Advertise! Start promoting your AGM now! Put up posters on every workplace noticeboard, advertising date(s), venue(s) etc, put a flyer on every desktop, advertise on your social media channels, use internal systems where available and accessible, and follow it up with an email invitation

Branches Got Talent! Make any posters and flyers you design eye-catching and attractive – ask one of your members who is creative and artistic to help

Not Just One! Consider multiple workplace meetings in a rolling AGM over a week or two , especially if you have multi-site branch. Ensure tellers are available at each to aggregate any votes

Make It Interesting! Invite a local or national speaker who will bring in a crowd – doesn’t have to be a PCS person, it could be a local MP , or a well-known campaigner, or even a celebrity of some kind.  Requests for NEC speakers should go to through the national president and group speakers go to the group president.

Talk ISSUES! Make it clear what issues are going to be discussed – and make sure they are the topics that will resonate with most members. An agenda that just says ‘nominations, matter arising etc’ won’t “grab“ members!

Make it welcoming Make it clear to all members that they are welcome to get involved in their union. This is the branch’s big opportunity to get more members active – in any capacity

Food & Drink  For in person meetings, offer refreshments – cover various dietary requirements like meat, fish, vegetarian, vegan, halal so everyone feels welcome

Access - Make the time and venue as accessible as possible. Bear in mind shift patterns, members with caring responsibilities, members with disabilities. Don’t cater toward the average member – cater for every member

Time Off - Negotiate time off with local management for members to attend where possible