The event has developed beyond an AGM in recent years, and is now much more of an active discussion forum for members who feedback on the work PLASA is doing and contribute to the future direction of the Association. The Members Lunch, which follows, grows in popularity each year, and in 2006 it is anticipated that 200 member companies will be represented. This year's speaker is business troubleshooter Alasdair Jeffrey who will talk to members about the challenges of growing and running a business. He was 'discovered' by the award-winning BBC series Trouble at the Top in 2004 and, as the subject of the 2006 BBC series The Ferocious Mr Fixit, he has built a formidable reputation over the years as a man who makes things happen.
The AGM provides a strong focal point for PLASA, which has set itself some ambitious objectives for the year ahead. It is now 18 months into a major project to develop new qualifications for the industry: central to these is the National Rigging Certificate - a scheme designed to give riggers across all sectors a recognised framework through which their knowledge and expertise can be measured. The scheme goes live at the end of 2006 and PLASA intends that it will act as a blueprint for other industry skills. The Association is also working on the development of qualifications for the PA/VA sector and has recently won national recognition for this work from the UK government.
One of PLASA's other priorities for 2006 is to help members find new business opportunities, so it is working on the development of a database of tender and contract information in order to highlight key prospects and, where relevant, facilitate site visits or meetings.
2006 is already proving a good year for PLASA, membership figures are growing and the organisation has strengthened its member services to make it one of the few trade bodies offering a package that is worth far more than the annual membership fee.
(Lee Baldock)
