Online courses

Cyber security awareness: Basic

This course, developed by cyber security specialists Cyber Security Associates, is designed to give better insight into the day-to-day cyber challenges. It provides practical advice on safeguarding company and personal information at work and home and offers techniques for identifying potential or actual cyber-attacks.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• Understand that cyber is more than just IT
• Understand the concept of the Internet of Things
• Have a better understanding of how data protection laws are changing
• Explain the key differences between the outside and inside cyber threats​ and what constitutes these types of threats
• Understand the importance of passwords and their security in defending information against a cyber threat
• Understand what makes up your digital footprint and how it can be used as a means of attack
• Remember ways to control and manage your digital footprint
• Identify ways to stay cyber safe while at work, at home and working on the move
• Know what to do if any of your accounts are compromised or hacked

Cyber security awareness: Password management

This course, developed by cyber security specialists Cyber Security Associates, is designed to provide clear and concise guidance on using passwords and other protection methods to keep your information and data safe and secure.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• Understand the definition of a password and where it originated from
• Be able to recognise what both common and vulnerable passwords would look like
• Differentiate between a password and a passphrase
• Understand how passwords can be attacked and breached
• Identify that there are various other security measures in place to protect your password

Cyber security awareness: Phishing

This course, developed by cyber security specialists Cyber Security Associates, is designed to enhance knowledge of one of the fastest-growing cyber attack methods: phishing. It is useful for anyone who works with digital devices and provides details of information security threats, attack methods, and tips and techniques on safeguarding.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• Understand the definition and different types of phishing
• Explain why phishing attacks are used and how your digital footprint can be exploited for these attacks and social engineering purposes
• Examine the rise of cybercrime and why phishing continues to be a key tool and technique for attacks
• Understand the different types of phishing attacks and how the complexity of each one can be completely different
• Know the best way to respond to phishing attacks when at work and home

Cyber security awareness: Video conferencing

This course, developed by cyber security specialists Cyber Security Associates, is designed to examine the different methods of videoconferencing and the processes and technology that can be used to protect these services.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• Appreciate the history and evolution of video conferencing
• Understand the hardware and software used for video conferencing
• Understand the different types of threats and attacks against video conferencing platforms
• Know how to stay cyber safe when setting up and using your video conferencing platform
• Understand the measures to keep your meetings secure

Anti-bribery essentials

This course from Nimble e-learning explores what is and is not considered bribery under UK law and provides tips and advice on staying compliant with the Bribery Act 2010.

By the end of the course, you should be able to:

• Define bribery and corruption
• Understand the Bribery Act 2010 and the penalties for breaking the law
• Recognise what constitutes a crime under the Bribery Act 2010
• Know the six principles organisations should follow when designing their bribery policies and procedures
• Know what actions to take should you suspect bribery

Anti-money laundering essentials

This course from Nimble e-learning aims to increase awareness of money laundering and offers tips on identifying and preventing it within your organisation.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• Describe what money laundering is and how it is done
• Understand UK legislation and regulations regarding money laundering and what they cover
• Explain how to prevent money laundering
• Recognise the consequences of non-compliance with anti-money laundering legislation

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health essentials

This course from Nimble e-learning will equip you with the knowledge and skills to handle hazardous substances safely. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of the potential risks involved and learn how to protect yourself and others in the workplace.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• Explain what Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) is and why it’s important in the workplace
• Identify and interpret the hazard symbols used in COSHH
• Recognise hazardous substances you might encounter at work and understand their risks to your health
• Use control measures and safe handling to minimise your exposure to hazardous substances

Customer service essentials

This course from Nimble e-learning showcases effective communication with customers, arms you with a customer service toolkit, and explores managing complaints using the customer complaint resolution cycle.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• Understand the principles of customer loyalty and how to build it through your interactions
• Communicate more persuasively and effectively via the phone, video calls, face-to-face, and in writing
• Provide a better level of customer service by using your customer service skills toolkit
• Understand the customer complaint resolution cycle and how to deal with common customer service challenges

Data protection essentials

This course from Nimble e-learning covers data protection regulations in the UK and provides essential training for anyone who can process personal data.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• Recognise why fair and effective data management is important to individuals and society as a whole
• Understand relevant data protection legislation and regulations, along with the penalties for breaching these
• Work with information in a way that doesn’t breach the data protection principles and individuals’ rights
• Respond to requests for information from individuals in a way that is legal and effective

Display Screen Equipment (DSE) workstation assessment essentials

This course from Nimble e-learning addresses the health and safety requirements of Display Screen Equipment (DSE) and advises on posture and safe working techniques. You will learn how to complete your own DSE risk assessment that you can provide to your employer.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• Understand the importance of DSE workstation assessments
• Identify whether you are a high, medium or low-risk user
• Recognise the effects of poor posture
• Adjust your posture, so you have a good posture while working
• Adjust your workstation to suit you
• Carry out a DSE risk assessment

Environmental awareness essentials

This course from Nimble e-learning addresses the environmental crisis and looks at what businesses can do to reduce their impact on climate change and other pressing environmental issues.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• Recognise the benefits of a greener approach to your working practices
• Know how positive action in the workplace can make a difference to our environment
• Take steps to reduce the negative impact your workplace can have on the environment
• Make waste management choices that are better for the planet

Equality, diversity and inclusion essentials

This course from Nimble e-learning addresses threats to equality, such as discrimination, harassment and victimisation, and looks at how you can promote fairness, diversity and inclusion at work.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• Understand what is meant by equality, diversity and inclusion, and recognise how they benefit us
• Identify who is protected by the Equality Act 2010 and explain what happens if their rights are compromised
• Recognise discrimination and other unfair practices in the workplace and know how to act on them
• Understand what you can do yourself to promote equality, diversity and inclusion

Fire safety essentials

This course from Nimble e-learning highlights the importance of fire safety awareness in the office environment and when working from home. It explores best practice fire safety procedures and provides an overview of the equipment required under fire safety regulations.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• Understand employers’ responsibilities under fire safety law
• Prevent fires by using the fire triangle theory
• Identify fire safety signs and appreciate the importance of knowing where they are in your workplace
• Identify fire safety equipment and understand how it should be used
• Recognise the need to periodically check fire safety procedures
• Carry out the fire safety procedures in place in your organisation

Freedom of information essentials

This course from Nimble e-learning addresses the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, highlighting who it applies to and how to handle and respond to different types of requests for information.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• Recognise when and where the main provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 apply
• Understand the types of information that will be shared in an organisation’s publication scheme
• Make or handle requests for information in an appropriate way
• Understand the rights of individuals under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the consequences of not complying with the legislation

Health and safety essentials

This course from Nimble e-learning provides an understanding of potential health and safety issues at work, the legislation surrounding it, and how to improve safety in your workplace.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• Recognise why health and safety is important for individuals, employers and society as a whole
• Understand the frameworks of health and safety legislation
• Recognise the responsibilities your employer has for your health and safety
• Use a range of health and safety techniques and good practices to help keep yourself safe at work

Home working essentials

This course from Nimble e-learning offers guidance on effective home working and covers workspace set-up, safety at home, communicating remotely, and maintaining productivity.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• Recognise the characteristics of an effective home working environment
• Develop and maintain safe home working behaviours
• Maintain effective information security and data protection practices
• Understand the importance of good communication when working remotely
• Identify practical strategies to increase your productivity
• Recognise the importance of looking after your mental health and wellbeing

Human factors essentials

This course from Nimble e-learning explores the role and impact of human error in the workplace. You'll learn how to manage common error traps and understand which Human Performance (HuP) tools you can use to mitigate error traps that can't be removed.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• Understand the main types of errors that humans make
• Identify key workplace error traps to remove or manage them
• Recognise which HuP tools can be used to mitigate error traps that can’t be removed

Infection control essentials

This course from Nimble e-learning is aimed at anyone who might come into contact with infections during work. Reducing the spread of everyday illnesses is desirable for everyone. We all want fewer periods of illness and less risk of passing infection on to others.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• Describe common pathogens and the types of infections they cause
• Explain how pathogens can spread between people
• Identify and take measures to protect those most at risk from infection
• Apply simple infection control methods to reduce the spread of infection in the workplace and beyond

Information security awareness essentials

This course from Nimble e-learning addresses the different threats to an organisation's information security and explores best practices for keeping data safe whenever and wherever you work.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• Recognise why information security is essential to organisations
• Identify secure working practices to safeguard company data
• Protect information when working remotely and on mobile devices
• Improve your awareness of online risks and how to stay safe on the internet
• Respond to and report information security issues

Manual handling essentials

This course from Nimble e-learning outlines manual handling risks, advises on how to plan moving or lifting tasks properly, and looks at the proper technique to be used when manual handling.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• Recognise the potential risks of injury from manual handling tasks
• Appreciate the importance of keeping yourself and your colleagues safe from risk
• Assess a range of manual handling factors and take steps to reduce risks
• Plan to move and lift tasks more effectively
• Use safer techniques when handling loads, individually, as a team, and with common workplace aids

Menopause essentials

This course from Nimble e-learning helps you become aware of menopause and overcome the stigma. Menopause symptoms affect 75% of all women, yet there’s still a widespread lack of understanding and reluctance to talk about them. It will help you recognise symptoms and understand the impact menopause can have on you and your workplace.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• Recognise how menopause affects women in different ways
• Take steps to create a more supportive workplace for those experiencing menopause

Modern slavery essentials

This course from Nimble e-learning explores the concept of modern-day slavery and addresses the signs that might suggest a vulnerable person is being exploited.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• Appreciate the extent of modern slavery in the UK and the many forms it takes
• Recognise the factors that can increase a person’s risk of exploitation
• Spot signs of modern slavery and human trafficking that can help them identify potential victims
• Understand the measures available to punish perpetrators and support potential victims
• Report their suspicions or concerns to the appropriate organisation

Personal safety essentials

This course from Nimble e-learning seeks to improve personal safety awareness and provides tips and advice on how to keep yourself safe at work, at home, in public places and while travelling.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• Recognise the importance of confidence and preparation in staying safe
• Understand how reducing ‘opportunity’ for criminals increases safety
• Avoid situations and environments that may place you at greater risk
• Practice safe behaviours at work, at home, in public, and while travelling
• Know what to do if you feel unsafe or become a victim of crime

Stress management essentials

This course from Nimble e-learning explains stress, examines ways to reduce it, and offers coping strategies for better-managing stress levels.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• Understand and identify stress and why it can be detrimental to you
• Identify stress and stressors in yourself and others
• Reduce your exposure to stress
• Develop wellness action plans
• Implement coping strategies in your work and personal life

Team leadership essentials

This course from Nimble e-learning explores what it means to be an effective team leader by examining leadership styles and the essential skills required to get a team to thrive under your direction.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• Understand your leadership style
• Apply your knowledge of leadership styles in different situations
• Know how to build relationships and engage your team members
• Identify and employ effective team leadership skills and techniques

Time management essentials

This course from Nimble e-learning helps you regain control of your time with easy-to-implement techniques that will help you better manage and organise your daily workload. This will make you more productive in your role and, by default, in everyday life.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• Understand why good time management is important
• Recognise common challenges to effective time management
• Apply techniques to improve your time management skills

Unconscious bias essentials

This course from Nimble e-learning aims to increase your awareness of unconscious bias and give practical tips on reducing its effect on your decisions, attitudes, and behaviour. Our unconscious biases can have a big influence on how we feel about people and affect the decisions we make every day. Because these biases are often rooted in inaccurate or incomplete information, they can lead to unfair assumptions and poor decision-making without us realising.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• Describe what unconscious bias is and why it occurs
• Recognise different types of unconscious bias
• Recognise the impact unconscious bias can have in the workplace
• Use strategies to help reduce biased thinking affecting your actions at work

Working at height essentials

This course from Nimble e-learning helps to identify activities that are classed as work at height under the law. It demonstrates how employers and employees need to work together under The Work at Height Regulations 2005 to implement safety measures, assess risks and follow best practices for any work performed at height.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• Recall which type of activities are classified as work at height
• Recognise your employer’s and your responsibilities under The Work at Height Regulations 2005
• Identify risks most commonly associated with working at height
• Plan a safe approach to performing work at height
• Use stepladders and leaning ladders safely

An introduction to behavioural agility

In this course, best-selling author and leading authority on resilience, Liggy Webb, shows us how to reduce unhealthy stress and lighten our loads by adopting a growth mindset and embracing change.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• Adopt a growth mindset and explore your potential
• Understand how to positively embrace change as an essential evolution for personal success
• Let go of unhelpful thinking and learn to manage uncertainty and complexity
• Tap into your dynamic capability and be bolder

An introduction to changing behaviours

In this course, best-selling author and leading authority on resilience and behavioural agility, Liggy Webb, teaches us how to rewire our brains to form new neural connections, freeing ourselves from pre-learnt behaviours to bring about positive change.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• Be aware of how habits and behaviours form
• Understand the psychological habit loop
• Identify and focus on what you want to change
• Set yourself an action plan to make positive behavioural changes

An introduction to emotional intelligence and personal resilience

In this introductory e-learning module from Breakthrough Communications, we will better understand where our behaviour comes from and consider what emotional intelligence and resilience mean for us in the context of our roles within the parish or town council. We will have opportunities to explore role-focused scenarios and consider how we might respond to them. We will also explore strategies to deal with and manage various situations.

An introduction to resilience

In this course, best-selling author and leading authority on resilience, Liggy Webb, explains the core principles and practical advice needed to build personal resilience through positivity and the ability to successfully deal with change.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• Understand the fundamental principles of personal resilience
• Be more aware of the benefits of being open and receptive to change
• Think positively and view challenges more optimistically
• Take personal responsibility and commit to positive action

Leadership in challenging situations for councils and councillors

In this introductory e-learning module from Breakthrough Communications, we will consider different leadership styles in the context of your role at the council. We will explore which styles we personally ‘default’ to and which styles can work effectively in different situations. We will also discover how to build, support, and get the most from an effective and motivated team.

Mental health awareness

Healthcare training expert Espirita developed this course. It seeks to highlight the issues related to mental health disorders and ensure that learners are equipped with practical knowledge on how to recognise, manage and support those suffering from poor mental health, which could include themselves.

Respectful and positive social media for councils and councillors

In this introductory e-learning module from Breakthrough Communications, we’ll consider the opportunities and risks associated with social media from a civility and respect perspective. We will explore a range of proactive and preemptive strategies councils and councillors can put in place to set themselves up for success. We’ll also explore what to do if things go wrong, how to manage a range of scenarios, from trolling to harassment, and practical steps you can take.

Standards in public life

This bespoke e-learning module has been developed by county associations in the South West region and is primarily designed to help those elected or co-opted and/or working in parish and town councils understand the principles of conduct expected of all councillors.

The information is based upon a national model code of conduct produced by the Local Government Association. Still, it recognises that councillors must abide by their own council's code of conduct and so also provides some generic support for those wishing to better understand the behaviours expected of all councillors.