Meet Prospect’s Young Workers Committee

Introducing the Prospect Young Workers Committee. Each year the committee cycles in five new members to sit with the five members that have already sat for a year on the committee.

The committee set the objectives for the Young Workers’ Network and formulate event schedules, training sessions and influence Prospect’s agenda around issues impacting Young Workers. Bectu has a separate Young Members Forum.

To get involved with the Network or the Committee please contact Gareth Spencer.

The current committee

Diarmuid Cowen

Scotland Regional Branch

Hello, I am Diarmuid, originally from Belfast and currently based in Edinburgh. I was previously Secretary and a Rep in Ofcom where I worked on pay and benefits, liberation issues and geographic barriers that colleagues faced. I joined Consumer Scotland in October 2022, which is the new and independent consumer advocacy body and part of the Scottish Civil Service.

There is a need to ensure that Prospect is inclusive and represents all of its members – the Young Workers Network provides one of the crucial platforms for voices that need boosting within Prospect.

Young workers are less likely to be trade unions members than their older colleagues – the Network provides a way for members to work together to build up the trade union movement for those younger generations, support the fight against current challenges and protect workers rights for the future.

Eleanor Hall

Museum of the Home

I am the Chair and Trade Union Rep of Museum of the Home branch of Prospect. Currently I am the Campaigns Assistant at Museum of the Home, helping steer the future of the museum’s charitable and activism related campaigns. I have set up and run my own Period Dignity campaign at the V&A, from 2019-2021, and currently at MOH. I have successfully campaigned for fair workers’ rights and conditions alongside this. I volunteer as a helpline caller for Refuge, and I am not afraid to get my teeth stuck into any important political campaign.

I’m a lover of culture and have worked in the culture and heritage sector since leaving University, following my passion in particular for museum and heritage work. I have previously sat on the panel for Fair Museum Jobs, and been involved with People Before Profit in calling for heritage aid during Covid. I love history, film, dogs and cheese, and I will never say no to going to the pub.

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Fran Redmond

BT Corporate

I’m Fran, a Regulatory Affairs Professional at BT Group Plc. Since my early years and throughout my legal studies, my fervour for trade unions, collective bargaining, and employment law has been unwavering. This passion led me to actively engage with Prospect.

I’m thrilled to contribute as a member of the Young Workers Committee, collaborating with my peers to champion crucial issues affecting young professionals. Additionally, I’m eager to participate in campaigns aligned with causes that resonate deeply with both mine and fellow members’ hearts.

Jenny Scowcroft

UKAEA

I’m Jenny (she/they) an Electrical Systems Design Engineer working on robotics and remote handling at UKAEA.

I’ve been the branch Young Workers’ rep for the last year and making trade unionism accessible to young people is one of my key aims.

Outside of work, I love powerlifting and ultimate frisbee!

Katie Learmont

Department for Work and Pension

Hi, my name is Katie and I’m a librarian and knowledge manager based at the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) in London.

I have been a civil servant since 2019 and have previously worked at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and HM Treasury. Before then I worked in a variety of library sectors including the Royal Academy of Art, V&A, Eton College, University of Exeter, and the European Parliament in Luxembourg.

I have been a Prospect member for about 2 years now and a Labour Party member since I was 15. My mum was a union rep and my grandpa was active in Labour and Unite! I recognise the important role unions play in improving working conditions, tackling bullying and harassment, and helping workers with career prospects, among other issues. I am new to the committee, and I would really like to increase membership of Prospect and champion young worker’s rights.

In my spare time I enjoy reading, art and design and travelling.

Oliver Black

Tech Workers

Oliver is a member of the Prospect Young Members Committee, he is also a tech worker, and is the Secretary of the Prospect Tech Workers Branch.

As his day job, he works on civil government data projects at Palantir as a Forward Deployed Engineer.

Oliver is passionate about improving tech workers voices through organisation, in an industry where many don’t see the need for unions, this can be a challenge.