Dear Members,
On behalf of all at UKATA I would like to take this opportunity to update you on some of the activities planned for the year ahead.
UKATA Press Releases
As members of UKATA you will no doubt be aware of the increased press activity generated on behalf of UKATA by the Development and Marketing Team in partnership with Beyond PR. To ensure that as members you are kept up to date with what is actually ‘out’ in the media we have agreed to forward each press release as it arrives into the UKATA office. I trust you agree such information will be advantageous when promoting your business to potential clients and you are most welcome to circulate each press release as you see fit.
BLF Partnership
As you already know UKATA has developed a corporate partnership for 2015. As part of this partnership UKATA’s details will be listed on their campaign website as well as members having the opportunity to list their company details on the BLF website in return for a small donation to the charity. Further details will be sent to members shortly by separate email.
Regional Meetings
UKATA historically has held twice yearly Regional Meetings to give members the opportunity to network as well as share and air their views on the current developments within the Association. Those of you who attended previously will appreciate the value of such meetings and the actions created from these intended to benefit the Association and its members. To date we are mindful that although work on the actions accepted from the previous Regional Meetings is well underway, some significant schedules remain incomplete. We feel sure that members will agree that it makes absolute sense to complete outstanding actions before launching the next phase of Regional Meetings, so it has been decided to postpone these until we are able to report on the outcomes. For your convenience I attached a further copy of the actions arising from the meetings to give you an indication of the volume of work created, what is complete and what is outstanding.
Safety & Health Expo (SHE) ExCel London STAND No. R2180 – 16-18th June, 2015
UKATA has committed to attending the Safety & Health Expo once again, due to the resounding success of last year’s event.
Although the benefit of attending such an event is very difficult to quantify, the statistics collated from the recent survey indicated that members who responded had seen an increase in their training, more brand awareness within the industry and more awareness of the need for asbestos training.
AGM 2015
Plans for the AGM on the 10th July, 2015 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, East Midlands Airport are well underway. UKATA is continually looking for innovative ideas to compliment the formal business meeting and to this end we are considering booking a motivational speaker followed by a variety of workshops? We are more than willing to consider any ideas and suggestions you may have, just email them in to me at gill.lewis@ukata.org.uk .
As the UKATA social evening the night before the AGM was such a great success last year, we are planning to repeat this event. Further details will be printed in the forthcoming edition of UKATA Matters but in the meantime if you are interested in attending the social evening the night before the AGM and would like to reserve a room, it would be most helpful if you let me know of your intention? This would of course not be a formal acceptance at this stage just an idea of numbers to assist with planning. I will be sending out a formal invitation in due course at which point you may formalise your booking.
UKATA Professional Membership
The Executive Committee has recently discussed and agreed a change in the way UKATA issues membership certificates. As you know it has been standard practice to issue all Professional Members with their certificate of membership on an annual basis. Annual certificates are to be replaced with one lifetime membership certificate, unique membership number and a lifetime membership plaque. Further details will be sent to members by separate email in the near future.
It is also an opportune moment to remind all Professional Members of the revised annual audit schedule (attached: extract from the UKATA Rules of Membership) which means that audits are not required every year for certain categories of membership.
UKATA is confident that members appreciate the fact that fees have remained unchanged since the Association was founded in 2007 and I am delighted to inform you that fees will remain unchanged for the foreseeable future.
However, in order to maintain the fees at the present level, with effect from the 1st March, 2015 it will no longer be possible to issue free certificate credits. If your annual membership is due for renewal in the next few weeks, you may wish to pay your annual membership fees before the Friday the 27th February, 2015 to qualify for free credits under the existing arrangement.
Staff Changes
It is with regret that I have to inform you that Ella Barker-Hill, the UKATA Marketing Assistant is no longer continuing her apprenticeship with UKATA and we wish her every success in her chosen career path for the future. UKATA is looking for a replacement appointment as a matter of urgency and will notify members when this has been settled.
UKATA ID Cards
Finally, last but not least, in direct response to many requests, the Office Team are delighted to inform members that UKATA has invested in a ID card printer and can offer an ID card printing service to members. Details will follow by separate email directly after this update.
Kind Regards,
Gill Lewis
Secretary to the Executive
Published on Monday 16th February 2015