Training & Events

Click here for demo Personal safety awareness training is very effective in reducing violent and aggressive incidents in the workplace and beyond. Staff can benefit from this course’s advice at work and in everyday situations. Throughout the course there are tips and strategies to be more safety conscious, to help […]

The fast pace of modern-day working life and the demands that are placed on us by ourselves and others, can sometimes seem overwhelming. With mental health issues on the rise, it has never been more important to arm employees with the coping mechanisms and inner strength necessary to handle the […]

In this introductory e-learning module, we’ll consider the opportunities and risks associated with social media from a civility and respect perspective. We will explore a range of proactive and pre-emptive strategies councils, and councillors can implement to set themselves up for success. We’ll explore what to do if things go […]

Click here for demo Every year in the UK, tens of thousands of people experience injuries from slips, trips, and same-level falls while at work. Our course is designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge to prevent these common accidents. You’ll learn to identify potential hazards, recognise how and when to […]

Standards in Public Life This module is designed to support those elected or co-opted and/or working in local councils, to understand the principles of conduct expected of all councillors. Councillors must abide by its own council’s code of conduct. Information provided in this module is based upon national model guidance […]

Click here for demo Most people experience stress from time to time, and this isn’t necessarily bad; stress is a natural response, but prolonged periods of stress can be harmful. There are many ways in which employees can reduce or avoid stress, and if they are experiencing stress already, there […]

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 […]

This session is for clerks, finance staff and councillors. It explains how VAT rules affects local councils, focussing on those that are not VAT registered, but reclaim VAT using Form VAT126. Essential for any council contemplating major building projects. Alternative sessions are available in our programme for councils that are […]

This introductory session is 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 to […]

For anyone involved in procuring goods and services, preparing tenders, or entering into contracts on behalf of local councils. This session introduces the new rules of the Procurement Act 2023, which came into force on 24 February 2025 and replace the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The session covers the basics […]

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.

This course has 2 sessions: 1. Governance 2. Finance To de-mystify internal audit and the annual internal audit report Annual Governance Statement (section 1) – can you tick “yes”? To share “best practice” and consider how we can address any concerns that you might have To provide a directory for […]

The purpose of agendas & minutes The importance of a detailed agenda Best practice in creating agendas & minutes How to create first class agendas & minutes How to handle confidential business Freedom of Information implications Retention of records & archiving

Who should attend? All Councillors, both new into the role, or wishing to update and renew their knowledge. Who is your trainer? HAPTC, winner of the NALC “Outstanding Project of The Year” Award 2015 for the Clerk’s Leadership Programme. Carina Helmn – County Officer, HAPTC Carina has worked within the […]