Practical HR for Junior Practitioners
A six-week programme for junior and aspiring HR practitioners who need practical, confident knowledge of employment law, employee relations, and day-to-day HR operations — not just theory from a textbook.
Why this programme exists
Most junior HR practitioners learn on the job — picking up habits, assumptions, and half-understood processes from whoever happens to sit next to them. Some pursue CIPD qualifications, which provide academic grounding but often leave gaps in the practical, day-to-day knowledge that actually keeps organisations out of trouble.
This programme closes that gap. Over six weeks, delegates build a working understanding of UK employment law, employee relations, and HR operations — grounded in how things actually work in practice, not how they look in a textbook. Every session uses real scenarios and practical exercises.
If you have junior HR people making decisions about settlement agreements, absence management, or disciplinary processes without a solid foundation, this programme is designed to fix that.
What the programme covers
Six sessions delivered weekly, each building on the last. Delegates develop practical skills alongside legal knowledge.
Employment law foundations
The legal framework every HR practitioner needs to understand — contracts, statutory rights, the employment relationship, and the obligations that underpin everything else.
Employee relations essentials
Disciplinary, grievance, and the ACAS Code of Practice. How formal processes actually work, common mistakes, and how to advise managers with confidence.
Absence & performance
Managing sickness absence, capability vs. conduct, performance improvement processes, and understanding what absence patterns are telling you.
Equality & compliance
The Equality Act 2010 in practice — protected characteristics, discrimination types, reasonable adjustments, and the compliance obligations HR must get right.
Policy & documentation
How to read, apply, and advise on HR policies. Contract terms that matter, data protection basics, right to work, and record-keeping.
Putting it together
Complex scenario work combining everything from weeks 1–5. Delegates work through multi-layered situations, make decisions, and present their reasoning. Consolidation and confidence-building.
Who this programme is for
- Junior HR practitioners who need to build practical confidence alongside or instead of academic qualifications
- HR administrators stepping into advisory or HR officer roles and taking on more complex work
- Career changers moving into HR who need a solid foundation in employment law and ER practice
- Small business HR leads who are the sole HR person and need to be able to handle the full range of issues
Common questions
How does the open cohort model work?
Register your interest and we add you to the waitlist. Once we have a minimum of 8 delegates registered, we confirm dates and you commit at that point. There is no obligation until you confirm your place. This model means you're learning alongside practitioners from other organisations, which adds valuable perspective.
Can this be run as a private cohort for our organisation?
Yes. If you have 8 or more delegates, we can run a dedicated cohort tailored to your organisation's policies and context. Get in touch to discuss.
Is this a CIPD qualification?
No. This is practical professional development — designed to give your HR team the knowledge and skills to operate confidently from day one. It complements CIPD study but focuses on what actually happens in practice rather than academic frameworks.
Where does this take place?
Open cohorts are delivered in the Northwest of England. Private cohorts can be delivered at your premises anywhere in the UK — travel expenses apply outside the Northwest.
Invest in your HR team's foundations.
Register your interest for the next cohort — no obligation until dates are confirmed.
Register your interest