President’s Review – Sinéad Purse

2025 was a busy year for Advance Union — and a successful one.

I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together. Throughout the year, we’ve shown the strength of our union by standing up for members, supporting colleagues when it mattered most, and continuing to grow our influence across the business. Our reps, and members have worked tirelessly, and their commitment is the foundation of everything we do.

One of the standout moments of the year was our Conference in June 2025, which was a real highlight. It brought members and reps together to reflect on our progress, debate our priorities, and set a clear direction for the future. The energy, engagement, and quality of discussion at conference demonstrated the strength of our union and the passion of those involved.

We also made real progress in strengthening engagement through our new and revised facilities agreement which benefits all our reps and, improving communication platforms, to ensure Advance remains a visible, trusted voice in the workplace. Whether through individual representation, collective discussions, or campaigning on the issues that matter most to our members, 2025 showed what we can achieve when we work together.

On a personal note, 2025 also reminded me of the importance of connection and shared experiences. Attending Oasis at Wembley in September 2025 was one of those moments — thousands of people coming together, united by a common voice and purpose. It was a powerful reminder of what collective strength looks like, and it strongly reflects the values of our union.

As we look ahead, 2026 will be a year of growth for Advance Union. Growth in our membership, growth in our influence, and growth in our confidence to secure real improvements for our members.

2026 will also be a year of significant change, with the acquisition of TSB, and it will be more important than ever that members have a strong, visible, and supportive union alongside them. We will work to ensure colleagues are informed, represented, and treated fairly throughout this process.

A key part of that growth will be investing in our representatives. In 2026, we will deliver in-house training for all reps, ensuring everyone has the skills, confidence, and support they need to represent members effectively. Alongside this, we will continue to engage and connect reps through a light virtual conference in 2026, creating space to share experiences, learn from one another, and stay aligned with our priorities.

My call to action for all reps is simple: stay visible, stay connected, and keep having conversations. Talk to colleagues, encourage membership, share what Advance is doing, and feedback what members are telling you. Your role is vital to our growth and our strength.

I am committed as your President to delivering on these actions through the NEC meetings, ensuring they are progressed, monitored, and turned into real outcomes for members — and helping to make 2026 an even better year for Advance Union.

There is more to do, but we move into 2026 from a position of confidence, with clear direction and a growing, committed membership behind us. Together, we will continue to stand up for fairness, respect, and opportunity for all our members.

Thank you to everyone who made 2025 such a successful year. I look forward to what we will achieve in 2026 together.

Sinéad Purse
President, Advance Union