By Ken White, Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants | 2 min
I started the Unions21 Future Leaders Programme in November 2024. Having been appointed as Assistant General Secretary in March 2024, I was keen to undertake self-development in my first year, and was delighted when the opportunity arose.
The programme ran from November 2024 to June 2025 and covered a wide variety of subjects, including Purpose, Strategy and Planning, AI Fundamentals, Resources and Change, and Campaigns and Communications. The hybrid approach to delivering the training emphasised the importance of networking in person, while the self-managed training conducted remotely allowed me to undertake modules at a time that suited my personal schedule.
Regarding the training modules, it's hard to prioritise one element over another because the course flowed so well. The Purpose and Strategy module allowed me to shift my mindset and become aware of what I can achieve, and how to go about achieving those goals. AI Fundamentals was crucial in embracing AI as a tool rather than something to fear. Resources and Change was excellent too, providing self-awareness and helping to brush up on financial management skills. Finally, Campaigns and Communications was the perfect conclusion to the programme, featuring excellent discussions with Vic Barlow and presentations from EPSU and UNI Europa.
The chance to collaborate with colleagues in other unions, both in Ireland and the UK, demonstrated the value of the programme. Hearing about shared experiences in different sectors, both at home and abroad, highlighted that the challenges we face are not dissimilar, and that collaboration can only strengthen the trade union movement both locally and globally.
For all these reasons, I cannot recommend the programme highly enough. It is a fantastic initiative that can only help the trade union movement globally as we face uncertain times.
Bookings for the Future Leaders 2025-26 programme are now open!
