As a female I have seen all my male colleagues go on the best courses. Is this an equal opportunities issue?

This could be an issue of inequality and discrimination.

You should attempt to establish the facts.

• when did they go, why?
• how many of your male colleagues have attended?
• was it related to their responsibilities at work?
• did you apply to go on the same courses and were you refused permission?
• have you not been offered the same opportunities?
• have female colleagues been allowed to attend these programmes?

If the answers to these questions point to the possibility that you are being treated less favourably on grounds of your sex, then you may well have a case against your employer for unlawful discrimination.

Discuss the issue with your manager and explain how you feel and what you believe should happen.

If you still feel that you're being denied better training opportunities, you may want to bring a formal grievance using your organisation's grievance procedure. If you are a union member talk to your union representative. You may eventually want to consider bringing a tribunal claim for sex discrimination, but this is a difficult route to go down and needs careful thought. You should seek sound advice at an early stage before deciding whether to bring a tribunal claim.

Remember that you must use your employer's grievance procedures before you can bring a tribunal claim and that such claims should normally be brought within three months of the action you are complaining about.