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.
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
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 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
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.