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[July 2006]
Upbeat AGM for Bathroom Manufacturers
A packed audience of members and guests attended the Annual General Meeting of the Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA) in July. The main thrust of BMA activity for 2006 is Training; Inclusive Bathrooms; Water Efficiency in the Bathroom and Counterfeiting of Product Design.
The Members congratulated Yvonne Orgill on her new position as Chief Executive of the BMA and the congratulations continued after the main AGM business when BMA President Ted Goold presented the first BMA Bathroom Academy ‘Certificate in Bathroom Studies’ to Richard Clarke.
Richard, who joined the Farnborough branch of Wilky Bathrooms in 2005 as a sales estimator, is the first person to complete all six of the BMA Bathroom Academy Core Merits. His success gains him the Certificate in Bathroom Studies – passed with distinction – and qualifies Richard for membership of the Bathroom Academy and the use of the initials MBatA after his name.
BMA Training Coordinator Phil Lumley said: "From the outset Richard adopted a focused approach to learning and was able complete all six Core Merits within six months. The six are Baths, Brassware, Sanitaryware & Fittings, Shower Controls, Shower Trays & Shower Enclosures. This course of study enables industry members like Richard to more easily identify the appropriate type of product for the customer and increase their understanding of the materials used in manufacture as well as the essentials of installation".
Sandra Young, Wilky Group Director responsible for training explained why the training offered by the BMA is so essential to their business. "At a time when the complexity of bathroom products is growing significantly we believe this will help us provide customers with the kind of authoritative and dependable advice they have come to expect from Wilky".
BMA members were said to be delighted that their support and commitment to training and development within the industry was moving forward so positively and discussed putting a Virtual Academy in place almost 12 months in advance of the planned dates.
This investment by BMA members into a web-driven set of testing material is being partially matched by corporate sponsors who have joined the bathroom manufacturers in providing some financial support. The corporate sponsors also bring specific expertise which will be needed to prepare further Generic Industry Guides. These will lead to Advanced Merits and give members of the bathroom industry the qualifications to build a career path.
A number of the corporate sponsors attended the AGM, including CMP (the organisers of KBB2008), DMG (publishers of kbbreview), Articad (producers of a programme for Computer Aided Bathroom Design), Fifth Element (publishers of the Designer magazine), Planit (producers of CAD systems) and Essential Publishing.
The full audience also heard a presentation by Steve Logan, the Vice Principal of Derby College and Glynn Stenson, the manager of the college’s Centre of Vocational Excellence for Building. The two discussed how the bathroom industry and the education industry could best work together. The first of the college’s student plumbers to attain Associate Membership with three Core Merits is Sara Gregg, who was also at the AGM.
Yvonne Orgill said: "By working with Derby College and encouraging NVQ plumbing students like Sara to add the Generic Guides to their course of study, the BMA is really adding value. It is a great testament to the commitment to training of the BMA members".
www.bathroom-association.org
ENDS