Chief Executive ’ s report
INTRODUCTION
I ’ d like to start by thanking the BCF team for their continued efforts to support our industry .
In Wayne Smith and Trevor Fielding we have two of the best technical minds in the industry , with a vast knowledge of the technical and regulatory landscape , providing invaluable advice to our members . Ellen Daniels is doing a great job in public affairs , working with the supply chain to help articulate our position on Brexit , REACH , the apprenticeship levy and securing senior level meetings for the BCF . Ali Brown and Tina Abbas do an outstanding job supporting our members and running BCF events . Our marketing communications are something to be proud of , as is our PaintCare activity – both due to the contribution of Tania Morrill , who is now Head of Marketing . Jackie Lennard ( nee Quinlan ) flawlessly organises over 40 member meetings per year , and sends out over 800 member communications per year . Karen Traies has helped grow our Coatings Training Institute ( CTI ) sales , and develop our new relationship with Cogent Skills . She has been supported this year by Charlotte Banting , a student from the University of Surrey , who has done a great job upgrading the CTI modules . Ulla Read continues to support the Board of Directors with excellent management of our accounts and manages the BCF pension scheme on behalf of the company .
Looking back over the past 12 months , my personal highlights include :
• Our lobbying efforts on Brexit , TiO 2 and PaintCare , highlighted already in the President ’ s report
• The roll out of the campaign to stamp out the illegal sale of solventbased basecoats in vehicle refinish ( VR ), which has also led to new members joining BCF ( Axalta , MIPA and Valspar )
• Proactive lobbying to support printing ink members , with success in defending hexanediol diacrylate ( HDDA )
• Getting UK Government support for our position on harmonised legislation for inks used in food packaging and running a successful Food Packaging Summit with the British Printing Industries Federation ( BPIF )
• Our fantastic new tools to promote the safe use of antifouling ( AF ) paints by boat owners , which we launched at the London Boat Show in January 2017 , and will be on display at all marinas across the UK
• Our efforts to support the continued use of biocides and preservatives in waterbased paints and inks , such as methylisothiazolinone ( MIT )
• The spirit and commitment from the BCF team to support our members , recognised in record levels of satisfaction from members in our member satisfaction survey
• The 250 th donation by BCF members to repaint red phone boxes housing defibrillators
• The outstanding delivery of BCF events by the team , with excellent attendance ( and very positive feedback from members ) as well as organising Surfex 2016 for the Oil and Colour Chemists ’ Association ( OCCA ) with Vincentz Network
• A 10 % net growth in our membership , with an additional 22 new members
• The growth in sales of CTI , which has also now launched in India
• Continued strong financial performance , with reserves exceeding our pension deficit for the first time
In 2017 , we will work tirelessly to defend
TiO 2
( although the outcome isn ’ t within our gift ), and help create a positive Brexit outcome for the sector . Members should be well informed about the new apprenticeship levy , and I ’ m thrilled our former President John Falder from HMG Paints will be representing the BCF on the Cogent Skills board . We will continue to collaborate with the supply chain , and promote the industry , both within the media but also directly to colleges and universities .
We now have many channels to lobby collaboratively at this critical time – with EEF ( the manufacturers ’ organisation ) being a new one for 2017 , to add to the Confederation of British Industry ( CBI ), Construction Products Association ( CPA ), ACA , the Cross Sector Industry Group on REACH and the Graphics and Print Media Alliance ( GPMA ), where BCF currently hold the chair .
I continue to get out there and visit members – it really helps the team for us to know what you think of what we are doing on your behalf , so please , as I ’ ve said before , do get in touch if you feel we could improve our support to you .
Tom Bowtell , Chief Executive , British Coatings Federation
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