Become a workplace representative

Being a rep

There are many benefits to being a rep. As well as receiving excellent training, reps often find their union work helps their career path.

Reps are entitled to paid time-off for training and attending meetings and there’s always a friendly voice at the end of the phone at Accord HQ if you need information. Our team of professional trade union officers is also available if you need some extra support.

Interested? Click on our interactive eBite guide which will help you better understand what our reps do. You’ll hear from them in their own words about why they love the role so much...

Play our interactive eBite Ready to be elected?

Rep roles: LBG

The branch representative role exists within the Halifax & Bank of Scotland branch networks.

Job purpose:

Branch reps act as point of contact for Accord members’ queries / communications within their branch. They are involved in sharing the union’s progress on our members’ agenda, providing feedback on local issues and maintaining our presence within their branch. Branch reps are supported and coached by their pool rep.

What the role entails:

Acting as the point of contact for members’ queries in your branch
Sharing the union’s progress on our members’ agenda
Feeding back on local issues to your pool rep
Recruiting new members in your branch
Maintaining membership levels in your branch
Promoting membership benefits to existing members
Keeping your union notice board up to date
Sharing union communications with the members in your branch

You’ll be trained on:

The union’s structure and where you fit in it
How to recruit and retain members
Communication mediums and how to keep information relevant
Raising your profile as branch rep and developing positive working relationships with members and management

The person:

Open & honest: Communicates clearly and openly, keeping members informed whilst also providing feedback to all participants in the relationship.
Focus on union growth: Recruits new members and retains existing members to improve/maintain membership levels. Uses pre-defined recruitment and retention models to good effect.

The pool representative role exists in each of the management pools within an area in the three community banks and is the heartbeat of our structure.

Job purpose:

To work with the support of LBG to establish strong union membership in your pool, while seeking to represent members’ views in a balanced and constructive manner through active and early dialogue with the senior bank manager. Able to influence management decision-making process, engage in joint problem solving when appropriate and promote all that is Accord.

What the role entails:

Supporting members to the best of your ability seeking an effective solution at local level whenever possible
Maintaining a working knowledge of specific LBG policies and procedures
Having regular check-ins with the senior bank manager
Attending quarterly meetings with other pool reps and the AD
Having a complete awareness of the membership within the branches in your pool
Recruiting new members
Maintaining membership levels across your pool
Keeping union notice boards up to date and delivering an unmistakable Accord presence in all branches in your pool
Communicating regularly with members using e-mail and face to face meetings, using material provided by the union
Referring to your Accord officer for help with advice to members
Encouraging constructive/objective feedback from members which should be fed to your area lead representative
Initiating and building close working relationships with members and managers across your pool
Performing health & safety checks

You’ll be trained on:

Arranging reasonable time off for union duties as directed by your area rep
Dealing with members’ queries on issues such as travel & mobility and working pattern changes
The art of recruitment through guiding/advising new colleagues on contractual rights at induction
Retaining members through a model of engagement
Specific policy knowledge required to do your role
Ongoing promotion of membership benefits to existing members
Performing health & safety checks

The person:

Open & honest: Communicates clearly and openly, keeping members informed whilst also providing feedback to and from all participants in the relationship.
Fair & balanced: Approachable, actively looking for opportunities to add value by supporting members and positively challenging the way things are done. Able to see all sides of an issue and form a balanced view.
Win-win approach: Takes ownership of members’ issues and their resolution looking for ways of achieving win-win outcomes.
Focus on union growth: Recruits new members and retains existing members to improve/maintain membership levels. Uses pre-defined recruitment and retention models to good effect.

The area representative role exists in each of the area director groups within the three community banks and is the heart of our structure.

Job purpose:

To work with the support of LBG to establish strong union membership in your area, while seeking to represent members’ views in a balanced and constructive manner through active and early dialogue with the area director and senior bank managers. To influence management decision-making, engage in joint problem solving when appropriate and work through your pool reps to promote Accord membership.

What the role entails:

Supporting and representing members in your pool to the best of your ability, seeking an effective solution at local level whenever possible
A good working knowledge of specific LBG policies and procedures
Having monthly check-ins with the area director
Organising quarterly meetings with your senior workplace pool reps and the AD
Informing all new recruits about basic contract and policy matters and showing them the benefits of joining Accord
Having a complete awareness of the membership within the branches in the area
Implementing the Accord retention strategy across your area
Supporting and developing senior workplace pool reps in line with their role profile
Keeping union notice boards up to date and delivering an unmistakable Accord presence in all branches in the area
Communicating regularly with members via PRs using e-mail and face to face meetings, utilising material provided by the union
Linking with your Accord officer for organising and casework advice and guidance
Encouraging feedback from members to feed into the relevant section executive committee
Initiating and building close working relationships with members and managers across your area
Attending and actively participating in Accord-organised meetings (usually twice per year)
Help Accord HQ with biennial conference delegation selection and organisation
Co-ordinating health & safety checks across the area

You’ll be trained on:

Organising your time off in liaison with your Accord officer in order for you to carry out your union duties and be an effective leader in your area
Co-ordinating the activity of the senior workplace pool reps within your area
Dealing with members’ queries about contractual rights or LBG policies e.g. working patterns or travel & mobility
Representing members in formal meetings such as health & attendance, misconduct disciplinaries, grievances and agile working requests
The art of recruitment through guiding/advising new colleagues on contractual rights at induction
Retaining members through a model of engagement provided by Accord
Specific policy knowledge required to do your role
Organising and running meetings
Communication mediums and how to keep information relevant

The person:

Open & honest: Communicates clearly and openly, keeping members informed whilst also providing feedback to and from all participants in the relationship.
Fair & balanced: Approachable, actively looking for opportunities to add value by supporting members and positively challenging the way things are done. Able to see all sides of an issue and form a balanced view.
Win-win approach: Takes ownership of members’ issues and their resolution looking for ways of achieving win-win outcomes.
Focus on union growth: Recruits new members and retains existing members to improve/maintain membership levels. Uses pre-defined recruitment and retention models to good effect.

The site representative role exists in each large site where membership density permits within the Group and is the heartbeat of our structure.

Job purpose:

To work with the support of LBG to establish strong union membership in your business area and site while seeking to represent member’s views in a balanced and constructive manner through active and early dialogue with business leaders and managers. To influence management decision-making, engage in joint problem solving when appropriate and work with your site business lead rep to promote all that is Accord.

What the role entails:

Supporting and representing members to the best of your ability, seeking an effective solution at local level whenever possible
Maintaining a good working knowledge of specific LBG policies and procedures
Having regular check-ins with team level business managers
Attending regular meetings with other senior site reps
Informing all new recruits about basic contract and policy matters and showing them the benefits of joining Accord
Having a good awareness of the membership within your business area/site
Employing the Accord retention strategy across your business area on your site
Keeping union notice boards up to date and delivering an unmistakable Accord presence on your site
Linking with your site business lead rep/Accord officer for organising and casework advice and guidance
Encouraging feedback from members which should be passed up through your business lead rep
Initiating and building close working relationships with members and managers across your business area/site
Attending and actively participate in Accords general meetings.
Carrying out health and safety checks

You’ll be trained on:

Organising your time off for union duties to be an effective rep on your site
Representing members in formal meetings such as health & attendance, misconduct disciplinaries, grievances and agile working requests
The art of recruitment through guiding/advising new colleagues on contractual rights at induction
Retaining members through a model of engagement
Maintaining specific policy knowledge required to do your role
Participating in meetings
Performing health & safety checks

The person:

Open & honest: Communicates clearly and openly, keeping members informed whilst also providing feedback to and from all participants in the relationship.
Fair & balanced: Approachable, actively looking for opportunities to add value by supporting members and positively challenging the way things are done. Able to see all sides of an issue and form a balanced view.
Win-win approach: Takes ownership of members’ issues and their resolution looking for ways of achieving win-win outcomes.
Focus on union growth: Recruits new members and retains existing members to improve/maintain membership levels. Uses pre-defined recruitment and retention models to good effect.

The site business lead representative role exists in each large site where membership density permits within the Group and is at the heart of our structure.

Job purpose:

To work with the support of LBG to establish strong union membership in your business area and site while seeking to represent members’ views in a balanced and constructive manner through active and early dialogue with business leaders and managers. Able to influence management decision-making, engage in joint problem solving when appropriate and work through your site reps to promote Accord.

What the role entails:

Supporting and representing members to the best of your ability, seeking an effective solution at local level whenever possible
A good working knowledge of specific LBG policies and procedures
Organising quarterly meetings with your senior site reps and the business area/site leader
Informing all new recruits about basic contract and policy matters and showing them the benefits of joining Accord
Having a complete awareness of the membership within your business area/site
Implementing the Accord retention strategy across your business area on your site
Supporting and developing site reps in line with their role profile
Keeping union notice boards up to date and delivering an unmistakable Accord presence on your site
Communicating regularly with members using e-mail and face to face meetings, utilising material provided by the union
Linking with your Accord officer for organising and casework advice and guidance
Encouraging feedback from members to be fed to your section executive committee
Initiating and building close working relationships with members and managers across your business area/site
Attending and actively participating in Accord-organised meetings (usually twice per year).
Helping Accord HQ with biennial conference delegation selection and organisation
Co-ordinating health & safety checks across the site

You’ll be trained on:

Organising your time off, in liaison with your Accord officer, in order to be an effective business leader on your site
Representing members in formal meetings such as health & attendance, misconduct disciplinaries, grievances and agile working requests
The art of recruitment through guiding/advising new colleagues on contractual rights at induction
Retaining members through a model of engagement provided by Accord
Specific policy knowledge required to do your role
Organising and running meetings
Communication mediums and how to keep information relevant

The person:

Open & honest: Communicates clearly and openly, keeping members informed whilst also providing feedback to and from all participants in the relationship.
Fair & balanced: Approachable, actively looking for opportunities to add value by supporting members and positively challenging the way things are done. Able to see all sides of an issue and form a balanced view.
Win-win approach: Takes ownership of members’ issues and their resolution looking for ways of achieving win-win outcomes.
Focus on union growth: Recruits new members and retains existing members to improve/maintain membership levels. Uses pre-defined recruitment and retention models to good effect.

If you don't work for LBG and want to know if we have a rep structure in place for your employer, please email [email protected].

Getting elected

Reps are elected by fellow members in their workplace for a period of up to two years at a time.

If your workplace doesn’t have a rep at present, why not take on the role? It’s important, very rewarding, not too time-consuming and our reps really enjoy it!

The next round of elections will take place in September 2025. However, you don’t have to wait until then if you’re interested in becoming a rep.

If your workplace doesn’t have a rep, why not take on the role? Your local Accord officer will help support and guide you through the process. If you’ve already done this, the next step is for you to complete the election form.

Complete an election form About training

Rep training courses

In order to carry out the duties required as an Accord rep, we need to train and accredit you. We do this through online training called eBites - as well as through face-to-face training programmes.

You need to go through our induction programme before you can start to undertake the duties of the rep role.

You're entitled to paid time off to attend any of our training, including our online eBites. But you should give adequate notice and agree the time off with your manager. We'll pay any reasonable expenses for face-to-face courses.

Our rep induction programme will provide you with everything you need to get you started in your role.

The online programme consists of 7 eBites which are designed in bite-sized chunks – each should take around 45-60 mins. We start with a bit of a history lesson and a look at the union’s values, and then move through building your knowledge of Accord and the aspects of the rep role (including health & safety and data protection).

You’ll find a quiz at the end of each eBite which will help you to check your understanding – please make sure you complete this. As well as testing your knowledge, you can use it to tell us your thoughts on the eBite itself.

Where we offer face-to-face inductions, these are one day courses and allow a greater amount of collaborative working. You'll be asked to undertake some learning before attending so you come prepared.

Our policies and representation programme will provide you with everything you need to understand the policies that apply within your employer, and how you can help represent members in your workplace. We won’t accredit you for casework representation until you've completed this course.

At present, we only offer this as a standalone course in a face-to-face format. But we’ll be working to launch this as a complete eBite programme throughout 2021. We’ve already launched an eBite covering the new health wellbeing and attendance policy in Lloyds Banking Group.

We offer a programme specifically designed for our senior workplace reps (our branch area reps and our divisional site leads in large workplaces).

This programme is designed to support you if you’ve taken on this role and helps you to step up to take on the additional duties - including supporting the development of reps within your area of responsibility.

Due to Covid-19, we're currently not offering classroom training for reps. Our Accord officers can offer a tailored induction course delivered through Microsoft Teams, however we would encourage you to take a look at our eBite programme which offers comprehensive learning for new reps. If you need support with your training, contact your local Accord officer.

Start your online learning now

What our reps say…

I’ve been a union rep for about 5 years or so now. This is my third term which speaks for itself that I’ve opted to go for election each time. Being a union rep has given me opportunities to grow, not only my knowledge of the bank, but it’s also built my confidence and opened doors to me that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. I'd definitely encourage anyone who is interested to go for it.

Heather McDowell

Hear more from Heather

I’ve been a union rep for 11 years. Hand on heart, it's been one of the best experiences of my career. I’m proud of all the great things we achieve for our members every day. Not only have I supported members, I’ve built amazing relationships with people right across the company that I wouldn’t have been able to do without being a rep. It's been amazing.

Jack Brasser

Hear more from Jack

Become a rep

Being a rep

Rep roles: LBG

The branch representative role exists within the Halifax & Bank of Scotland branch networks.

The pool representative role exists in each of the management pools within an area in the three community banks and is the heartbeat of our structure.

The area representative role exists in each of the area director groups within the three community banks and is the heart of our structure.

The site representative role exists in each large site where membership density permits within the Group and is the heartbeat of our structure.

The site business lead representative role exists in each large site where membership density permits within the Group and is at the heart of our structure.

Getting elected

Rep training courses

What our reps say…