Become a Professional Mediator

We provide mediation training courses to enable you to become a family mediator, community mediator or a civil and commercial mediator.

Our courses are recognised by the Family Mediation Council, Family Mediation Standards Board and the College of Mediators

Why be a Mediator?

Mediation is a challenging but rewarding career. Disputes vary widely, and all have their own unique challenges and circumstances. No two mediation cases are ever really the same and Mediators have to be quick thinking, creative, resourceful and ready for the sudden changes and surprises that any mediation session can bring.

The LBA Excellence
Programme

LBA Excellence is a comprehensive programme of Mediation training courses, information, supervision and services to support Mediators who aspire to be the best. LBA Excellence can help you develop your career whether you are starting out as a professional mediator, an already established mediator, or seeking high quality training to augment your current professional role.

Could you be a Mediator?

Find out by joining our free taster session!


Join us for our free 3 hour session
for an introduction to mediation skills and processes and try your hand as a mediator!

Next session:
14th March 2024 10am to 1pm

A fresh approach to mediation training

The LBA Excellence programme was the very first modular Mediation Foundation Training course, and we continue to innovate to give you a firm grounding in the fundamentals of mediation skills and processes before applying those to your chosen specialist area of dispute resolution and giving you a recognised mediation qualification.

We also enable qualified mediators who have already trained in one area of mediation to convert to another area without having to go back to basics each time.

Each Foundation course builds on the other, creating a path to full specialism:

Successful completion of the Essentials and Fundamentals courses enables you to register with the College of Mediators as a Community and Workplace mediator.

Successful completion of the combined Essentials, Fundamentals and Family Specialism Courses enables you to register with the Family Mediation Council, and as such allows you to progress as a professional Family Mediator. You are also able to register as a Trained Family Mediator with the College of Mediators. Read more about the course here

The LBA Excellence Programme

Course Levels

Essentials

If you would like to find out more about mediation and learn key conflict resolution skills this is the course for you. It is ideal for those who deal with conflict in their everyday work and for those who are considering a career in mediation.

Total course duration: 3 weeks

The course is not assessed

Awards: College of Mediators CPD course certificate of attendance and ability to join as an associate (non-practicing) member

Fundamentals of Dispute Resolution

If you want to practice as a professional mediator this course gives you the skills and knowledge to successfully enable people in dispute to find a way forward that feels fair and workable for them. This broad-based course gives you an insight into different types and styles of mediation used in a wide range of situations including community, neighbour, commercial and family conflicts.

Total course duration: 6 weeks (including the Essentials sessions)

The course is assessed

Awards: successful completion of both course and assessment leads to a College of Mediators recognised Community and Workplace Mediation qualification and ability to join the College of Mediators as a practicing mediator.

Family Mediator Specialism

If you want to practice as a professional family mediator, this is one of only a handful of courses which has recognition from both the College of Mediators and the Family Mediation Council.

FMC recognition is essential for those intending to offer family mediation to those who are separating or divorcing and likely to be using the family court. It is also essential for those who may wish to offer legally aided family mediation.

Total course duration: 10 weeks (including the Essentials and Fundamentals sessions)

The course is assessed

Awards: Successful completion of course and assessment leads to ability to register with the Family Mediation Council as a trained family mediator and to join the College of Mediators as a practicing mediator for family, workplace and community matters.

What makes the LBA Excellence programme different?

Our blended learning course combines both In-Person Training and Online Sessions to maximise flexibility for course participants and allows you to practice and develop both your in-person and online mediation skills. Each online session is three hours long and is supported by our in-person Mediation Skills School sessions which take place in person over two days.

You have a choice of three training levels to achieve a standard appropriate for the type of mediation work you wish to do. Each course builds on the previous level giving you maximum flexibility to train at the pace and to the level you wish.

The Family Specialism course is currently only open to mediators who are attending our Essentials and Fundamentals of Dispute Resolution courses. Those wishing to train as a professional Family Mediator are advised to attend all three Essentials, Fundamentals and Family Specialism Courses in combination. Please contact us or see the FMC website for full details of entry requirements for Family Mediation Training.

What our trainees say about online training:

“Surprised how good it has been – in a good way !”

“I really enjoyed Zoom as a way of taking the course. The level of teaching and interaction on Zoom is as effective as if it was delivered in person.”

“….. a very efficient cost effective way to deliver this type of course and information without any loss of quality” .

Don’t forget our FREE Taster Day for people who want to learn more about our Training – Book Now to secure your place.

Course dates and duration

These are the dates for our next courses.

Closing date for applications is 26th March 2024

Online sessions are 3 hours:

Essential Dispute Resolution Skills - Spring/Summer 2024
Session 1 (Online) – 23rd April 2024
Session 2 (Online) – 25th April 2024
Session 3 (Online) – 30th April 2024
Session 4 (Online) – 2nd May 2024
Session 5 (Online) – 7th May 2024
Session 6 (Online) – 9th May 2024
Fundamentals of Dispute Resolution - Summer 2024
1st Mediation Skills School (In-Person, London) – 4th & 5th June 2024
Session 3 (Online) – 11th June 2024
Session 4 (Online) – 12th June 2024
Session 5 (Online) – 13th June 2024
Family Specialism - Summer/Autumn 2024
2nd Mediation Skills School (In-Person, London) – 12th & 13th September 2024
Session 3 (Online) – 17th September 2024
Session 4 (Online) – 19th September 2024
Session 5 (Online) – 24th September 2024
Session 6 (Online) – 26th September 2024
Session 7 (Online) – 1st October 2024
Session 8 (Online) – 3rd October 2024
Session 9 (Online) – 8th October 2024
Final Mediation Skills School, (In-Person) – 3 days – 22nd to 24th October 2024


If you would like to find out more, please email us at enquiries@bestwayforward.training or you can now Apply Online!

Course dates and duration

These are the dates for our next courses.

Enhanced Foundation Course

Closing date for applications is 26th March 2024

Online sessions are 3 hours:

Essential Dispute Resolution Skills - Spring/Summer 2024
Session 1 (Online) – 23rd April 2024
Session 2 (Online) – 25th April 2024
Session 3 (Online) – 30th April 2024
Session 4 (Online) – 2nd May 2024
Session 5 (Online) – 7th May 2024
Session 6 (Online) – 9th May 2024
Fundamentals of Dispute Resolution - Summer 2024
1st Mediation Skills School (In-Person, London) – 4th & 5th June 2024
Session 3 (Online) – 11th June 2024
Session 4 (Online) – 12th June 2024
Session 5 (Online) – 13th June 2024
Family Specialism - Summer/Autumn 2024
2nd Mediation Skills School (In-Person, London) – 12th & 13th September 2024
Session 3 (Online) – 17th September 2024
Session 4 (Online) – 19th September 2024
Session 5 (Online) – 24th September 2024
Session 6 (Online) – 26th September 2024
Session 7 (Online) – 1st October 2024
Session 8 (Online) – 3rd October 2024
Session 9 (Online) – 8th October 2024


If you would like to find out more, please email us at enquiries@bestwayforward.training or you can now Apply Online!

Course Fees

Course fees are:

Essentials only (3 weeks): £680 + VAT (£200 deposit)

Essentials and Fundamentals (6 weeks): £1,280 + VAT (£500 deposit)

Full Specialism (10 weeks): £2,400. (£500 deposit) + VAT

Please note that there are additional requirements for entry and post training in Family Mediation, for more information see our 2024 Mediation Foundation pack (available when you register.

When booking on our courses, you will need to pay a deposit to secure their place when they make their application. You can then pay the outstanding balance before the start of the course.

If you are booking onto the Fundamentals and Specialism course we can arrange payment by instalments, usually due before the start of each of the courses.

Successful completion of the complete Essentials, Fundamentals and Family Specialism Courses (including the introductory course) enables you to register with the Family Mediation Council, and as such allows you to progress as a professional Family Mediator. You are also able to register as a Trained Family Mediator with the College of Mediators. Successful completion up to the Fundamentals course alone enables you to register with the College of Mediators as a community and workplace mediator.

If you are interested in attending a course but would like to know more, please contact us on 01793 887227 or email enquiries@bestwayforward.com. Or just Apply Online!

Post Training Support

We believe that good mediation training is much more than just providing an initial course. We offer post course support services including mentoring and professional practice consultancy to those looking to start up their own practice and work towards higher accredited status such as the FMCA. We will also try to help you find a mediation practice placement and keep you informed of regular work, training and networking and support opportunities. Please ask for a Training Pack to find out more.

Specialism Courses

These courses typically follow directly on from the Fundamentals Courses. They are for those who have completed the Fundamentals Course and wish to specialise in a specific area of mediation and be able to join national registers such as the College of Mediators and the Family Mediation Council as a Trained Mediator in that area. These courses can in some cases, also be accessed by trained mediators (i.e. those who already hold qualifications which would enable them to join the College of Mediators at least at Trained Mediator level), for example a community mediator who would like to offer Civil & Commercial mediation.

Contact us on 01793 887227 or email enquiries@bestwayforward.com to find out more.

Contact us to find out more

If you would like to discuss a potential career as a mediator or you are an organisation seeking training in mediation skills to compliment the current skills of your team, or for any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01793 887227 or at enquiries@bestwayforward.training.

We hope to see you soon!