ESSA AGM reports growth
The Event Supplier and Services Association (ESSA) hosted its Annual General Meeting in London on 3rd April. Courtesy of its 2014 venue partner attendees enjoyed the sumptuous surrounding of the Chairman's Club and the Green Room at the O2. Delegates listened to how ESSA has been working on its members behalf over the last year, and learnt of ESSA's progress on key projects, initiatives and campaigns.
Over 80 delegates, representing a quarter of member companies gathered for the meeting. Chris Skeith, ESSA director observed that the meeting “isn't just about the legal requirement, increasingly it's being seen by our members as a key networking event and an opportunity to gather information and business intelligence.”
The AGM revealed a positive picture of a proactive and busy association. ESSA's numerous working groups, covering every aspect of the event industry, from the future of HSE/CDM regulations to the Ultra Low Emission Zone stakeholder event, reported very positive progress in their respective fields. As Chris Skeith explained, “the working groups have been constantly pursuing ESSA's goal of a parity of voice within the industry alongside their own, and through their efforts ESSA is now courted and sought after for industry comment on a regular basis.”
John Robson, ESSA treasurer and Managing Director of Aztec Event Services, addressed the meeting with a set of robust financial figures, showing not only a strong performance but also healthy reserves to support ESSA’s continuing member led initiatives.
There were 3 re-elections to the board, Pete Allen of 4D Design, Peter Bowen of Access Displays and Martin Cairns of Reed Carpets and one new member elected in the shape of Alex Robertson of JMT Indisplay. It was also announced that Peter Moule, a long standing board member, and British Event Contractors Association board member before that, would be leaving the board, and he was thanked by the members and secretariat for his unstinting work over the years.
Delegates were presented with a summary of the association's membership performance, noting that currently it has risen to 200 member companies, with sixteen new members joining so far in 2014, nearly equalling the total of 17 new members 2013. Chris Skeith explained that “this was as a direct result of the recruitment of ESSA’s first full time in house sales resource, Simon Perry who started at the beginning of the year.”
ESSA deputy director Andrew Harrison brought attendees up to date on the recent success of the 'Use an ESSA member' campaign, noting that since the turn of the year alone, eight major organisers in the UK are pledging to use ESSA members wherever possible. ESSA members are beginning to make the same pledge too.
Guest presenter, and fellow vice chair of the The Business Visits & Events Partnership (BVEP), Richard Foulkes spoke to the meeting and painted a picture of the BVEP. Richard explained how it is structured and outlined its key objectives, detailing how ESSA engages with this powerful umbrella organisation across the events industry.
New ESSA member Hawtrey Dene rounded things off by divulging some details of ESSA’s newest initiative 'ESSA Buy'. Based on conservative estimates, it is believed the scheme will allow all members to buy at low cost, high quality, discounted group rates, with carefully selected quality suppliers across a number of key buying areas. The concept was widely regarded by delegates as a possible game changer for members, and as joint managing director of Hawtrey Dene, Scott Seaman-Digby, summarised “very rough calculations show that the savings that could be achieved with 'ESSA Buy' could realistically cover the cost of membership many times over.”
ESSA chair and CEO of GES, Nick Marshall reflected on the AGM and ESSA's progress after the meeting, saying "Today's AGM, like the ones before it, shows that ESSA is marching forward as an association, delivering business development opportunities to its members and reinvesting its profits in resources and projects that benefit them directly. The reports from the working groups demonstrate that ESSA's policy of fighting for a 'seat at the table' and establishing a parity of voice is really beginning to pay dividends to its members."