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Pool&SpaIndustry DEC 2012 SPN
33 AN EVENTFUL YEAR ALL ROUND
BSPF Managing Director Chris Hayes reflects on the progress made in a memorable year and looks ahead to SPATEX and the next 12 months
s I write this column, I am reflecting on an unbelievable year, with the Olympics and Paralympics still fresh in my memory and the amazing feel good factor this generated. This spirit of optimism and positive approach made such an impact on how the Games were viewed by spectators and the wider audience on TV and radio during the event and yet there had been a great deal of negativity about how much of a drain the event would be on us all! This positive outlook, coupled with a heavy dose of reality about how to adapt to the financial downturn, may give us an indication of why so many businesses are handling the recession well and some are floundering. The past 12 months has seen a great deal of work continue to improve our industry at home and abroad. In Europe, the work on setting standards for domestic swimming pools continues and some of the documents are due to be out for public consultation around Easter 2013. The relevant European Committee overseeing this work is TC 402, which encompasses 31 countries and in the UK, there is a mirror Committee organised by the BSi where SPATA, ISPE and PWTAG have representation. Both the BSPF and BISHTA are hoping that a new Working Group (WG3) will begin work on Domestic Spas by the summer of 2013.
A
KEY DIARY DATES: PIP & BISHTA Committees
DECEMBER 5th 6th
17th 18th
SPATA National Council and BSPF Board
BISHTA Technical Committee BSPF Board
FEBRUARY 2013 3rd - 5th
SPATEX, Brighton
John Scott has accepted the Presidency of the European Union of Swimming Pool and Spa Associations (EUSA), thus bringing ever closer ties with Europe. Two meetings have been held this year in Barcelona (February) and London (October). As well as sharing ideas, EUSA is developing a European Pool Award for next year. Networking and sharing ideas continues to play a major part of the industry calendar at home with SPATA Regional meetings, the AGMs and SPATEX. The meetings and AGMs are covered in more detail on page 35, but this column gives me an opportunity to really underline the power of SPATEX for the whole industry to come together, annually. SPATEX provides a fabulous opportunity to get together at the start of a New Year to find out what is new, to have the chance of renewed PR through the SPATA and BISHTA Awards and to benefit from the vital workshop programme organised so well by Ross Alcock and the ISPE team. I have been surprised that talking to members about the SPATEX show, how many had not realised that the profits from the show are reinvested back into the industry to promote and support the work undertaken to generate interest and protect the industry from unwarranted attacks. The money reinvested to date stands at a whopping £1,200,000 (yes, £1.2m!). Any dilution of the show will rapidly decline the profits and therefore our ability to deal with new situations that arise. For the latest news on SPATEX 2013, please see pages 38 to 39 and make sure you are on the distribution list to receive the monthly Newslines sent out by SPATEX.
Between SPATA, BISHTA and the BSPF, our industry is in dialogue with a large number of bodies at home (and abroad). Domestically, these include the BSi Committee (British Standards), WRAS (Water Regulations Advisory Scheme), The IET (The Institution of Engineering and Technology), Water UK and the Swimming Forum. Each of these bodies provides an opportunity to have dialogue with fellow professionals about issues that may affect our industry. Apart from setting standards through the BSi and ultimately Europe, this year, the most obvious dialogue that has helped the industry was during the water shortages, when the BSPF was in constant dialogue with Water UK and the relevant Water Companies to ensure that hot tubs were not dragged into the Temporary Use Bans imposed.
We must continue to evolve and adapt to changes and one of the many ways that we have done so this year is to harness the technology that provides online meetings. Face to face meetings are very powerful and networking is an obvious benefit of getting people together in one location. However, this year has seen the harnessing of WebEx in combination with some face to face meetings to enable items to be discussed and decisions taken in the comfort of people’s own offices, or homes, without travelling long distances for meetings. Responses can be made to public consultations, such as PWTAGs COP much more speedily online. It is hoped to provide online training / webinars and I am delighted to report that Dave Gammon from
sleepingtigercoaching.co.uk is offering some free webinar sessions to SPATA and BISHTA members on the following topics: • How to manage cashflow in pool building projects • How to get more people to buy from you • How to be different • How to recruit and keep the best people
My final words in this issue are to express my gratitude to the many people that directly assist me every day in my role. Jan Hardy, Alison Jones, Lana Suhova, Helen Mulingani, Harry Crockford and Karen Goddard, based at the Andover offices provide a vital contribution to the smooth running of our day to day assistance to members. Michele Bridle (along with Helen Mulingani) ensures that SPATEX continues to offer the industry the best platform for our trade to do business. The Chairs of the Boards, Committees and Councils of the various companies, who work tirelessly to set the right direction of travel to meet the needs of the industry. I would like to express a huge thank you to John Scott (BSPF), Richard Carrington (SPATA), Issy Rickards Sanger (BISHTA); Jamie Adams (PIP) and Howard Gosling (SPATEX) for leading these companies and also the many dedicated Committee members. There are also many partners that help with the smooth running of the businesses and special thanks go to those that we work with most often and they are Go Publishing (now Aqua Publishing), Nsure and Wright Hassall Solicitors. Each of these companies plays their part with ongoing help and advice throughout the year. With best wishes for this festive period and I look forward to seeing you at SPATEX 2013. spn
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