Blog

The story behind the new Prospect and Bectu banner

Lou Boyce · 26 August 2025

Lou Boyce, an artist, who also works for Prospect, tells the story behind her design for the new Prospect and Bectu banner.

The new banner making its debut at the Durham Miners’ Gala, July 2025

I am an independent artist and also work as Senior Executive Assistant for the Prospect Southwest and Wales team — a role I have held for just over 17 years! My role is predominantly an administrative one and I work very closely with our fantastic branch and section reps.

Back in the summer of 2023 Prospect commissioned me to create a design for the new Prospect/Bectu ceremonial banner.

The Prospect Southwest and Wales team (Lou, back row, first left)

Creative skills

I am a self-taught artist and while working for Prospect I have had lots of learning opportunities and have developed skills in digital design, communication, IT, social media, marketing, research, and practical skills involved in the day-to-day running of an office.

These skills and opportunities have helped me build confidence in preparing submissions for creative work and setting up my own website, so they have really played a key role in my growth as an artist.

Personal background

Lou with the prototype banner at Tolpuddle last year

I come from a family with a strong trade union background and my late grandfather, who spent a lifetime as a union official in the printing industry, always instilled in me the importance and value of being a trade union member. I therefore felt incredibly honoured to be able to create a design for the new banner.

Design brief

My initial brief was to produce a bold and contemporary, eye-catching, design, with traditional elements such as banner ribbons, which would convey the values and identity of the organisation by featuring the union’s logos, broad range of industries and campaigning focus, and have the ‘Support, Grow, Succeed’ motto as its central message.

I also wanted to highlight that with strong, skilled, diverse and united workforces, we can achieve more collectively.

I did a lot of research into the history, style and cultural importance of trade union banners and sought the feedback of several reps, before finally collaborating with Prospect’s Senior Graphic Designer, Simon Crosby, to discuss style, colour, fonts and industry icons.

At the Durham Miners’ Gala 2025

Final design

After a few minor changes, a prototype banner was produced, and this was displayed at Prospect’s 2024 National Conference and was taken to various events where it received lots of feedback from reps and the public.

In late 2024, the union commissioned one of the UK’s traditional banner makers to bring my design to life and talented artist, Emma Shankland, from Durham Bannermakers hand-painted it onto a traditional silk banner with full border and gold fringe!

The new banner was unveiled in July this year, firstly at The Durham Miners Gala and then at Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival in Dorset.

I feel very proud and honoured to have designed the banner and hope to see it on many more marches in the future!