Unite “Commended” at Trade Union Comms Awards

Unite Extra was recognised at the 2024 Trade Union Communication Awards this week at Congress House for its “real stories” and “excellent, contemporary photos.”

The awards, now in their 47th year, recognise the crucial role of communications for trade unions in helping the voices of members be heard by employers and politicians as well highlighting the role that unions play in supporting workers to the wider public.

This year the awards had six categories, with Unite being Commended in the category “Best recruitment and organising communication”

This category focused on how the outcomes from communications in general can build stronger unions, with entries demonstrating the “creative ways that unions are approaching the communications challenges around recruiting new members and supporting them to organise.

Unite was recognised for its “Unite Extra Education Special”, with the judges saying that; “This new online presentation for Unite’s training offer is an effective way for reps to understand their options within union education and to find next steps for their activism.”

“Judges were impressed by the combination of real stories about reps and excellent, contemporary photos centred on members and workplaces.”

Kate Bell (TUC Assistant General Secretary) presents Amanda Campbell (Editor) and Keith Hatch (Journalist) with the award.

Siobhan Endean, Unite Director of Equalities and Education (Acting), said, “The Unite Education Extra is a fantastic interactive resource which provides an overview of Unite education courses for reps.

“Unite provides education courses for 12,000 union reps each year. Unite encourages all new reps to sign up for an initial five day education course and takes reps through the learning journey to our advanced courses. 

“The Unite Education Extra has been fantastic in informing reps of what they can expect from a course and an easy link to apply. The publication has led to an increased diversity of reps attending courses and has been pivotal in encouraging reps who have been hesitant to sign up for education. 

“Thank you to our communications team who developed Unite Education Extra.”

Keith and Amanda with regular Unite photographer Mark Thomas

Click the link to read the “Unite Extra Education Special”.

By Keith Hatch

Photos by Jess Hurd