About BEAMA
BEAMA – CONTINUOUSLY MAKING AN IMPACT FOR MEMBERS
www.beama.org.uk
PROACTIVE, FORWARD-THINKING
Celebrating its centenary during 2005, BEAMA is a well-established, respected, trade association for the electrotechnical sector.
The BEAMA of 2008 is an innovative, forward-thinking, proactive organisation operating on a UK, Europe-wide and global level.
Relentless drive
The association has continually evolved throughout its first 100 years, but one thing has remained constant - a relentless drive to improve members’ business interests.
This has resulted in an impressive track record of achievements in standardisation, policy influence, sector marketing and bespoke projects tackling market barriers.
Louder, single industry voice
2007 saw BEAMA re-launched as a single association to make best use of its talented people across all sectors.
To speak to Government and regulators with a louder, single, industry voice.
It was a sound move, making considerable sense from the perspective of the changing marketplace where convergence in building services blurred the once clear line of distinction between technologies.
Joint market solutions
In the 21st Century, it’s no longer obvious that particular products will continue to follow the traditional route to market, and many members now see themselves as collaborators to develop joint market solutions.
In the light of the Government’s sustainability agenda, the plethora of environmental directives from the European Commission, plus the threat to our markets from cheap non-compliant products entering the supply chain, BEAMA now is even more proactive on behalf of its members.
Support, guidance
Unlike many trade associations, BEAMA views itself as an external department of its members’ organisations, offering valuable, practical support and guidance – from Board level interaction to indirect and general association management and contact.
A successful, proactive trade association is important for every sector and individual company. Impacting on members’ business interests, it gives industry the essential element of informed control and representation it requires, allowing individuals to share knowledge and ideas for market growth.
BEAMA SERVICES/MEMBER BENEFITS
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Statistics is committed to confidentiality in creating bespoke statistics schemes for member and non-member groups.
Services include providing regular market statistics (based on member company data), contract price adjustment clause and formulae, labour and material cost indices, contract price adjustment advisory service.
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International: plays a leading role in the promotion of export opportunities for the electrotechnical industry, organising on behalf of members and industry a wide portfolio of overseas exhibitions.
BEAMA is an accredited Trade Organiser for the UK Trade & Investment Scheme.
Missions and exhibitions feature events in Europe, Japan, Middle East, Russia, South East Asia.
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Legal: provides guidance and advice for member companies and associations, information, legislation monitoring and lobbying, contract conditions and legal training seminars.
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Directives and Standards Policy: lobbies on behalf of member interests, providing information and advice on sector legislation and standardisation.
The BEAMA Standards Policy Committee is the flagship policy committee on EU technical/environment directives such as LVD (Low Voltage Directive), EMCD (Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive) WEEE (Waste from Electric and Electronic Equipment), EUP (Energy Using Products) and standards and conformity assessment issues.
BEAMA’s influence on EU and UK legislation affecting members’ interests is enhanced via its membership of Orgalime - the European engineering industries association – the number one lobby towards the Commission and Parliament on issues affecting the electrotechnical sector.
For UK electrotechnical manufacturers the route to Orgalime is through the BEAMA network.
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Consulting: offers research, consultancy and project management services to BEAMA members and others. It is dedicated to providing high quality services to members and others in areas related to the electrical sectors, drawing upon the extensive experience of the BEAMA team.
It is especially well placed to coordinate projects involving multiple participants, governments and funding agencies.
BEAMAConsulting is actively engaged in projects funded by Government, industry and the European Commission.
BEAMA benefits
BEAMA members benefit from its unparalleled range of services and expertise encompassing:
- networking resource within the industry/product sectors
- ideas generation/facilitation of cross membership communal groups
- links with European companies highlighting economic/commercial trends, technical developments, emerging EU initiatives
- representation on policy and issues to Government and EC
- collective influence on policies (eg quality assurance, product certification/approval, contract conditions)
- participation in national/international standardisation activities
- development of industry-bases policies on technical issues
- unique cost efficient, added value specialist services
- up-to-the minute feedback on legislative/contractual and market issues, industry statistics
- strategic alliances – UK/Europe.
REPRESENTATIVE WORK
In the field of European product legislation, BEAMA has been lobbying successfully - effectively and always responsibly.
The constant aim is to secure legislation at European level, which is practicable, securing high standards of product safety and environmental improvement - without impeding free trade, and while minimising bureaucratic burdens, which add cost without benefit in these important areas.
Successes
Working with UK Government to ensure the implementation of the WEEE and RoHS (Restriction of Use of Certain Hazardous Substances) directives) in the UK with sensible scopes - saving members from having to pass on to their customers through higher prices significant compliance costs disproportionate to any environmental benefits.
Keeping Low Voltage Directive-regulated products out of the Construction Products Directive's bureaucracy..
Working with regulators to achieve best cost-effective results in implementation of the Energy Using Products Directive - an ongoing, current exercise.
BEAMA’s effective representative work covers a broad spectrum of industry-impacting legislation, standards and policies.
New approach
No European legislation can ever be regarded as ‘finished’… review and revision are constantly on the table. BEAMA ensures vigilance is necessarily maintained even after initial successes.
After a long haul, the review of the ‘new approach’ - the model used as the basis for product design and marketing legislation in the EU since 1985 - has completed its first major revamp with the approval by the European Parliament of the ‘marketing of goods’ package.
Throughout, BEAMA's aim has been to see improvements to those aspects which have been neglected to the detriment of the overall safe functioning of the European internal market.
The new legal requirement on member states to put more resources into more systematic market surveillance is welcome - without disrupting the good results in terms of free circulation of safe products, already achieved under the1985 reference to standards-based legislative model.
Standards and certication
BEAMA’s high level engagement with the standards-making infrastructure at national, European and international level, furthers the objective to have free trade in compliant (quality, safety, health, environment) products. Strategic representation for maximum influence is BEAMA’s watchword.
To amplify the industry’s voice, BEAMA has placed itself at the heart of the activities of European association Orgalime, and with the European Sector Committees focussing on specific product areas.
Transmission and Distribution Europe
BEAMA has continuously played a significant role in the two traditional high voltage product co-ordinating committees: Capiel HV (for high voltage switchgear) and COTREL (for power transformers).
The association has provided the Secretariat for COTREL.
Its web site was serviced by BEAMA and the COTREL material Indices was provided by BEAMA’s Statistics Department.
BEAMA also chaired the WG Directives, which provided a specific HV interpretation of the implications of directives.
March 2008 saw the formation of Transmission and Distribution Europe to replace Capiel and COTREL.
The aim is to provide market focus rather than being technology-led, linking to the representation services of Orgalime.
BEAMA played a leading role in the formation of T&D Europe.
Members can now benefit from an enhanced, well focused representation in Europe.
The association will continue supplying specific management services for this important European grouping for the high voltage sector.
WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP
BEAMA members benefit from the association’s excellent network of partnerships and formal relationships…
Supply chain relationships
Working with the Electrical Distributors Association and the Electrical Contractors Association (and its Scottish sister organisation SELECT), BEAMA has pushed the agenda for its members’ products.
Issues such as Smart ‘intelligent’ housing, sustainability and anti-counterfeiting are hot topics for the supply chain.
It is vital, when appropriate, that manufacturers continue working with contractors and distributors on joint initiatives for training, marketing, guidance development and lobbying.
Related sectors
With many members active in the heating and low and zero carbon technology sectors, BEAMA’s ongoing membership and working relationships with the Heating and Hotwater Information Council and Micropower Council proves invaluable.
Joint lobbying, sharing of policy position statements and regular networking results in BEAMA members staying in touch with related sectors - being able to influence the broader sector agenda.
BEAMA is also a member of the Construction Products Association - a vital relationship as it adds strength to the ability to influence housing and planning policy, and explore the relationship between the electrotechnical sector and related industries.
Government agencies and appointed contractors
A major BEAMA strength is its ongoing, active relationship with organisations including the Energy Saving Trust, Carbon Trust and the Parliamentary Energy Studies Group.
The invaluable connections BEAMA provides with these bodies gives a precious link to government information, and the ability to use an independent platform to promote BEAMA members’ interests.
Plus, an opportunity to explore options for joint government/industry-funded projects, for example, technology demonstration, product performance evidence gathering or future market scenario planning to inform government policy makers.
BEAMA is an active, founder, partner within the Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes. The association also represents members on the Government’s Microgeneration Steering Group and the British Energy Efficiency Federation.
When appropriate, BEAMA represents its members –often as a chair -on relevant government advisory committees/groups for issues including fluorinated gas, building and metering regulations.
CATERING EQUIPMENT SUPPLIERS’ ASSOCIATION - CESA
As the voice of the UK’s commercial kitchen equipment industry, CESA draws on BEAMA’s UK and European strengths.
Also, it benefits from the administrative and employment services it provides.
Though this ‘back of house’ support, the association secretariat is able to devote greater resources to member-led services – and via committees and project groups respond to member needs.
CESA’s membership of BEAMA allows for collaborative influence on key national legislation issues.
BEAMA’s representation within Orgalime complements the work of EFCEM
(European Federation of Catering Equipment Manufacturers) as the sector representative body, which is also an Orgalime member.
CESA’s own sustainability agenda operates in conjunction with the broader UK work, which BEAMA initiates.
LIGHTING INDUSTRIES FEDERATION - LIF
The LIF is the trade association for the lighting Industry.
Its aims are to promote and develop the UK lighting market for the long-term benefit of its members and stakeholders.
LIF members benefit from financial growth of the market, and ensuring a positive image for the lighting industry, most notably concerning quality, safety, compliance and environmental impact.
The association’s primary purpose is to represent and promote the interests of members via lobbying and communication to Government and NGO’s, the marketplace and media.
It plays a key role is determining standards and industry issues concerning compliance, quality and environment, particularly technical considerations.
LIF draws on BEAMA’s UK and European strengths in lobbying and promotion, benefiting from the administrative and employment services it provides.
LIF’s membership of BEAMA allows for collaborative influence on key national legislation issues, while its own sustainability agenda operates in conjunction with BEAMA’s.broader initiatives.