Think Productive offers practical support to organisations that want to increase productivity. We help employees to beat stress, feel more in control and develop playful, productive momentum. We were bored of the typical Time Management Training formats, so have developed workshops that incorporate ‘at-desk coaching’ to ensure that practical change happens straight away. Workshops include:
- Getting Your Inbox To Zero
- Email Etiquette
- How to Get Things Done
- Making Meetings Magic
- How to be a Productivity Ninja
- Smells Like Team Spirit
- One-to-one Consultancy with At-Desk Implementation
“It was a tremendously impressive and useful morning” – Tom Levitt MP
“I’m still keeping my inbox pretty much to zero which is a minor miracle. I know this sounds completely bonkers but I really think the ‘inbox to zero’ and ‘How to Get Things Done’ sessions are the most useful training sessions I have ever been on. I don’t know if this is connected but I have definitely felt calmer and less stressed since the sessions and I genuinely feel a bit more in control of my workload.” – Zoe Pronger, The Cabinet Office
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From their website:
Each year, we deliver training to hundreds of organisations throughout the UK and ROI. Our expertise stems from 60 years’ listening and supporting vulnerable people.
We offer a range of pricing options for all sectors.
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Helping your constituents with money worries and complaints – free training from the Financial Ombudsman
If a constituent can’t sort out a problem with a financial business – whether it’s their insurer, bank or mortgage company, a lender or debt collector – the Ombudsman can help find a way forward.
Set up by Parliament, we’re here to resolve complaints fairly, quickly and informally – as an alternative to the courts. Independent and unbiased, we’re completely free for constituents to use. We can also help very small businesses.
We run free training across the UK to help MPs and their caseworkers – alongside other community advisers – resolve their constituents’ money worries.
Our practical half-day workshop will cover:
- the role of the ombudsman, our powers – and how to use us
- our approach when someone is having serious money problems
- our approach when someone is struggling to pay back a loan
But we also want to hear from you – and we’re always happy to talk through specific local issues and the problems your constituents are bringing to you.
To find a free training event near you and book a place, check the news and outreach pages on our website and apply for the event you’re interested in.
Our events run for half a day and refreshments will be provided. If you have any other questions, please email [email protected].
We’ve also run successful constituency events with MPs. If you’re interested in working together – or if you think there’s any other way we can help you – please email [email protected].
From their website:
The IPT is an independent, non-lobbying, non-partisan charity that provides a trusted platform of engagement between Parliament and UK business. The IPT is dually supported by cross-party representation of senior parliamentarians on its Board of Trustees, and through the patronage of its industry supporters. The IPT is non-party political and works with all parliamentarians and businesses of any sector or size.
The IPT creates an environment that supports trusted, open and two-way dialogue between Parliament and UK business. IPT platforms engage, educate and inform, create lasting relationships and facilitate the exchange of ideas. Specifically, we aim to:
- Equip parliamentarians from all parties with a greater understanding of commerce and industry through non-partisan platforms
- Enable businesses of all sizes and from all sectors to develop knowledge of parliamentary and legislative processes
- Enrich policy debates by deepening the dialogue between Parliament and industry
- Support the efficient administration of government through our Civil Service Attachment Scheme
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From their website:
Westminster Explained is the division of Dods Training which delivers the core skills for dealing with Parliament, Government and policy making. The practical nature of our innovative workshops is blended with discussion and reflection on theory. This combination will help you implement or influence policy and legislation in the UK or on an international stage.
Our courses are aimed at anyone in any sector with an interest in how decisions are taken – and implemented – in government.
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Working for an MP is an exciting and rewarding job, but at some point you may face exactly the same difficulties as you would in any other workplace – a dispute over your job description, a grievance against your employer or simply the need to put a collective case for improvements in working conditions.
The Unite Parliamentary Staff Branch represents staff of MPs, both in Parliament and in the constituency, and has many trained shop stewards who will be more than willing to help, however small your problem may seem. Our members’ well-being in the workplace is of the utmost importance to the branch.
MPs’ staff find themselves in a difficult position in terms of claiming their basic working rights. Whilst, legally, our MP is usually considered our employer, it is IPSA and the House Authorities who are our de facto employers, setting our pay levels, contractual terms and conditions, and working environment. Staff pay and employment conditions suffered a significant blow when the IPSA MPs’ Business Costs Scheme was introduced in 2010. Now, more than ever, it is important for MPs’ staff to speak with one voice on all of these issues, and the union is fighting to improve the terms for MPs’ staff under IPSA. The more staff who join, the stronger a case they can put for improvements in pay and conditions.
Unite has been representing the staff of Members of Parliament for over 35 years.
The Unite Parliamentary Staff Branch is part of the largest trade union in the UK, Unite and is regularly consulted by the Houses of Parliament authorities on issues affecting staff. We hope that if you have not already done so, you will join.
Where we fit in…
The Unite Parliamentary Staff Branch is based in Region 1 of the Union (London and the South East) but includes staff from all over England, Scotland and Wales. It has members who work for MPs and MEPs of all the major political parties and most of the smaller ones.
Follow the Unite Parliamentary Staff Branch on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/unitepsbranch
Training
The main resource for training for Members’ Staff is The Members’ Services Team.
Courses take place online, on the Parliamentary Estate and regionally, and if a course of interest is not available at a convenient location or date, they will endeavour to accommodate specific requirements, subject to sufficient demand (12 delegates and above).
Courses are free of charge to all Members’ staff who are paid through IPSA’s staffing allowance and travel costs to training events can be met from the expenses scheme administered by IPSA.
The full course catalogue is available via Act – the Parliamentary learning management system. Some courses are advertised as being for House staff, but MPs’ staff can still sign up for some of them, such as some of the courses from Parliamentary Digital. If in doubt, please do contact L&D for advice.
If you see a course you’d like to do, but there isn’t a session advertised yet, please do put yourself on the waiting list so that the MST knows that people are interested. This will also ensure that you get a notification of when a session is available.
email: [email protected]
House of Commons Library
The House of Commons Library arranges inductions, training and events for MPs and MPs’ staff. Visit the Library’s website to find out more.
To receive information on all upcoming Commons Library training courses and events, sign up for email updates for MPs’ staff and bookmark the Library’s ACT page.
Latest Training Courses
The guest speakers at the January Caseworker Discussion Forum will be from Full Fact, the fact checkers and campaigners who find, expose and counter the harm done by bad information. Time: 10:30 – 11:30Date: Thursday 16 January 2024Location: Online via MS TeamsBooking: https://parliament.learningpool.com/course/view.php?id=1953 Read more about Full Fact here: https://fullfact.org/about/
Join the Parliamentary Registrar for a training session on how to register Members’ financial interests. Time: 11:30 – 13:00Date: Tuesday 10 December 2024Location: In-Person and OnlineBooking: https://parliament.learningpool.com/course/view.php?id=2309
Meta are hosting a virtual training for MPs and their staffers to showcase the tools they can use to stay safe and secure across Meta technologies next week Friday 6th Dec at 10h00. As part of this training, they will also cover Meta Support Pros, a dedicated support service to address operational and technical issues…
A training session provided by the House of Commons, aimed at Member’s staff caseworkers. Time: 15:00 – 16:30Date: Tuesday 10 December 2024Location: OnlineBooking essential – https://parliament.learningpool.com/course/view.php?id=1918 Casework and correspondence to MPs from resettled refugees in constituencies across the UK has grown in recent years as the number of resettled refugees arriving in the UK has…
Time: 12:00Date: Wednesday 27 November 2024 This online webinar is your chance to learn about the value that PolicyMogul provides for MPs, peers and parliamentary staff. As well as an overview of the platform’s features, we will highlight some best practices related to getting the most out of the platform. Session includes Q&A. PolicyMogul is…
There are two “How to be a Select Committee Member” events taking place this week. If your Member has recently been elected to a Select Committee, they are strongly encouraged to attend. Wednesday 23 October 2024, 10am – 10.50am (Macmillan Room, Portcullis House). Tuesday 29 October 2024, 10 – 10.50am (Macmillan Room, Portcullis House). The…
Are you going to be supporting a Member serving on a select committee? Or, do you simply want to understand more about how select committees work? The Select Committee Team is offering training for Members’ staff on ‘how to support your Member with select committee work’. This is a virtual event, which will be held…
This training session will be delivered by Protect, a UK independent whistleblowing charity and legal advice centre. Members of Parliament are designated in the law as people to whom whistleblowers can disclose information about wrongdoing, risks and malpractice. This training aims to help MPs and their staff who may receive concerns understand their role in…
The Benefits Training Company produces a monthly newscast which features three of their benefits experts discussing the latest benefits news stories including changes to legislation, DWP announcements, relevant case law and guidance. There are links to the sources of the items discussed, and some that aren’t discussed if they think they might help. In this…
Two new dates for Caseworker Software Training have become available to sign-up to on ACT (3 and 10 October). Please note, these sessions are for staff of newly elected Members only at this time. Sessions for staff of returned Members will be organised in due course. Sign-up via the link: Course: Caseworker Software Training for MPs’…
