in your council role. We provide council officers and councillors with an understanding of where our behaviour comes from, we consider what resilience means in the context of our council roles and how to build emotional intelligence. We’ll explore council-focused scenarios and […]

The learning content, live workshop, and toolkits will enable participants to explore different methods and strategies for dealing with negative attacks on social media and ways in which they can keep control of our social media output. We will consider how we come across on social media as councils, as […]

Part 1: creating a communications strategy Every local council should have a communications strategy. It should set out its communications priorities, aims and goals. In this session, we will consider how your council could create an effective communication strategy. One that is sustainable and supports your council. A strategy that considers your council’s […]

A crisis could strike at any point. Anything from flooding to a meeting going viral. There are many ways in which you could find yourself in the eye of the media storm. This session takes participants through the detail of preparing for any crisis. Passing on expert tips and guidance on being prepared. […]

Local newspapers, magazines, regional TV, and radio offer local councils a way to communicate with residents. However, dealing with journalists and the media can be intimidating. In this session we will consider how to establish positive relationships with journalists. How to write impactful press releases. Ensure that your council gets regular and […]

Canva Part One – Getting Started Canva is a design tool that can be used for free. It allows you to quickly create posters, newsletters, and other physical documents. You can also create images and videos for social media and websites. This session is for people who have never used […]

It has never been more important for councillors to understand social media. In the session we will go through the confusing world of social media communications. It is designed for both social media users and those new to it. During the session you will learn where to focus your time […]

Councils often use different social media platforms to connect with the community. This session explores a wide range of social media platforms. There will be a focus on how to get the most from key social media platforms. Exploring the ways of ensuring that social media supports your council to […]

Social media is a great tool for councils to use to improve their communication. In this session you will learn the basics and how to get started right. We will focus on creating a social media strategy and the basics of Facebook. Our goal is to share with you time-saving […]

The effective chairing of meetings is a good skill for a councillor to have. This session is for councillors that have been recently elected. It is also aimed at those wanting a refresher. During the session we will consider how to effectively prepare for meetings. How to get the most […]

Handling professional relationships within local councils is critical. However, it can be tough dealing with challenging people and situations. In this session, we discuss practical techniques for managing difficult conversations and situations

Councillors: data protection training It’s important for any councillor to grasp how data protection laws relate to your role. This is true for new as well as longer serving councillors. This session clarifies a councillor’s legal responsibilities to themself and the council. We will guide you on the right procedures and best […]

This course examines the obligations of local councils regarding Freedom of Information (FOI). We discuss the necessary policies and procedures. How your council could ensure awareness among officers and councillors about FOI. Consider the steps to follow when managing an FOI request including the use of exemptions.

This session is all about the practical application of accessibility, and will provide you with an understanding of the application of accessibility from the perspective of a local council. We will teach you how to create accessible documents, content and multimedia for use for use throughout the work of your […]

The steps your parish or town council can take to embrace and strengthen equality, diversity and inclusion. This session will focus on understanding protected characteristics, the difference between direct and indirect discrimination and the definitions of equality, diversity and inclusion – and how the relate to the internal and external […]

Effective internal communication is the cornerstone of good council operations, yet ensuring the sustainability of good internal communication can be a challenge. This session explores strategies to identify gaps and challenges and ways to build more positive and outcome-focused communications between Members and Officers.

Who should attend? Any Councillor, especially those considering becoming the Chairman of their council or a committee. Clerks also welcome for information. Who is your trainer? Carina Helmn – County Officer, HAPTC Carina has worked within the sector since 1993 and as Clerk to Kimpton Parish Council was awarded AON/NALC […]

Who should attend? Clerks of parish, community and town councils with ordinary elections. It aims to give practical help for you to understand the electoral process with regard to parish councils and how to encourage greater participation within your community. Is it for you? This workshop will cover the practicalities […]

When is this held? This session is not held at regular intervals, but organised when there are several new Clerks in need of this training. So, if you would like us to put one in the schedule please contact sue@haptc.org.uk Who should attend? This course is designed for Clerks and […]