UK Mediation | The Workplace Mediation Practitioner's Certificate | Workplace Mediator Training Course

About the course

The aim of this five-day, forty-hour course is to give you the confidence and competence to practise workplace mediation to the highest level.

At the conclusion of the course, you will be able to:

Understand the underpinning principles of workplace mediation
How workplace mediation compares with other forms of dispute resolution, and how to resolve workplace conflict by putting people and their needs at the heart of the process.
Understand how people's behaviours can impact upon workplace conflict
What makes people behave the way they do when they are in conflict and how this will influence what we do as mediators. Getting people’s buy-in and overcoming their objections.
Understand the structure of the workplace mediation process
The steps and stages of our structured workplace mediation model, and the purpose and structure of each stage. What can go wrong and how to deal with the unexpected.
Understand the particular role of the workplace mediator
The mediator’s role, how this differs from other roles, and the importance of impartiality and confidentiality. Where mediation fits in with and usually precludes other more formal and lengthy processes.
Understand the skills required for effective workplace mediation
Mediating simulated cases alongside fellow learners and receiving detailed feedback. Having a go at our specially chosen dispute case examples.
Reflect upon your practice and consider your own development
Your strengths and areas for improvement as a workplace mediator and how you will specifically apply your new skills and knowledge in the future. Lifelong learning as a workplace mediator.

The Workplace Mediation Practitioner's Certificate (WMPC) covers everything you need to become a professional workplace mediator.

This includes:

The psychology of conflict
What makes people behave the way they do when in conflict and how this will influence what we do as mediators.
The principles of workplace mediation
How mediation compares with other ways of resolving disputes and how to choose what sorts of situations should be mediated. How and why mediation works.
Managing the workplace mediation process
The steps and stages of our structured seven-stage mediation model and the purpose of each stage. Dealing with resistance, disruption, and unexpected obstacles during the mediation sessions.
Key workplace mediation skills
Practising on simulated cases and receiving live feedback from your tutor. Learning key skills such as reframing, reflection, and active listening.
Diversity competence
Acknowledging that diversity exists among all participants and that only by acknowledging this can we achieve the best kind of resolution. Awareness of neurodiversity and how we can adapt the process to facilitate everyone’s full participation.
Taking your practice forward
Your strengths and areas for improvement, and factoring these into a personal development plan. Conforming to best practice and adhering to UK Mediation’s Code of Conduct.

Our courses are live interactive events run by a practising mediator who is an expert in the field.

We use a range of methods to deliver the course, including:

Custom-made video
We use our own professionally produced, broadcast quality video of the development of a workplace dispute and the step-by-step mediation process being demonstrated by a real mediator.
Lecture and live discussion
Our course is very practical and centres on learning-by-doing. The mediator-trainers who lead the course are experts in passing on their expertise to you, including by relating their own mediation ‘war stories’.
Group exercises
We have trained over 6,000 mediators in the last 26 years and have learnt much from many, many conflict stories. We’d love to hear about your own experiences as well, and for you to work in groups with fellow learners as they too become professional mediators.
Practice sessions with simulated case material
Along with the dispute scenario in our brilliant video, we have a whole library of examples of workplace disputes that we have encountered and resolved. We’d like you to try your hand at resolving them as well!

You are assessed through a combination of a practical on-course skills assessment, and a written assessment following the training. You are given four weeks post-course to complete the written assessment, which people tell us takes them around 8-12 hours of private study time.

Ever since we began back in 1999, a range of bodies and organisations have stepped up to accredit, register, validate, and in various ways rubber-stamp the activities of mediators. We can understand if you would find it a bit confusing!

However, we can explain it as such:

The Workplace Mediation Practitioner’s Certificate is the only qualification you need. It is a proper qualification on Ofqual’s 'Register of Regulated Qualifications', alongside GCSEs, A-Levels, and Diplomas. This makes it one of the very few officially-recognised and regulated mediator qualifications in the UK, and the only qualification at Ofqual’s Level Four.
The qualification is a 'Registered Training Course' with the Civil Mediation Council (CMC), and UK Mediation is registered with the CMC as an approved training provider. This means that, upon completion and satisfactory assessment, you can apply to join the CMC as an 'Associate Mediator'. If you then obtain the necessary observation and experience points that the CMC requires, you can become a 'CMC Registered Mediator'.
The course is also a 'Certified Mediator Training Programme' (CMTP) with the International Mediation Institute (IMI). When you have achieved on the course, you can apply to be listed as an ‘IMI Qualified Mediator’ and be recognised as having completed a high-quality mediation course that meets international standards.

What our learners say

"A superb course! Very good course materials provided which I will definitely use in the future. The practice sessions were a good opportunity to have a go at the skills learnt and to receive personalised feedback."

Drue Hammond McDonalds

"A brilliant course. I have gained practical and personal skills that I will be able to use immediately. I'm super excited about the potential opportunities that the course will help me to explore."

Siobhan Hart MIchael Kors

"Very good, I can't wait to get started! I will use the skills throughout the rest of my role at work."

Jane Thrale John Lewis

"I really enjoyed the course. It was a safe place for practice which brought the mediation theory to life. Pace and balance of teaching and practice were perfect for me too."

Debby Hyde Mars Incorporated

"Excellent trainer. Incredibly knowledgeable."

Rachel Mahoney Addison Lee

"I found the case simulations really useful as they helped me to understand how to adapt my behaviour in various conflict situations. The trainer was excellent too!"

Nicola Porter Nuffield Health

"I found the course to be challenging and intensive in a very positive way. Each roleplay session offered a unique and different opportunity for learning - thank you!"

Maureen Tallis Baxi Heating

"The trainer was incredibly knowledgeable and supportive, offering vital in-the-moment feedback. The 7 stages to follow were very useful and the roleplays are absolutely key to learning. Thank you!"

Chris Mellors MHR

"There was a very good mix of theory and practical work too, with the role plays being particularly useful. Overall, the whole learning experience was both enjoyable and beneficial!"

Carys Parry The Conservative Party

"Great training course. The materials, tone, and pace were all really good. Consideration was given to different learning styles and abilities and I feel very grateful to have experienced this course."

Rebecca Baker Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs

"The role play was fundamental to put into the practice the theory, and the repetition of important steps was key. I have gained a better knowledge and awareness of my own personal skills."

Liliana Mungioli European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency

"The trainer was extremely knowledgeable and they used some very effective teaching methods to enable our learning. Very consistent training and support was also always available if needed."

Rabea Soofi Organisation for Security & Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)

"A really positive learning experience supported by a great trainer!"

Jana Sparks Network Rail

"A great level of detail with a personable approach and constructive, directional feedback."

Sharon Russell Transport for the North

"I found learning the skills for mediation really useful. I work in HR so all very relevant to my role."

Chantelle Miller Natural History Museum

"A really informative course with lots of great practical tips. All delivered by a tutor who kept me engaged throughout - thanks!"

Craig Puncher Royal Albert Hall

"The trainer had an excellent presentation style - they were supportive, inclusive, and encouraged self-reflection. I feel that the course has equipped me to act as an interpersonal mediator."

Caroline Watts NSPCC

"The course provided great support with real-time constructive feedback. The trainer was flexible, supportive, and knowledgeable, and thoroughly encouraged group participation. Thank you!"

Joanne Budden Marie Stopes International

"A very well-paced course. The role play enabled me to put the theory into practice, which was fun and an excellent way for me to learn. The instructor was very patient and articulate too."

Shelley Smith The Royal Navy

"I thoroughly enjoyed the course, which was extremely enlightening. I have learnt a great deal about mediation from the fantastic instructor and would recommend this course without hesitation."

Sarah Wilmott Army Welfare Service

"I was very happy with the structure of the course and the outcomes I got from attending. The trainer was extremely supportive throughout the learning process."

Danny Williams England Boxing

"The best course I've ever done - thank you so much! The trainer made the learning so easy and I'm now raring to go! I can't fault their teaching style and there was nothing I didn't like about the course or how it was delivered. A very satisfied customer!"

Gifty Arthur Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

"A superb course, which exceeded my expectations. The pace of learning was perfect and I feel like the learning outcomes are now embedded in my practice."

Reneé McCulloch Great Ormond Street Hospital

"A fabulous course! The trainer was an inspiration, making the course enjoyable, thought provoking, and relevant. An overall enjoyable experience and I have gained great knowledge and skills."

Sara Wood University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

"The course has been excellent, with a good balance of theory and practice. I have learned the process of mediation and developed my skills through lots of practical application. The trainer also demonstrated a calm, knowledgeable and reassuring style."

Tracy Hill North West Boroughs Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

"A lovely and relaxed training programme. The trainer had sound knowledge and experience with mediation, and I now feel confident to apply the skills in my workplace."

Luke Nebbett South East Coast Ambulance Service

"The course was extremely well delivered and very relevant to my role."

Daniel Golding Royal Gibraltar Police

"The trainer was very friendly and encouraging throughout, and explained the concepts of the seven-stage process well. I thoroughly enjoyed the course and hope to use my new skills as soon as possible."

Amanda Brown Avon Fire & Rescue Service

"Very happy with the training. The course was very thorough but paced well so that you didn't feel overloaded with information. The trainer was also excellent - very knowledge, approachable, and personable."

Sarah Hollingsworth The Open University

"The training has been superb! It has been intense but I have experienced real growth as a result of it. The trainer was fabulous and very supportive."

Jo Sheen University of Leeds

"It has been a very positive experience. This is a new development opportunity for me and will be used to set up a new service within HR."

Katherine Crowe Essex County Council

"I feel more confident in being about to offer mediation to others. A very positive and informative course."

Hilary Pether Epping Forest District Council

Book your place

Discounts

We offer a 10% discount for any ONE of the following reasons:

Charity Funded by a UK Registered Charity
NHS Funded by an NHS Trust
Group Booking 3+ learners from the same organisation

Discounts will be applied at the next step.
Discounts cannot be used in conjunction with the ELCAS scheme.

What's included

5 days of face-to-face training (Monday-Friday, 9-5)
Professional training pack
Lunch and refreshments throughout the week
External accreditation with AIM Qualifications
Lifetime post-course support

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Course FAQs

We understand that you may have some queries about the course’s content, the resulting qualification, or about how the training is delivered. We’ve gathered together some of the most Frequently Asked Questions and have answered them below.

Please get in touch if you have any questions we might have missed and one of our experts will be more than happy to help. You can contact our team here.

How can I compare mediation training courses?

Investing in mediation training is something you probably only do once, and you want to get it right. Therefore, you need to make sure that the training provider is externally-accredited, has some form of quality assurance in place, and that they offer progression routes.

Our WMPC course is externally accredited by AIM Qualifications, is formally recognised by the International Mediation Institute (IMI), and has achieved the highest level of quality assurance on the market (the ISO-9001). We also offer a range of additional training options for those who are trained mediators.

Is the course affiliated with a professional body?

The course is formally recognised as a Certified Mediator Training Program (CMTP) by the International Mediation Institute (IMI).

It is also recognised as a Civil Mediation Council (CMC) registered training programme.

Successful delegates can choose to apply for membership with either, or both, of these professional bodies upon completion.

Why can't this course be done online?

First, you need the live observation and feedback from the tutor – a practising mediator – in order to develop your skills to the required level. Secondly, the accreditation requires that you demonstrate your skills and competence to the tutor, and third, we believe that interactional skills need to be taught and developed face-to-face.

Are there any prerequisites to attending the course?

No. We welcome a wide variety of delegates on to the course, ranging from those who are experienced in mediation but who don’t have the formal qualification, all the way through to those undergoing a complete career change.

Our training takes you right from the very start – the psychology behind why we get into conflict – and our trainers are experts in getting groups on to the same page.

What are the timings and duration of the course?

All of our accredited courses run from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Delegates must attend for all 40 hours in order to achieve the qualification, as outlined by AIM Qualifications.

How is the course assessed?

Learners are assessed through both a practical skills assessment and a post-course written assessment.

The practical assessment takes place towards the end of the week. The trainer will observe your newfound mediation skills in a role play scenario and provide live feedback if required.

The written assessment is then sent to you once you have completed the training. This takes the form of four essay-style questions, covering topics from the course and inviting you to come up with your own personal development plan. Each answer must be a minimum of 1,000 words (4,000 words in total) and we provide four weeks for you to complete the assessment. We advise that it typically takes 8-12 hours of private study time.

Learners must complete both assessments to the required standard in order to achieve the qualification.

Will I be a qualified mediator after completing the course?

Absolutely! Our qualifications set the standard in mediation training!

You will be an Accredited Mediator, holding a highly-regarded Level Four qualification, which is externally accredited by AIM Qualifications and quality assured by The British Assessment Bureau.

What kinds of mediation will I be able to practise?

This course will qualify you to be able to mediate all types of interpersonal workplace disputes: personality clashes, grievance-type issues, miscommunications, and low-level allegations of bullying and harassment.

Will I go on to a register or panel after I complete the course?

Thanks to our partnership with the International Mediation Institute (IMI), you will have the option to be put on to a register of ‘IMI Qualified Mediators’. This will be at a cost of €75 per year, paid for by the learner.

Likewise, successful delegates will have the opportunity to apply for 'CMC Registered Mediator' status with the Civil Mediation Council, with who we are an approved training provider.

Do you offer support after I become a mediator?

Yes, we do. We have a dedicated team who are on-hand and ready to provide advice and support as and when you need it.

Once you are qualified, we also provide access to the Learner Zone, an exclusive members-only area of our website. Here, you will be able to revisit training materials from your course, download all of the forms and templates that you will need for your practice, and log requests for support.