ESSA reports record turnout at AGM
The Event Supplier and Services Association (ESSA) has reported a record turnout for its AGM at StadiumMK, Milton Keynes last week.
More than 64 member companies attended the association’s annual general meeting, which began with a speech from Andrew Kennedy, managing director of Perton Signs and ESSA chair, highlighting the association's successes so far, having completed the year with a rise in membership that takes the association to 216 full members.
Kennedy explained that many of the positive outcomes had been achieved through increased collaboration between associations, providing a strong combined voice and points of contact for many external organisations. He also emphasised that ESSA is not standing still, but continuously evolving to meet the needs of its members, as exemplified by the rapid formation and deployment of the CDM Task Force, which, in collaboration with the AEV and AEO, aims to minimize the impact of CDM regulations on the industry.
ESSA director Andrew Harrison followed Kennedy with an update for members on the activities to date, and to share the association's plans for the future. He focused on growth, identified through key metrics of membership, engagement, service usage, collaboration, and the unprecedented level of new member applications being received by the association.
Harrison concluded by highlighting the increased marketing and communications activity being undertaken by the association, the spread of the 'Use an ESSA Member' campaign and the development of the partnership with the FaceTime Masterclasses, placing ESSA and its members in front of the exhibitors in attendance.
John Robson, ESSA treasurer and managing director of Aztec, delivered a report that showed an association in rude financial health, with growing membership numbers and in a strong position going forward.>[?
Mark Clayton of InEvexco and Steve Barrett of Full Circle were elected to the board unopposed with the board members on rotation, John Robson of Aztec Event Services, Nick Marshall of GES and Martin Cottrell of A1 Event and Exhibition Cleaners being re elected unopposed.
A series of association and industry presentations were then made to members updating everyone about key developments in the association and the industry, including from ESSA board member Sarah Cox of Freeman UK and chair of the industry cross association task force, Luke Facey of Alpha Display and chair of the ESSA Stand Builder Forum (SBF) and Jenni Jaques, AEO and FaceTime marketing director.
Harrison said: “It is a clear indication that the work in which we are involved in is pertinent to our members, and that they understand that the best way to benefit from membership is to participate in our events. 2014 was an exceptional year and 2015 is shaping up to be even better.”