So here we are in the ‘Twenties’; a new year, a new decade and new opportunities and challenges to address. I always believe that a new year resolution should not be something that you are going to ‘stop’, rather something that you are going to start!
SPRA spent 2019 working hard with other industry bodies developing ideas and processes in response to the Grenfell tragedy. I was pleased to see that the last Sunday Times edition of 2019 put an image of the burning Grenfell tower on the front cover of a special supplement dedicated to the most memorable photos of the last decade. Grenfell was so awful in every way and we need to be reminded of all its horrors to drive us forward to improve our industry – not get numbed to it, and just ‘carrying on as normal’. That last scenario is simply not acceptable.
If you want to change the world, you first have to look at yourself, and SPRA has committed to revising and updating our own membership criteria to strengthen our trade body, our membership and our industry. SPRA already has robust processes in comparison with many other trade associations, but this is not enough. We must have the best and the time is right to make some tough decisions. A new draft structure has been developed and approved in principle by the SPRA Council, so now the hard work of fine-tuning, launch and implementation lies ahead.
Every individual can do something positive to help change our industry for the better. There are some great examples of passionate people doing amazing work in our industry and not just looking at the bottom line – they are successful people with successful businesses. . To improve construction, we need to understand that doing it right first time every time really is better for everyone and everything – better, cheaper, more efficient and more sustainable.
Change will not happen overnight, but SPRA members will lead the way on transparency, quality, and sustainability. You can start to support this straight away by:
- Ensuring that annual audits are accurately completed & submitted in a timely fashion (you won’t get a membership certificate without one).
- Make sure that every employee is signed up to receive the SPRA Weekly News (sign up at the bottom of any page on the SPRA website www.spra.co.uk )
- Make sure that every employee sets themselves up with a SPRA member Area Login (button at top of SPRA website www.spra.co.uk ). ,
- Get involved with supporting the change to criteria
- Submit projects and people for SPRA Awards https://spra.co.uk/spra-awards-2020/
- Ensure that you book your places at the SPRA Conference to learn about big industry decisions that will affect your business. https://spra.co.uk/events/spra-conference-and-awards-dinner-2020/
- Train your people https://spra.co.uk/dashboard/courses/
- Promote your SPRA membership and the SPRA Design Guide to all clients and stakeholders
- Promote SPRA membership to fellow manufacturers, Contractors and Installers https://spra.co.uk/register/
Source: Cathie Clarke, SPRA CEO