About us
The Certification Officer (CO) and her team ensure that trade unions and employers’ associations carry out their statutory duties.
Responsibilities
The CO is an independent officer, appointed by the Secretary of State for Business and Trade.
The CO:
- keeps a Official list of trade unions and a Official list of employers’ associations
- certifies the independence of trade unions
- ensures trade unions and employers’ associations submit an annual return which complies with the statutory provisions
- ensures trade unions submit statement to members and political fund notices
- publishes trade union and employers’ association annual returns and other related documents on her website
- ensures that trade unions and employers’ associations adhere to legal requirements when they merge
- oversees trade unions’ compliance with legal requirements when creating and maintaining political funds
- deals with complaints about trade unions or employers’ associations breaching certain rules or legal requirements
- investigates alleged financial irregularities as well as investigating potential breaches of certain legal requirements in trade unions
- deals with whistleblowing of potential fraud or financial irregularities by employees of trade unions or employers’ associations
- provides guidance for trade unions and employers’ associations on areas within her remit
- publishes decisions made in response to complaints and applications
The CO is funded largely by trade unions and employers’ associations through the collection of a levy each year.
The CO does not:
- oversee the general operation of trade unions and employers’ associations
- intervene in the day-to-day management or decision making of trade unions or employers’ associations
- provide advice on workplace disputes (you can get workplace advice from the Acas helpline)
- deal with issues around individual representation or other services provided by trade unions.
The CO
The CO is Sarah Bedwell. She is supported by a team of 6 staff in London.
Read about the CO’s current priorities in her annual report.
Corporate information
Access our information
Read about the types of information we routinely publish in our Publication scheme. Our Personal information charter explains how we treat your personal information.