About us
Westminster Explained is the training branch of The House Magazine, which is the weekly journal for the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
Westminster Explained provides training courses that are designed to meet the development needs of Civil Service and public sector employees. Although our programme focuses largely on the public sector, it is equally useful for those working in both voluntary sector and public affairs careers.
Civil Servants will find that many of the skills needed for Professional Skills for Government are covered in the range of our seminars.
We recognise that at the beginning of the 21st century lifelong learning and skills are without doubt the most important factors in professional career development. Our courses allow attendees to increase their knowledge and expand their skills. This in turn allows them to enhance their performance in the workplace, whilst progressing their career.
All our training courses are highly interactive and provide the opportunity to ask questions and engage in discussion and debate. We also place a high emphasis on delegates meeting and sharing experiences with people from other organisations and departments.
Wide range of training covered
The subjects covered in our programme range from introductory sessions on the workings of Parliament or the European Union, through to areas such as project management, policy development, communications, implementation of Freedom of Information and Human Rights legislation.
Professional qualifications and modular courses
Westminster Explained also offers a modular course in management skills and a comprehensive training course for Executive Officers, as well as a three-tier professional qualification: the Professional Certificate in Public Sector Delivery, the Certificate in Global Public Leadership and Administration, awarded by Fairleigh Dickinson University, and a master’s degree, awarded by Fairleigh Dickinson University. We can also offer a course constituting an undergraduate degree completion programme.
Unsurpassed level of expertise
Our trainers and speakers include members of Government, both Houses of Parliament, the Civil Service and European institutions, think tanks and also academics. All have a profound level of experience in their particular area of expertise.
Bespoke seminars and training events
Westminster Explained provides a fully comprehensive service allowing clients to arrange bespoke seminars. We can deliver seminars from our already established package, combination days where clients can pick relevant sessions from two or more seminars, or developing completely bespoke training to meet your specific needs. These seminars can take place at a venue provided by Westminster Explained, in your own offices, or any other venue you may wish to use in the UK.
Examples of some of the bespoke training Westminster Explained has provided include:
An overview of the Parliamentary legislative process
This is one of most popular bespoke programmes and can include various elements of our basic seminars on parliamentary process. In the past this seminar has looked at providing an introduction to parliament, the role of parliamentarians, the work of Parliamentary committees, the passage of a bill, and organising the legislative programme.
Parliamentary questions workshop
Through this seminar, Westminster Explained can provide training that looks at the role and function of parliamentary questions, including workshop sessions focusing on understanding oral questions and successfully writing answers to written PQs.
International Parliamentary finance training
Westminster Explained can cater for any training need, and we have most recently produced a two- week programme for a group of staff from the Afghan Parliament. The training focused on studying the UK Parliamentary finance system to identify best practice which might be taken back to Afghanistan. In addition to the training, Westminster Explained provided facilities and functions for the group during their time in the UK, including transport, accommodation and cultural visits.
Westminster Explained clients for bespoke seminars have included a variety of Civil Service departments and agencies, and Local Government organisations.
