Become a mediator

Our Mediator Skills Training is a five-day programme of comprehensive tuition in mediation skills. Participants are trained in the skills required for effective mediation of commercial disputes and assessed for CEDR Accreditation, the international benchmark of mediation excellence.

On the final two days of the five-day course participants are rigorously assessed by CEDR faculty members, themselves practising mediators, and around 70 per cent achieve accreditation.

What you will learn
Under the expert guidance of leading mediator trainers you will learn how to:

• settle disputes effectively - in days rather than months saving vital management time
• add value to commercial disputes - by finding commercial solutions to commercial problems
• manage the mediation process and facilitate advanced negotiation
• advise others on the features and uses of other effective dispute resolution techniques
• transform the way you communicate.

No specific qualifications or experience are needed to undertake the Mediator Skills Training course and participants from a variety of professions and backgrounds attend the open courses.

Accreditation
As a developing field, there are no statutory qualifications required to mediate. However, the market dictates that most mediators who get work have some form of accreditation. CEDR is widely acknowledged as the leading commercial mediation trainer, although there are others. CEDR was the first to establish a Continuing Professional Development scheme for mediators. Other organisations specialise in family and community mediation.

Achieving accreditation is no guarantee of receiving work as a mediator. Mediation is no different from any other emerging profession in that there is no fast track or guaranteed route to securing work. Persistence and dedication are important traits of practising mediators and successful mediators tend to spend a good deal of time developing the market before they receive referrals in that market.

Accredited mediators are eligible to participate in CEDR's Continuing Professional Development (CPD) scheme, which provides a framework for individual development and operates through The CEDR Exchange, a network for individuals. Mediators achieving CEDR accreditation are recognised in the UK and internationally as offering a service of quality and integrity.

Mediation providers and associations of mediators
Once a mediator is accredited, mediator appointments can come from linking up with a mediation provider or association of mediators. There are a number of regional mediator groups and associations.

CEDR accreditation is widely recognised by other mediation providers.

CEDR Solve mediators
Accreditation with CEDR is no guarantee of mediation appointments from CEDR Solve. Where practicable, CEDR Solve offers clients the services of an assistant mediator. Participants in CEDR's CPD scheme may be invited to continue their development through experience by undertaking an assistant mediator appointment. All mediators, both assistant and lead mediators go through a rigorous system of performance monitoring that includes client and peer feedback.

Mediations referred to CEDR Solve, CEDR's dispute resolution service, are conducted by a group of mediators selected for their outstanding ability. This ability will have initially been demonstrated during assistant mediator appointments or by some other verifiable track record of excellence.

Client satisfaction is of primary concern at CEDR Solve and therefore feedback is sought after every mediation. Mediators must consistently receive positive feedback if they are to continue to work on CEDR Solve mediations and they are also expected to maintain an ongoing level of continuing professional training and development.

CEDR is accredited by the Civil Mediation Council and fulfils the Council’s set standards of training, CPD, and administration.

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