RECONNECTING Husqvarna UK hosts the first BAGMA Connect meeting since 2019

moved to Peterborough. We are still there, so some things have worked out but a trade association is like insurance – you need it but you only use it when things go wrong and trying to demonstrate the value of a trade association is only clear to people when they need something.

For as little as £200 a year BAGMA offers a raft of benefits, highlights service providers that can save members money, a legal service that will certainly save members money when they have an HR or legal issue. Even the large dealers can benefit from this by their own HR departments using this service. We need more dealers to sign up to BAGMA to give the industry a stronger voice and to make use of what is on offer. There is much that we do that people are not aware of and if we weren’t here to do it, I wonder who would. Promotion over, soapbox collapsed.

I am pleased that BAGMA has been able to move into the ownership of the AEA and at last that the two organisations are much closer together, which has already benefited what we can offer. BAGMA’s future has been secured and is now enjoying the benefit of being in a likeminded organisation with a dedicated team who have been amazing during our year-long transition. I consider that I have been very lucky to work with many dedicated and determined people over the years and appreciate their tolerance and support.

I shall be doing a handover to my replacement so may be around for a few months yet. I would like to stay involved in the industry in some way, but I am looking forward to hanging up my laptop and getting on with those things that working does not give you much time to do. A few holidays, a bit more motorbiking, a lie in some days, who knows what else? It certainly was a scary prospect to even contemplate stopping working after so many years, but I think it is time for the younger ones to move things forward and take their place as the future icons of the industry.

I started at Claymore when we had to use a Telex machine, a very simple computer system, no such thing as the internet. I find it funny that things like fax machines and brick-like Motorola mobile phones came along and changed quickly to the mobile office we now have. So much has changed yet talking to people and being in the same room is still the strongest thing anyone

can do to create a relationship within a business. Social media is the big thing but a beer and a chat at a bar will get things done a lot easier and for a longer period of time. For me, the industry needs We were hoping to be able to to talk and work together and announce the name of Keith solve some of its very longChristian’s replacement term issues and be as one with this issue, but at the time of things like recruitment, retengoing to print the contract tion and development. Easy had not been signed. We aim to say, not so easy to do with to bring you full details next everyone being so busy – but issue (January-February it is in everyone’s best interests 2023) and to let you know in to do it. BAGMA’s E-Briefing. In departing, I would like to say an enormous thank you to those I have worked with over the years. Those I have spent many a pleasant evening with and to the industry as a whole for a fantastic opportunity to be a part of something that is unique and offers so many opportunities for so many people. Lastly and most importantly, I would like to thank my wife, Katie, for her support over the many years of my career. There is no question that I would not have been able to do what I have done without her and without our children and their understanding and support.

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