The role of the education officer is to arrange training courses and education programmes for stewards, health and safety reps and branch officers. The education officer makes sure that all new stewards receive information about the branch and their role. The range of educational and training opportunities is made available to stewards and activists on a regular basis. We discuss with stewards about their ongoing training and development needs and organise a plan of training for activists and produce an annual budget to meet its costs. Records are kept of what training has been undertaken and by whom within the branch and where necessary we negotiate with the employer, along with union learning reps on issues relating to learning including time off.