Following the positive feedback received from the first Regional Members’ Day in Bristol in 2023, we utilised a similar format for 2024, with a new line up of exclusive sessions for members.
Last September, our regional Members’ Day was again held in Bristol at the Future Inn, with online access also available for attendees to join remotely. The day included two workshops, a chance to discuss the Union’s work in the region at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), and time to meet other members from across the region.
For our workshops, we were delighted to be joined by Chris Walters, MU National Organiser for Education and Health & Wellbeing, who hosted a fantastic discussion on updates in the world of music education.
We then heard from Lily Batten of PR company Synced Up, who led a really useful and interactive session introducing members to music PR and promotion.
MU members and members of the Wales and South West England Regional Team at the 2023 Regional AGM.
Key points from the AGM
The day’s AGM also provided an opportunity to learn more about the Unions work, both regionally and nationally, to show how members can play an active role in what comes next, and hear about the regional strategy for the coming year. Here are some of the key updates from our ongoing campaigns:
We have also undertaken substantial work on our political engagement, as well as in orchestral and education sectors across the region and nation, with organisations including:
- Creative Wales
- TUC Cymru
- TUC South West
- Cardiff Music Board
- Plymouth Music Forum
- Bristol Nights
- Arts Council of Wales
- Welsh Labour
- Wales TULO
- Wales FEU
- West of England Combined Authority
- Local trades councils and CLPs (via delegates)
- BBC NOW, WNO, Sinfonia Cymru
A growing membership
During the AGM we also discussed other key areas of focus including:
- Improving our Welsh language provision (following a 2022 conference motion).
- Establishing a regular timetable for six members’ days across the region and nation during the year.
- Setting up a new mentoring programme as part of the MU’s work with CULT Cymru.
- Supporting and assisting members with growing membership in the region, which is now just under 4,500. This figure will be a significant milestone as at that point, WSWE will get a third Executive Committee (EC) member to represent the region, and it seems likely we will hit that target in the coming months. There has been a 5.7% increase in membership for the region in the last year, and a 24.7% increase since 2018.
We also updated members on our general day-to-day work, including current topics related to membership services such as Legal Advice and Assistance, Contract Advisory, other queries and career advice. The key takeaways from our discussions on this included:
- Making sure agreements are made in writing
- Getting advice as early as possible when it's needed
- Being careful with deposits
- Addresses being needed for legal action
- Due diligence if engaged by a company
- Getting independent legal advice on contracts.
Regional objectives and strategy for 2025
We then shared our objectives for 2025, which are based on the most important and fundamental aspects of the Union’s overall aims that we think apply to our region:
- To grow membership in the region by retaining existing members and recruiting new members. This is vital in ensuring the Union’s community in the region is stronger and more diverse, so more people can benefit from membership, and so that we have more authority when speaking to employers, politicians, and other industry groups.
- To further members’ interests. This is fundamentally what the Union is here for – we’re to support and help members.
- To improve the music industry throughout the region. This takes that support for individual members further, to make it clear we want to make things better in the music industry across the region, which should ultimately benefit members.
MU members and members of the Wales and South West England Regional Team at the 2023 Regional AGM.
Our strategy – which is about how we’re going to achieve those objectives - focuses activity on three main areas:
- Support. This means supporting members throughout the region as efficiently and effectively as possible, so that they receive the help and services that they expect and need, which are at the core of our work.
- Engage. This means engaging with people and organisations – including non-members, governments, and politicians - in key areas where we can drive change and achieve positive results. This might include negotiating collective terms, gaining access to funding or training for musicians, supporting the infrastructure our members’ work is dependent on, or reaching key groups of musicians with information on membership.
- Develop. This means developing our networks and services where improvements are possible, to keep strengthening the Union’s offer to members in the region, such as building connections between members, increasing the number of Union activists, and improving our events and training.
With MU membership now over 35,500 across the whole Union, it was really positive to see numbers at our AGM increase again last year, with many attending for the first time.
Alongside the regional team it was also great to welcome Matt Wanstall, MU Assistant General Secretary, to our Members’ Day. He gave an insight into the broad range of work being undertaken by the Union as a whole, and was on hand to answer members’ questions.
Attendees were keen to engage and share their thoughts and suggestions with Matt, in response to a request for ideas of other benefits that the MU could explore.
It’s so important to have these discussions with members and hear from them directly as ultimately, they are the ones able to create meaningful change. If you would like to get involved in the Union too, you can contact us in the regional office.
Members’ Days events in 2025
The 2024 Regional Members’ Day was a great success, and we received lots of positive feedback that we will build on for 2025’s events, which we can confirm will include: more chances to network; training and workshops; portable appliance testing for instruments and equipment, and more.
View our recent news story below which outlines the date for the next regional Members’ Day and AGM, as well as a series of local Members’ Days which will take place across different areas of Wales and South West England - we hope to see you soon!
Save the date