CIPD Level 7 Advanced Award in Managing Employment Relations 

On completion of the programme, you’ll be able to understand, analyse and critically evaluate:

• different theories and perspectives on employment relations
• the impact of local, national and global contexts shaping employment relations climates
• the roles and functions of the different parties to control and manage the employment relationship
• the importance of organisational-level employment relations processes that support organisational performance including the design and implementation of policies and practices in the areas of employee engagement, diversity management, employee communication, involvement and participation, negotiation and bargaining, conflict resolution, change management and management control
• the importance of employment relations procedures that help mitigate organisational risk, including the design and implementation of policies and practices in the areas of discipline, grievance, dismissal and redundancy
• the integration of employment relations processes and how they impact on policy, practice and organisational outcomes such as performance and employee engagement.

Perspectives on Strategic Employment Relations and Organisational Performance (three day face to face course module)

• Introduction to the requirements of the programme, its structure, assessments, vle and other resources etc
• theories of the trends in employment relations
• the psychological contract
• managing conflicting interests
• individualism versus collectivism
• developments in the balance of power between employer and employee and managerial legitimacy
• impact of organisational, national/regional and international factors
• comparative employment relations systems
• the impact of strategic employment relations on organisational performance and High Performance Working (HPW)
• developing employment relations strategy
• employee engagement.

Managing Parties in the Employment Relationship (two day face to face course module)

• Definition of parties and their roles - employer, employee, unions, employer/employee bodies, NGOs, state institutions
• working in a unionised/non-unionised environment, union recognition, employee forum recognition
• comparative legal perspectives - UK, EU and international
• managing 'employee voice' – communication, involvement, participation and the differences between them
• employee consultation forums
• managing change effectively.

Effective Employment Relations Policy and Practice (three day face to face course module)

• Linking policy, practice and process to organisational effectiveness
• individual and collective conflict, principles of natural justice
• individual dispute resolution - discipline and grievance
• third party arbitration, mediation and conciliation
• managing collective disputes – bargaining, industrial sanctions and strike action
• negotiation and persuasion skills
• minimising organisational risk in dismissal, redundancy and reorganisation.

To gain the CIPD Advanced Level Award in Managing Employment Relations, you must:

• attend eight days of training in three face-to-face course modules:
  • Perspectives on Strategic Employment Relations and Organisational Performance (three days)
  • Managing Parties in the Employment Relationship (two days)
  • Effective Employment Relations Policy and Practice (three days)
• participate in three online webinars of one hour each
  • Building an Employer Brand
  • Case Studies in Change Management
  • Managing Diversity
• successfully complete one 3,000 word assignment.

First-class tutors 

Whether you’re doing a course, qualification, or in-house programme, the tutors you will meet have in-depth knowledge of their subject, and combine academic expertise with years of hands-on business and industry experience. They are passionate about their specialist areas, and have proven time and time again their ability to facilitate top-quality learning and provide the best possible learning experience. So, whilst theory and models matter (and you’ll get them), they are skilled in helping you ‘translate’ them into your day-to-day reality.

Take a look at the Tutors tab on this page to view biographies of just some of the tutors you’re likely to meet on the programme. Why not look them up on Google – we’re proud of the fact that many of our tutors are among the UK’s leading experts in their specialist area.

Unlimited support from your personal tutor 

When you start your qualification programme, you’ll be assigned a personal tutor, who will provide support, guidance and encouragement throughout your studies by phone or email – invaluable when you’re juggling the challenge of studying with a busy home and work life.

Comprehensive additional resources – on and offline

You’ll be provided with comprehensive documentation and reference material to support you in your studies, including textbooks (where relevant), in addition to which (on most programmes) you’ll also have access to an online Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). The VLE includes extensive additional learning resources and links to articles, research, surveys and practical tools relevant to your studies. It also enables you to network with your fellow learners and participate in networked discussion forums facilitated by your tutor between face-to-face learning days. Plus you’ll find tips and guidance on how to do assignments, and for exam-based qualifications, revision tips, past exam papers, examiner’s reports, online exam tutorials and much more.

A blended approach

Most of our programmes take a blended approach – combining face-to-face learning with self-study and online working (via the Virtual Learning Environment). This powerful mix is one of the best ways to achieve sustained skills enhancement, and also minimises the time you need to spend away from the office.

Practical and applicable

For your learning to work, it has to be relevant to your workplace. That’s why our programmes focus on providing you with the knowledge, skills and confidence to apply your learning back at work straight away. You’ll explore your own needs and issues, as well as share experiences, challenges and insights with other participants and your expert tutor. We constantly update and improve our programmes, to ensure they are aligned with your changing needs and prepare you for the issues facing your profession.

You’ll be given extensive resources to help you put your learning into practice as soon as you return to work. Our qualification programmes provide you with comprehensive documentation and reference material to support you in your studies.

Other unique features of this programme include:

• a free textbook Managing Employment Relations by John Gennard and Graham Judge, 5th edition, 2010
• free quarterly online employment law newsletter updates.