I can barely believe we have come to the end of 2025. It has been both a very difficult year but also a year that has seen Advance Union really start to embed the operational and cultural changes to truly make your Union the voice of our members.

In the last 12 months, we have been more accountable to members than ever with a member ballot on the pay deal and through our first ever conference, which allowed all members to really shape the agenda and strategic direction of AU, an unprecedented level of engagement and one that we will look to build on. We have signed a historic Facilities Agreement with Santander UK, giving Reps a real development path within the Union and allowing for better support to members than ever before. We have launched a new all-member and Reps E-Mag as part of our new communication strategy. Furthermore, we have grown our family of Reps at both Area Committee and NEC level and welcomed some new faces into the Advance team to help support this activity.

Furthermore, we can all look back on 2025 with a huge amount of pride for the collective effort, but we can’t dwell on the past for too long. Instead, we must look to the future and the challenges that will bring. I can not fail to mention the TSB deal in this article. Of course, there are lots of questions from members about the impact this will have. Those of you who were around for the merger of Abbey, B&B and A&L will know this is a long journey and for a while, it will seem like there are more questions than answers, but please continue to give this feedback either at your Area Committee meetings or via our teams channel directly to the central team.

At AU, our key objectives for 2026 will be engagement and member growth, and we all have a part to play in this space. Very soon, your NEC rep will be talking to you about your plans for growth in your area, and don’t forget to take full advantage of the ‘Starter 4 10’ campaign. Remember, this is open to all reps and members and just by advocating for AU you can get £10 for each member recruited.

All that remains is to say thank you all for your hard work and dedication to members in 2025 and to wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.