Chairman’s Statement

Our March 2015 year-end confirmed that the BVAA had had its best year ever again, with record turnover and activity levels.

We have however been acutely conscious of the rapid decline in global oil and gas activity, the impact this has had in particular on the UKCS, and most especially on our many affected members in that sector.

On a practical level, BVAA ‘bedded in’ to its new freehold HQ in Banbury, and swiftly took prudent steps to significantly reduce our mortgage. The ‘Peter Churm Technical Centre’ has been well used by members and trainees alike and is proving to be a tremendous asset.

Despite the industry turmoil, membership again grew to a remarkable peak of 207, but already we have seen the first signs of consolidation in the industry and the inevitable examination of the benefits returned by BVAA membership.

With that in mind, we have expanded services again, one example being our recent, hugely successful Regional Dinner and Supplier Day in Brighouse, the attendances at which exceeded all expectations. A thoroughly worthwhile event which we plan to repeat.

Training held up well throughout the year with a slight fall off towards year-end. This coincided however with an expansion of delivery to centres in Yorkshire and Aberdeen. Taken into account, overall we’ve seen more ‘dilution’ of training business rather than ‘evaporation.’ I am however particularly proud of the new BVAA ‘Future Leaders’ initiative (see Training).

Our new Technical Consultant Martin Greenhalgh has rallied his technical troops magnificently and we welcome the engagement of Ron Strang and Paul Reeve into the fold of advisors and consultants. The ‘Technical Expert Groups’ (TEGs) initiative has launched successfully, with several new TEGs having met to develop technical issues that will ultimately benefit all members.

The role of BVAA Chairman would be extremely difficult without the support and fellowship I receive from my colleagues on the BVAA Board, plus of course the sterling work undertaken by the Association’s various working groups and chairs, and I thank them all for their hard work.

I close with my sincere thanks to BVAA Director Rob Bartlett and his hard working Secretariat team who continue to provide members with such a professional service while all the time making one feel a member of a close-knit family.

Published: 17th February 2016