FST Courses & Events

The Faculty of Surgical Trainers engages with and supports the development of education delivered by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. The Faculty believe the courses listed below are valuable educational opportunities for both current and prospective members. These courses cover a range of topics relevant to surgical training and professional development, ensuring that participants gain essential skills and knowledge to enhance their teaching and clinical practice.

Associates, Members and Fellows of the Faculty are entitled to a 10% discount on all educational courses organised directly through the College. For more information about this fantastic offer, please email fst@rcsed.ac.uk.

Training the Trainers: Trainer Development

3 September 2026 | Birmingham | 12 CPD Hours

29 October 2016 | Edinburgh | 12 CPD Hours

This course is designed to meet the day-to-day needs of educational supervisors, clinical supervisors and trainers in the UK, and looks to build on the success of the previous Training the Trainers courses. Much is expected of trainers; they must coach, mentor, assess, monitor, supervise, design educational activities and model good practice with many pressures competing for their time. This course aims to equip trainers wth the tools they need to fulfil their obligations and evidence thier activity as part of the impending GMC trainer approval process. This course is delivered by clinicians for clinicians with educationalist support, with an emphasis on practical solutions for time pressured trainers.

The course is held in both the Edinburgh and Birmingham College locations.

Non-Technical Skills for Surgeons (NOTSS)

18 June 2026 | Edinburgh | 6 CPD Hours

19 November 2026 | Edinburgh | 6 CPD Hours

The Non-Technical Skills for Surgeons (NOTSS) Masterclass provides participants with a broad knowledge and practical experience of the non-technical skills that have been demonstrated to be essential for safe patient care. These include the cognitive and interpersonal aspects of operative surgery that are critical for optimising individual and team performance in surgery.

The course gives participants practical experience of observing and rating non-technical behaviours. The format is centred on small group work and the use of simulated scenarios from the operating theatre and other industries.

The course is held in the UK and Internationally.

Addressing Conflict in Surgical Teams (ACT)

16 November 2026 | Edinburgh | 6 CPD Hours

On this one day course, delegates will explore the causes of conflict within the surgical workplace and learn about different strategies to address this. This will include how to have difficult conversations, the art of negotiation and how to approach a challenging situation.