Clearview Midlands September 2014 - Issue 154 | Page 33

INDUSTRYNEWS
// NOW SUPPLYING

modus TO THE TRADE

BWF wins
national award
for membership
growth
Bucking the trend of many
trade bodies which have seen
sharp declines in membership
over recent years, the British
Woodworking Federation
(BWF) has won the 2014
Trade Association Forum Best
Practice award for Membership
Success of the Year.
The award acknowledges the
hard work and dedication the
BWF puts into developing and
supporting its membership.
BWF membership had declined
in 2010 but stabilised in
2011 following a significant
overhaul of the organisation’s
communications, website
and membership application
processes and an investment in
improved PR and marketing.
With the arrival of the new
chief executive, Iain McIlwee,
the BWF refocused on growth at
the start of 2012 and set a plan
to bring in 100 new members a
year. Growth was centred on the
principles of excellent service,
clear communications and
fanatical follow-up.
Momentum gathered
throughout 2012 with the BWF
adding 80 new full members
(around 25% higher than
any previous year), and this
achievement more than doubled
in 2013 when BWF welcomed
168 new members and also
achieved a retention rate of
existing members of 91%.
This year has continued the
upwards trend, with 57 new
full members and 10 associates
recruited in the first quarter of
2014.
Iain McIlwee said:
“At the BWF we are
passionate about the success of
the woodworking and joinery

(l-r): Dominic Holland,
TAF awards host, Michael
Lee, BWF membership
director, Dave Campbell,
BWF training and marketing
manager, Gordon Fong of
e-Mango, award sponsors.

manufacturing industry and
recognise that providing a first
class trade association is key
to our members. The industry
has faced several extremely
challenging years, but the
BWF has been there to support
members with practical business
advice, technical, legal and
marketing services and a strong
voice to lobby for the industry’s
future. We now have an industry
trade body that continues to
grow in size and influence, and
this will bring rewards to all our
members.”
Linda Cavender, manager of
the Trade Association Forum
said:
“BWF’s text book approach
led by a relatively new chief
executive ticked all the right
boxes to win the Membership
Success of the Year Award.”
The award was presented to
Michael Lee, BWF membership
director, and Dave Campbell,
marketing and training
manager, at St George’s Hall
in Liverpool to coincide with
the International Festival for
Business.

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