Bradford Roadshow Success: Your Voice Heard Loud and Clear!

A huge thank you to all our members at the Bradford site who made last week’s leadership roadshow such a resounding success. The turnout and engagement over the two days were fantastic, proving once again that our strength lies in our active and committed membership.

On 15th & 16th September, Jim and Keith had the pleasure of spending two days at the Nelson Street site, meeting and talking with dozens of colleagues. Our goal was simple: to get away from emails and formal meetings and have real, face-to-face conversations with the people we represent. The welcome we received was incredible.

The restaurant area was buzzing with open and honest dialogue. We heard directly from members about the issues that are front and centre in their working lives. These confidential conversations are invaluable as they provide us with authentic, on-the-ground feedback we need to effectively represent member interests in our ongoing discussions with Santander. Your voice directly shapes our priorities and our strategy.

Building Our Strength on the Ground

A strong union is built on strong local representation. It was brilliant to see so much interest from members in stepping up to become local union representatives. A robust network of reps, present in every department, is the backbone of our union. They are the crucial link between you, Advance, and the business, ensuring issues are addressed quickly and effectively. As a reminder, we will be formally inviting members interested in these vital roles to stand forward from the 1st of October.

An Exciting Future for Bradford

The fantastic momentum from our visit is set to continue with some brilliant news. We are incredibly proud to congratulate Saiqa Manzoor on her new appointment as Advance Union’s National Recruitment and Retention Organiser.

Many of you will know Saiqa personally from her 20 years as a colleague at the Bradford site. Her firsthand experience and deep understanding of the workplace will be a tremendous asset for all of us. After returning from her maternity leave early next year, Saiqa will have a regular on-site presence. This means the union office will be manned more frequently, providing a consistent, visible, and dedicated point of contact for every member in Bradford.