Prospect union
Prospect is a UK trade union representing over 160,000 professional and specialist workers across the civil service, technology, defence, heritage, energy, aviation, and security sectors, funding operations through salary-tiered monthly membership subscriptions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersCity Of London, United Kingdom
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Prospect union does
Prospect is a UK-based trade union representing professional and specialist workers across the civil service, technology and telecommunications, defence, heritage, energy, aviation, and security sectors. Founded in 2001 and headquartered at 100 Rochester Row in the City of London, the union serves more than 160,000 members and operates through a community-led model that combines a Member Contact Centre, online self-serve portals, regional and sector organiser networks, and a workforce of over 4,000 workplace representatives. Its subsidiary sector Bectu separately represents media and entertainment workers under shared governance and infrastructure.
The union's product and technology stack consists of a public website (prospect.org.uk), the Knowledge Hub member-only platform for resources and branch management, the Movement Platform that gives reps administrative and organising tooling, and the Member Portal (my.prospect.org.uk) for account self-service. Member-side tools include the WeClock app, developed in coalition with other unions and researchers, which helps workers track workplace data, and the Lighthouse quiz-style tool used for data oversight. Training, campaigning, and benefits programmes - including a structured three-level rep development pathway and a portfolio of Future of Work resources covering AI, surveillance, and data protection - sit alongside these platforms.
Revenue is generated almost entirely through recurring monthly membership subscriptions, tiered by member salary and collected via direct debit. The union additionally monetises indirectly through a member referral incentive (£15 voucher per recruited member) and through member benefits programmes. Prospect is governed by a National Executive Committee under General Secretary Mike Clancy, with no parent company, no public listing, and no external funding rounds disclosed in the input data.
Prospect union firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Prospect union
- Legal name
- Prospect
- Website
- https://prospect.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Prospect is a UK trade union representing over 160,000 professional and specialist workers across the civil service, technology, defence, heritage, energy, aviation, and security sectors, funding operations through salary-tiered monthly membership subscriptions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Prospect union industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Trade Union Services
- NAICS
- Labor Unions and Similar Labor Organizations (81393)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Job Placement, Matching & Career Navigation Services (EDAAAOAL)
Keywords
Where Prospect union is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- City Of London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices10 records
Markets served
Prospect union business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Membership Subscriptions: Prospect generates revenue primarily through membership subscriptions. Members pay monthly fees based on their salary level. Subscription rates are structured according to income brackets, with payment collected via direct debit.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Salary-based subscription tiers |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
Prospect union product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Prospect is a UK trade union that provides membership-based representation, collective bargaining, and career-long support to more than 160,000 professional and specialist workers across public services, IT/telecoms, defence, heritage, energy, aviation and security sectors. Members access expert workplace representation, legal assistance, pay and conditions negotiation, a structured rep training programme, and digital tools including the Knowledge Hub and Member Portal for branch resources and account management.
Product overview
Prospect union operates as a membership-based trade union offering a unified service model rather than a modular software platform. The core offering comprises membership in the union with access to the Knowledge Hub (a members-only digital platform for resources and branch management), a structured rep training programme spanning three levels from induction through to advanced courses, and various campaign and advocacy resources covering workplace equality, health and safety, pensions, and future of work technology issues. The union also provides a member portal for account management, member benefits programmes, and guides for reps on digital technology and data protection. All services are accessible through the main website, member portal, and Knowledge Hub platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Bectu: A sector of Prospect specifically serving media and entertainment workers.
Products and services
- Trade Union Membership
Quantifiable outcome
- 66% of remote workers struggle to switch off from work
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Prospect union
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Prospect union technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration10 records
Feature5 records
Prospect union partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- BectucoreBectu is the media and entertainment division of Prospect union. Prospect and Bectu share privacy policies and member services. Bectu has its own member portal (my.bectu.org.uk) and organisers that work with Prospect officials.
- Trades Union Congress (TUC)coreProspect is affiliated to the TUC. The union provides access to TUC Online training courses and TUC Education provides advanced health and safety training for experienced reps including Stage 2 'Next steps for safety reps' and Stage 3 'Diploma in occupational health and safety'.
- Electoral Reform Services (ERS)majorCertified third party used by Prospect for undertaking statutory ballots and elections as required by law. Selected for strict security and confidentiality standards.
- ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service)minorProspect refers members to ACAS guidance on facility time and provides links to ACAS Code of Practice on time off for trade union duties and activities.
- Legal Services Partners (Solicitors and Barristers)majorProspect works with several firms of reputable solicitors and barristers to provide legal support to members. Data shared securely with legal partners for court cases, employment tribunal cases, and external legal advice. Also works with ACAS for pre-claim conciliation.
- WeClockminorFree app for Android and iOS developed by a coalition of unions, technologists, researchers, and workers. Prospect helped test the app and promotes it to help workers track and manage their own workplace data.
- CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development)minorJoint paper on improving work and workplaces as essential part of growing the economy post-election, published June 2024.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Prospect union competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- UCU (University and College Union): UK union for academic and related professional staff. Comparable as a specialist, knowledge-worker focused union offering representation, training, and member services in a defined professional sector.
- GMB: Major UK general trade union with significant membership across public services, energy, aviation, and security — sectors where Prospect also operates. Competes for the same professional and specialist worker base.
- PCS (Public and Commercial Services Union): UK union specifically representing civil servants and public sector workers — a core constituency for Prospect. Closely comparable in member profile, employer base, and collective bargaining scope.
- CWU (Communication Workers Union): UK union for postal, telecommunications, and related workers. Directly competes with Prospect for members in the telecoms sector (e.g. BT, where Prospect also has members).
- UNISON: The UK's largest trade union, representing public sector workers including many of the same civil service, health, and local government occupations as Prospect. Directly competes for members across overlapping public-sector segments.
- Unite the Union: One of the UK's largest unions, covering public and private sectors including energy, transport, and technical occupations. Overlaps with Prospect in sectors such as energy and aviation.
- ASLEF: UK trade union for train drivers and allied transport workers. Comparable as a specialist sector union providing professional representation, collective bargaining, and member services to a defined occupational group.
- FDA: Union representing senior civil servants, professionals, and managers in the UK public sector — a near-identical target persona to Prospect's professional/specialist segment, with overlapping recognition at government departments.
Broad incumbents
- Trades Union Congress (TUC): National confederation of UK trade unions of which Prospect is an affiliate. Not a direct competitor, but the umbrella body that shapes policy, training pathways (TUC Education), and collective political representation for affiliated unions including Prospect.
Others
- Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service): UK statutory body providing workplace conciliation and employment guidance. Not a union but a complementary/ecosystem actor that Prospect refers members to and partners with on facility-time and Code of Practice guidance.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Prospect union social profiles
Digital presenceProspect union compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Prospect union financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Prospect union leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Prospect union subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Prospect union funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Prospect union M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Prospect union
What does Prospect union do?
Prospect is a UK trade union that provides membership-based representation, collective bargaining, and career-long support to more than 160,000 professional and specialist workers across public services, IT/telecoms, defence, heritage, energy, aviation and security sectors. Members access expert workplace representation, legal assistance, pay and conditions negotiation, a structured rep training programme, and digital tools including the Knowledge Hub and Member Portal for branch resources and account management.
Is Prospect union a public or private company?
Prospect union is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Prospect union founded?
Prospect union was founded in 2001.
Where is Prospect union based?
Prospect union is headquartered in City Of London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Prospect union make money?
One revenue line is on record: membership Subscriptions.
Who are Prospect union's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are UCU (University and College Union), GMB, PCS (Public and Commercial Services Union), CWU (Communication Workers Union), UNISON, Unite the Union, ASLEF and FDA. Trades Union Congress (TUC) is listed as a broad incumbent. Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) is listed as an others.
Does Prospect union have an API?
No public API is recorded for Prospect union.
What industry is Prospect union in?
Prospect union's product category is Trade Union Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAOAL, Job Placement, Matching & Career Navigation Services. Its NAICS code is 81393 and its SIC code is 8600.