UKLA since 2005 including a term as President in 2012/13. It was during John Alton’s year in office and largely down to his tenacity that the VLS project finally got off the ground. Now at the tender age of 77, the President reflected that John had stepped down from the UKLA to focus on developing his career with Morris’s.
This year’s guest speaker was Paul Fletcher MBE. An ex Bolton Wanderers and Burnley footballer, Paul has been responsible for projects such as the new Wembley Stadium, The Reebok and the Recoh Arenas. Paul was awarded an M.B.E. in 2007 for his services to football.
President’s Speech UKLA President, Simon Brander, welcomed all members and guests, especially those from overseas and thanked the evening’s sponsors for their invaluable and continuing support of this event.
He went on to report that the UKLA is continuing to grow and evolve, with the Board of Directors changing significantly in recent years bringing a much wider level of experience and input. As a result the way UKLA operates is changing and improving. Simon thanked his fellow board members for their contribution to the trade association.
Simon also thanked the people who look after and help protect the UK’s interest at a European level within UEIL: Tim Bates, Kevin Williams, Caroline Slinn, Nigel Bottom and lastly but not least, Sebastian Crawshaw who has recently decided to step down as head of the UK delegation to UEIL. This role will now be taken on by David Hopkinson, Cosan.
He reminded us that all of the people he mentioned take on their roles with great professionalism and diligence and do it voluntarily thanks to the support of their employers. Without their contributions the UKLA, VLS and our representation to UEIL would not function, something we should all be mindful of.
Introducing David Wright who in January takes over from Rod Pesch as Director General, Simon thanked Rod for his excellent work over the last few years and for stepping into the breach when he did. He also thanked the rest of the Secretariat team saying ‘This is a great team of people and is the main reason why the UKLA continues to excel’.
Reflecting on VLS, which now has many cases under investigation and non compliant products published on its website, he reflected that ‘People are taking note of the work VLS is doing and it is starting to improve standards within our industry’. On behalf of the UKLA, Simon thanked both the chairs of the Supervisory Board and Technical Review Panel Andy Dixon and Chris Territt respectively and all the other board and TRP members.
The President closed by saying that whilst huge improvements had been made the UKLA always recognises that there are still improvements that can be made as we look to meet the needs of the members. Input is needed from the members to ensure we do this.
Once the formal proceedings drew to a close, the Garden Room bar once again saw dinner attendees taking the opportunity to meet up with industry colleagues, customers and old friends alike.
Thank you once again to all our Sponsors, Members and Guests who support the UKLA Dinner and who make it the wonderful evening that it is; I enjoyed it and I certainly hope that you did too.
Deborah Grigg #UKLADinner14 @UKLASecretariat
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