What is a rep and should I become one?

1 October 2026

Prospect is organising a "Reps 1" training session very soon and that's a good place for any member to learn more about the union and get involved.

What does a rep actually do? #

The role can range from relatively informal organising and communication through to representing members in formal meetings and negotiating pay. Depending on your role and the needs of the Branch, you might:

Listen to colleagues' concerns and help them find support
Represent members in workplace matters
Help organise members and build an active union
Recruit and welcome new members
Take part in negotiations and consultations
Help improve pay and working conditions
Work on particular areas such as equality, health and safety, pensions or providing support at disciplinary cases

You don't have to take on every aspect of this. The role you take on will depend on what you're interested in, your skills and experience, and what the Branch needs.

What skills do I need? #

There are no qualifications required to be a rep. You will develop all the required skills you need for your role through training offered by Prospect.

What training will I get? #

Prospect has structured training and further materials for reps.

The introductory course for new reps and those who are interested in getting to know more about it is called "Reps Part 1". It covers the role of a rep and organising members. It consists of three 60-90 minute sessions.

After the introductory training, you can specialise through further courses offered by Prospect. For example, later training covers areas such as handling personal cases, negotiation, equality and health and safety.

How much time does being a rep take? #

Once you're a rep, the time commitment will depend on the role you take on and the activities you get involved in.

What support is available? #

You won't be expected to figure out everything yourself. Outside of training, you can get support from Prospect officials when you need it.

What about protection at work? #

Prospect training covers how to carry out your role effectively and avoid getting yourself into difficulty when representing your colleagues. Provided you act professionally and are not in breach of the relevant disciplinary code/employee rules, you cannot be disciplined merely for trade union activity. Legislation is in place to protect trade union representatives from victimisation.

How do I learn more about being a rep? #

There's an additional FAQ section that will hopefully cover some of the additional questions you might have. Prospect also offers a Reps' handbook that covers everything to do with being a rep. The materials shared here are a quick summary of that content but also please feel free to check it out for yourself.

What happens next? #

If you're interested in the idea of becoming a rep, please put yourself forward for “Reps 1” training. You can also speak to other active union members if you're unsure whether being a rep is something you want to go for.

FAQ #

What is a rep? #

Listen to colleagues' concerns and help them find support
Represent members in workplace matters
Help organise members and build an active union
Recruit and welcome new members
Take part in negotiations and consultations
Help improve pay and working conditions
Work on particular areas such as equality, health and safety, pensions or cases

How do I become a rep? #

You should go through Prospect's structured training.

The introductory course for new reps and those who are interested in getting to know more about it is called "Reps Part 1. It covers the role of a rep and organising members. It consists of three 60-90 minute sessions.

After the introductory training, you can specialise by taking further courses offered by Prospect. For example, later training covers areas such as handling personal cases, negotiation, equality and health and safety.

Why should I become a rep? #

There's no single reason to become a rep, and everyone will have their own motivation. You might want to become a rep because:

You want to play an active role in your workplace community
You want to help improve working conditions for your colleagues
The union has helped you resolve a work-related issue and you'd like to help other colleagues in the same way
You want to help shape how our Branch develops
You want to develop your skills and gain experience in negotiation or other skills that are useful in the workplace

What skills do I need to become a rep? #

You don't have to be an employment-law expert to become a rep. You need to be willing to listen to and represent your colleagues, know where to find answers and know when to seek further support.

Beyond that, the specific skills you will need will depend on your role. Prospect provides training to develop them, from introductory training for new reps, to training for negotiating and representing individuals, and also further training can be provided for specialist roles.

How much of your time will it take to be a rep? #

There is no set amount of time. How much time you will spend will depend on your role.

As a recognised union, our reps have rights to time off during working hours to carry out qualifying union duties. This would include duties related to collective bargaining, negotiations, consultations, and undergoing relevant industrial relations training. This is often referred to as "facility time" and qualifying time off is paid time off.

Union activities such as attending union meetings or taking part in union elections are treated slightly differently by law. You would have a right to reasonable time off for qualifying union activities but this does not carry the same statutory right to paid time off.

What is a Branch Officer? #

In a recognised branch, such as Section 787, a Branch Officer is a union member who is democratically elected by their fellow members. They are responsible for running the Branch day-to-day in particular areas, and can represent you and your colleagues collectively.

If you go through reps training, you are not required to stand for election, and your rep skills can help the union outside of those day-to-day officer duties.

The Branch is required to notify Skyscanner who the elected or appointed reps are.

What is the Branch Executive Committee? #

The Branch Executive Committee is responsible for running the Branch day-to-day and putting into practice the policies agreed by Branch members.

The Committee consists of Branch Officers. Each Branch Officer is an elected rep that is responsible for carrying out specific union duties. The exact roles and the responsibilities for each role will be agreed on by you and your fellow union members.

The Branch Executive Committee also has the power to appoint fellow union members to joint negotiating or consultative bodies.

How do I become a Branch Officer? #

To become part of the Branch Executive Committee, you have to be elected at the upcoming AGM. The meeting is provisionally planned for 17th November 2026.

The exact process for putting yourself forward, along all other supporting materials, will be developed by and available to members in the coming weeks. You don’t have to wait for this to be formalised to sign up for reps training.

Outside of the Branch Executive Committee, there are also other representative roles that you can put yourself forward for and be appointed to, depending on the needs of the Branch. The details of these roles and how they are appointed are something we will define and agree together as a Branch.

When are elections held? #

Your first chance to elect or be elected will be at the upcoming first Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Can I be disciplined or otherwise disadvantaged in my workplace by being a rep? #

If I get elected as a rep, what support will I get? #

You will not be expected to figure everything out on your own. Prospect provides training and resources to help you carry out your role effectively. You can also seek support from Prospect officials when you need help with issues that are beyond your expertise or experience.

Can I stand for election without having been trained? #

You don't have to be trained to stand for election. Either way, you're encouraged to go through one as soon as possible.

Can I be an active union member without being a rep? #

Yes. You don't have to become a rep to have an active role in your union. You can help organise activities, be a point of contact between members and the reps, encourage your colleagues to join, attend Branch meetings, contribute to discussions about what the union should focus on, and more.

The distinction is that an informal role does not give you the same rights as an elected or appointed rep, including rights to time off that apply to qualifying union duties.