 Why should companies join BCAS?
July 01st 2005
Continuing an Air User tradition Alan Earle, the new President of BCAS outlines the challenges facing the compressed air industry and what, under his watchful eye, the Society will offer to help members meet those challenges successfully Why do companies join BCAS? Companies ultimately join BCAS because in the long term it is in their financial interest to do so.
Every business needs access to the right advice when it counts.
BCAS works with members to develop and provide truly effective solutions. BCAS benefits from being able to sit at the heart of an industry, acting as a “trusted centre” made up of competing members.
The need for good trade associations to assist member companies could not be stronger. The business world is being transformed and the demands on a company’s resources to deal with “Europeanisation” have been extended by the addition of “globalisation” in the marketplace.
The global map is being redrawn – politically, economically and socially. China and India have joined the world economy.
With a growth rate three times higher than Europe’s and wages at about one tenth of those in the UK, their rate of production is at a pace far higher than ours. If the UK’s is to maintain its economic success, we cannot afford to stand still.
UK Companies are facing some exciting but uncertain and challenging times ahead. Trade within the Single Market has risen by 10% since 1993. Every new development and innovation brings new opportunities for UK Companies - and new threats. Particularly in the area of Non- Compliant products - posing not only unlawful competition to BCAS members, but also a potential danger to users of these products. A compliant product will ensure that the products have been designed to meet both the requirements of the legislation , but also has the ability to perform the function it was designed for. A non compliant product may well not.
Advise is available from the Society on this issue.
A good Trade Association should be forward thinking and prepared to work together in alliances to represent the views and interests of their members to civil servants, politicians, regulators and other key individuals and organisations, locally, nationally and internationally (particularly at European level).
This dialogue is not one way, and governments will often approach BCAS for views on any important issues likely to affect our particular sector of industry.
A good Trade Association should help businesses speak up for their rights and remove all unnecessary red tape which holds business back. Europe listens to those who make their voices heard. Complacency is an option businesses do not have, especially when decisions are being made that have an immediate effect on their work.
BCAS is unique in the field as it is the only UK Trade Association dedicated to Compressed Air and Vacuum. It has offices in central London and its full time staff provides the support for Manufacturers, Distributors and End-Users of Compressed Air and Vacuum equipment.
BCAS exists to serve their members and represent and promote Compressed Air and Vacuum as a Safe and Reliable source of Power. We carry out activities and duties that would be expensive, difficult or impossible for any single company, no matter how large, to undertake alone. In addition, we provide an environment in which companies that are normally in competition with each other can work together for the general good.
BCAS has grown and developed its range of services to help members do things better. We have improved our website and members receive regular monthly updates by newsletters sent direct to their emails. We have developed and successfully launched an innovative internet-based training course, the first in a range of training initiatives that will provide a career development pathway from Introduction Level through to Foundation Degree.
We have also held meetings, Seminars, Conferences and Workshops across the UK and in 2005 hosted the European Trade Association (PNEUROP) Plenary in Edinburgh. BCAS has also undertaken to visit all its members regularly to discuss how the services we offer can continue to meet the demands being made on them and empower them to improve their performance.
We recognise that we cannot work alone effectively therefore strategic alliances have become increasingly important and have forged close working relationships with key organisations such as the DTI, the H&SE, the Carbon Trust, Envirowise and Business Link.
Regards Alan Earle Tel: 01442 344 300 E-Mail: alan.earle@cp.com More articles from BCAS: | 
