Course Details

Training Courses 

Here are all of the courses we deliver click on a subject below and it will take you to that course and any dates for next delivery.

Absent Voting Management Modules
Aspiring manager development programme Neighbourhood Planning 
Preparing for the next UK general election: new parliamentary boundaries and polling places review Referendums
Preparing for the next UK general election:
Delivering at short notice and managing cross-boundaries
Parish Matters
Community Governance Reviews Polling Station Staff training
One Day Elections Verification and Count 
Election Accounts 2 Day Elections
Elections Act – Delivering Voter ID 2 Day Electoral Registration
Elections Act 2022: Tranche 2 measures
Employment and Information Governance – Essentials 4 Day Electoral Administration
Foundation course Introduction to Electoral Services
Key Considerations for Returning Officers and their deputies  Vocational courses
Key Consideration for Electoral Registration Officers and their deputies Maintaining the Register
Key considerations for Wales Returning Officers, Electoral Registration Officers and their deputies  

If you have any questions about any of the courses, please complete and submit the online Training Enquiry Form.


Current Courses

Absent Voting

To outline the steps Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Returning Officers (ROs) are required to take to ensure the smooth running of their absent voting process, including the legislative framework and areas of good practice.

This course will cover all types of absent voting and will consider the year-round process, as well as election-specific tasks.

25 January 2024 – Online

15 March 2024 – Online

Absent Voting course flyer

Absent Voting booking form


Aspiring manager development programme 

3rd course – Fully booked 4th course 
Module 1 – 31 October 2023 – 2pm Module 1 – 30 January 2024 -10am
Module 2 – 21 November 2023 – 2pm Module 2 – 29 February 2024 – 2pm
Module 3 – 12 December 2023 – 2pm Module 3 – 22 May 2024 – 2pm
Module 4 – 10 January 2024 – 2pm Module 4 – 6 June 2024 – 2pm
Module 5 – 30 January 2024 – 2pm Module 5 – 18 June 2024 – 10am
Module 6 – 5 March 2024 – 2pm Module 6 – 11 July 2024 – 10am

This programme is for you if you aspire to become an electoral services manager, a current electoral manager who wants to further develop within local government, or you’re an existing manager looking for support to grow into your role.

Our new programme will deliver one module per month over a period of
six months, covering:

• Emotional intelligence (EQ)
• Political acumen
• Your leadership role
• Managing performance
• Managing change
• Strategic thinking and effective decision making

Each module will be delivered online in a three hour session.

Aspiring manager development programme course flyer

Aspiring manager development programme booking form 


Elections 2024

To focus on key points to consider to ensure efficient and effective organisation of scheduled elections in May 2024.

29 January 2024 – Online

6 February 2024 – Online

18 March 2024 – Online

Elections 2024 course flyer

Elections 2024 booking form


Elections Act 2022: Tranche 2 measures

This series of three courses will provide a full understanding of the changes coming into force in relation to online absent vote applications (OAVA), postal and proxy voting requirements (PPVR), overseas electors (OE) and European Union citizens voting and candidacy rights (EUVCR) and the practical considerations for delivering those changes.

A webinar on postal vote handling and secrecy (PVHS) will also be made available to delegates to provide an overview of changes coming into force.

England – Elections Act 2022: Tranche 2 measures course flyer

England – Elections Act 2022: Tranche 2 measures booking form

Wales – Elections Act 2022: Tranche 2 measures course flyer

Wales – Elections Act 2022: Tranche 2 measures booking form

Scotland – Elections Act 2022: Tranche 2 measures course flyer

Scotland – Elections Act 2022: Tranche 2 measures booking form

 

Overseas electors (OE)

4 December 2023 – Online – Fully booked 

5 December 2023 – Online – Fully booked 

6 December 2023 – Online – Fully booked 

8 December 2023 – Online – Fully booked 

11 December 2023 – Online – Fully booked 

12 December 2023 – Online – Fully booked

13 December 2023 – Online – Fully booked 

14 December 2023 – Online – Fully booked 

15 December 2023 – Online – Fully booked 

18 December 2023 – Online

European Union citizens voting and candidacy rights (EUVCR)

8 February 2024 – Online – Fully booked 

9 February 2024 – Online – Fully booked 

12 February 2024 – Online – Fully booked 

13 February 2024 – Online – Fully booked 

14 February 2024 – Online – Fully booked 

15 February 2024 – Online – Fully booked 

16 February 2024 – Online

20 February 2024 – Online – Fully booked 

21 February 2024 – Online

22 February 2024 – Online – Fully booked


Foundation course

The AEA is pleased to provide details of the 2023 programme for the Foundation Course in Electoral Administration. For the first time, 2023 will see specific versions of the Course delivered for English, Welsh and Scottish administrators.

Module Gen1 & ER1 Thursday 18 January 2024

Module ER2 Friday 19 January 2024

Module EA1 Monday 22 January 2024

Module EA2 Wednesday 24 January 2024

Module EA3 Friday 26 January 2024

Foundation course flyer

Foundation booking form


Introduction to Electoral Services

To provide an overview of the work of electoral services teams, including elections and electoral registration.

Wednesday 31 January – Online

Tuesday 12 March – Online

Thursday 4 July – Online

Tuesday 17 September – Online

Introduction to Electoral Services course flyer

Introduction to Electoral Services booking form


Key Considerations for Returning Officers and their deputies

This course aims to prepare Returning Officers and Deputy Returning Officers for the responsibilities of their roles.

7 December 2023 – Online – Fully booked

18 January 2024 – Online 

7 February 2024 – Online

21 March 2024 – Online

Key Considerations for Returning Officers and their deputies course flyer

Key considerations for Returning Officers and their deputies booking form


Verification and Count 

This one-day course provides attendees with an understanding of the legal requirements governing UK poll verifications and counts, providing examples of good practice to help you run them effectively.

23 January 2024 – Online

19 February 2024 – Online

20 March 2024 – Online

Verification and Count course flyer

Verification and Count booking form


Polling station staff training 2023 

Ensuring polling station staff are well prepared for their complex duties is vital for all Returning Officers. With more than a decade’s experience providing presiding officer and poll clerk training, the AEA has the expertise and know-how to support you to deliver the 2023 elections.

Polling station staff training course flyer and booking form


Polling Station Staff Training – UK Parliamentary General Election

To support members in planning for a potential snap UK Parliamentary general election we have decided to open bookings for our polling station staff training.

Polling station staff training course flyer and booking form


Courses currently not running

Community Governance Reviews

To explain the legislative requirements and procedures involved in conducting a community governance review (CGR) in England.


Elections Act – Delivering Voter ID

Focusing on the introduction of Voter ID and the enhanced accessibility measures, this course will provide a full understanding of the changes coming into force for the May 2023 polls and the practical considerations for delivering those changes.


Election Accounts

To prepare delegates to submit timely and accurate election accounts which meet Electoral Claims Unit requirements.


Employment and Information Governance – Essentials

This course will provide straightforward explanations of the rules around essential areas of employment and information governance that affect the work of electoral services teams.


Key Considerations for Electoral Registration Officers and their deputies

To clearly outline all the Electoral Registration Officers’ statutory duties and explore how to maximise registration levels.


Key considerations for Wales Returning Officers, Electoral Registration Officers
and their deputies

To prepare you for the responsibilities of delivering elections and electoral registration and upcoming challenges over the next few years.


Maintaining the Register

To outline the steps Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) are required to take to make sure they maintain a complete and accurate register, including the legislative framework and areas of good practice.


Management Modules

To outline and reinforce the knowledge required by electoral service managers to deal with these three important topics at an advanced level: electoral law; electoral arrangements; and management and finance.


Neighbourhood Planning Referendums

This one-day course aims to cover the processes of Neighbourhood Planning Referendums to make sure that attendees are aware of the legislative requirements and practical challenges.


Parish Matters

This comprehensive and practical course will allow attendees to focus on specific legislation, rules and scenarios that apply to parish councils, also called town or community councils in some areas.


Preparing for the next UK general election: new parliamentary boundaries and polling places review

To provide a clear understanding of the various types of boundary reviews, the legislation surrounding them and how to successfully carry them out.


4 Day Electoral Administration

To provide delegates with a comprehensive understanding of electoral administration including electoral registration and election management, to include the legislative framework and areas of good practice.


2 Day Electoral Registration

To provide delegates with a comprehensive understanding of UK electoral registration, including the legislative framework and areas of good practice.


2 Day Elections

To provide delegates with a comprehensive understanding of managing an election, including the legislative framework and good practice


Vocational courses currently not running

Building Self Resilience

Resilience is not just your ability to bounce back, but also your capacity to adapt in the face of challenging circumstances, while maintaining a stable mental wellbeing. This 3-hour virtual workshop will enable you to explore the capabilities, skills, and self-care practices that contribute to building self-resilience.


Handling difficult customers over the phone

This 3-hour virtual workshop identifies that many of us have to deal with angry or unhappy clients over the phone as part of our roles, and it’s never easy. But if we know what to say and, more importantly, how to say it, we may be able to save the situation. In fact, we can even end up with a better relationship with our client than we had before. This workshop will explore how to deal with angry or difficult customers over the phone. We’ll highlight specific tips and techniques that you can use to smooth things over, so that you can leave them feeling satisfied.


Managing and leading teams from a distance

Without the ability to see people face to face, some managers are struggling to motivate people, engage with them and inspire. Performance management monitoring is also taking a hit in some departments. This 3-hour virtual session gives managers the tools they need to make them just as effective from a distance than when they were in the same room as their teams.


Working from home effectively and productively

For some of us, working from home used to be a thing of mystery, intrigue and perceived
luxury. For some job roles, working from home was also seen as impossible! This is no
longer the case, with the vast majority of local government workforces now working from
home because of Covid-19 restrictions. Whatever happens post C-19, working from home
will become a normal practice for people in our sector. This 3-hour virtual workshop
focuses on good practice methods and hints, tips and skills that we have identified across
our sector since working from home became common practice in March 2020.


It is worth mentioning that, as course fees include VAT at 20%, local authority budgets would only bear the nett cost, and central government funded elections and referendums (via the Cabinet Office) include provision to cover costs of “relevant training”.

Booking forms are available via the links underneath the dates and venues.

Non-members wishing to join the Association (£47.50 plus VAT) may complete and submit the online membership application form.

If delegates from the same Authority wish to attend the same course but on different dates/at different venues please indicate clearly on the booking form.

If you have any questions about any of the courses, please complete and submit the online Training Enquiry Form.


Course booking terms and conditions

Cancellation

If you cannot attend, a substitute from your local authority may attend in your place. Otherwise the following charges will apply:

  • Less than two weeks before the event 100%.
  • Less than four weeks before the event 60%
  • More than four weeks before the event £20.

Alternatively, if spaces are available, you can attend a different venue. To change venue, you should give at least 2 weeks’ notice otherwise charges may apply.

If for any reason a course is cancelled a full refund will be made. No payment for delegate costs that may have been incurred would be reimbursed.

Non-Attendance

Non attendees are liable for full payment of the event.  This includes face-to-face and online training.

If attendees have any concerns regarding connectivity they can email training@aea-elections.co.uk to arrange a pre course test.