News Article
The Power of Trade Associations!
Posted Friday 08 August, 2008 | Permalink
When I was first approached to join my industry’s leading trade association, an image of grumpy old men, hunched over antique desks writing angry letters of complaint to cabinet ministers popped into my head! Knowing what I know now, these thoughts could not be further from the truth! Professional trade associations play a very important role in our business; they lead and shape our industries for the benefits of both traders and consumers alike.
The first trade associations were formed in the 1900s around the same time as trade unions. Trade associations formed to represent the opinions of trade workers and to combat the power of the trade unions. They also regulated market prices and, over time resisted the power of companies with monopolies that developed during WW II.
ATLAS is arguably one of the most proactive and professional trade associations. Its main goal is to share and promote specialist knowledge and expertise; members expect ATLAS to set professional standards, support professional development and represent the interests of the profession. ATLAS members’ central role in the leadership and direction of the specialist access and lightning protection industries has proved invaluable. The governing body is drawn from its members, to whom they are accountable.
TRUE PROFESSIONALISM
Professionalism has taken a series of sobering blows in recent years. Scandals from many different professions are continually in the public eye. We have all watched with horror and disbelief the many incidents of “cowboy” professionals on BBC’s Watchdog and various other TV programmes.
The general public expect associations to uphold standards; to identify and deal with bad practice and eradicate cowboys, even though this may create tensions between members. One of the biggest issues with public expectations is that potential clients often do not, and cannot, know precisely what services are required until a thorough assessment has been carried out by a trained professional. Professionals will always know, as they should, more than the clients about the quality and value of the service they provide.
ATLAS takes its ethical and professional standing very seriously – leading by example. Its members benefit from a highly-structured and experienced background with extremely high standards; indeed, ATLAS set the trading standards for the industry. These standards require all members to provide the highest possible level of service. Membership to ATLAS requires all firms to adhere to the standards set by the association and strict enforcement of this is apparent within the association. Strict membership criteria must be met, on application, to maintain association credibility at all times.
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
As an authority on working at height, ATLAS and its members are relied heavily upon to provide expertise to others in the industry.
“It is of paramount importance that all issues regarding safety in the industry are addressed. I am particularly delighted that here at ATLAS we have created, and continue to facilitate a long-standing, stable and secure environment where members can voice their opinions, question legislation and challenge industry standards. Without the capacity to address these issues, the industry will never move forward to evolve and exceed our own high safety expectations.” - - Mike Henshaw, ATLAS Member
Over the years ATLAS has worked hand in hand with both the British Standards Institution and the Health and Safety Executive, working together to ensure that the industry not only improves, but creates benchmark standards that must be adhered to. This year ATLAS have put together a new Code of Practice for working at height, in a commendable attempt to reduce the number of accidents and deaths that occur from working at height. Through its own expertise and guidance from the HSE, ATLAS’s guidelines are now according to some, the new gold standard for best practise in the industry.
Furthermore this year has seen the long awaited implementation of the new British Standard for Lightning Protection, the BS EN 62305. Please be under no allusions about the importance of this new standard, as it has fundamentally altered the way that lightning protection is understood, planned and implemented in this country. Yet months before its August debut, little was being done to inform and educate the industry of its impending affects on the entire construction industry. Well that was until ATLAS with its proactive mentality, quite literally took the bull by the horn and decided to disseminate this incomprehensible document into a digestible format. This took the form of nationwide training workshops and accreditation for all its members.
ATLAS also works closely with the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT) to form the National Joint Council for the Industry. ATLAS members are automatically accredited to these associations upon membership approval.
VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY
ATLAS provides a superb open forum for the discussion and resolution of industry issues that cause concern to members. Members can also discuss issues of common interest, share their experience and find solutions to common problems. Many members find this open forum one of the most valuable benefits that ATLAS has brought to the industry.
The forum facilitates dialogue between members, organisations, industry and government. ATLAS members benefit from the promotion and exposure of common interests and common complaints, and over the years have seen a series of improvements made to the quality of services offered, health and safety standards, training, and technical standards.
If Socrates were alive today, he would be an ATLAS member:
“Regard your good name as the richest jewel you can possibly be possessed of – for credit is like fire; when once you have kindled it you may easily preserve it, but if you once extinguish it, you will find it an arduous task to rekindle it again. The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavour to be what you desire to appear.” - - Socrates, Greek Philosopher.
