HANDLES ALL COLOURS ON YOUR PALETTE
Highly efficient pumps for paint manufacturers
Regardless of the application, Vogelsang has a wide range of pumps to suit your needs. Also, you benefit from all of Vogelsang’s pumps being easy to maintain and quickly serviced on-site, significantly reducing stoppage time.
• Economical to run, reducing energy costs
• Can handle chemically aggressive or highly adhesive media
• Withstanding temperatures of up to 200°C
• Operating pressure of up to 18 bars
VOGELSANG – LEADING IN TECHNOLOGY
For more information: 01270 216 600 | sales.uk@vogelsang.info vogelsang.co.uk
I hope you had a chance to take some time off in the summer? I did manage to get away for a couple of weeks, but with a general election in July, PaintCare resourcing challenges, two senior BCF positions to fill and the UK REACH consultation, it hasn’t been a quiet summer for us.
Building awareness and relationships with the new Labour Government is mission critical for BCF in the coming months, so we’ve focused on this in this edition of Covered. Over 70% of BCF member sites have a new MP, so our Public Affairs Manager, David Park is ready to help you engage with them. There are some encouraging signs that Labour will be more supportive to some of the asks from both BCF and the wider manufacturing community. This will be important both for the future of UK REACH and wider chemical regulations, and I was encouraged after my first meeting with new Business Minister Sarah Jones MP. A closer relationship with the EU to help facilitate greater trade will be an important focus in the new administration’s push for growth, which can only be a good thing for our industry.
Looking more internally, I’m thrilled to say we’ve found a worthy successor to Ali Brown,
BY TOM BOWTELL CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE BCF
who has given so much to both the BCF team and members over the last 27 years and will retire at the end of September. He joins the BCF later this Autumn, having run several regional builders’ merchants businesses and had over 15 years of coatings industry experience. I’m confident he will help build on the excellent work Ali has done to both increase member loyalty, and help continue to grow the membership base, which has more than doubled under Ali’s leadership. I am keen for him to get out and meet as many members as possible, starting with the BCF Awards in York on 6th November, so if you are attending, you’ll get to meet him then.
Talking of the BCF Awards, we had over 70 entries this year, which was a record number, and shows the continued enthusiasm from the membership to demonstrate some of their outstanding achievements in the last 12 months. You can read more about the finalists on pages 16 & 17, and good luck to all the finalists on the night!
We’ve also filled several other positions at the BCF – Emma Scott-Hendy joins as my new EA, with a responsibility for HR across the Federation, and Zoe Slade will join later this year to replace
Patricia Durany-Fernandez, who sadly has decided to move back to Spain due to family commitments.
Leah Elvin joined the BCF as Administrator and Careers Coordinator in August and has already started working on our ambitious 2025 careers outreach. Thanks to our members who have shared their opinions on our careers strategy in our September survey. We will also be running our ED&I baseline survey in the Autumn, which I am hoping our 30 ED&I Charter signatories will complete, and more members will sign up too.
PaintCare has been a big focus for Steve Snaith and I this summer. Steve has got the PaintCare bi-weekly Task Force meetings up and running, with excellent engagement from members, and we have now partnered with Resource Futures and Biffa in the next stage of the project, with strategic support from PaintCare USA, and admin support from Leah.
I’m really delighted how the BCF team continues to support members and drive forward new initiatives. Together with great support from members, I’m optimistic about the future.
NEW GOVERNMENT,
David Park, Public Affairs Manager
As I write this, Keir Starmer’s Labour Government has been in post for almost two months. While Parliament has not been sitting for most of that period a lot has been going on behind the scenes as the Administration has been put together and priorities set out.
Starmer ran on a platform of offering stability, especially to the business community. The size of his working majority – 181 – is the same as that enjoyed by Tony Blair back in 1997 and so, in theory, he should be able to offer stability as long as he can manage his Backbenchers. At the same time, the Conservatives are weaker even than in ‘97 and there is a new dynamic with a few more Green MPs, a lot more Lib Dems, and a spattering of Independents all jockeying for position and headlines.
While Cabinet-level appointments that affect the chemicals and coatings sector went much as expected – both Steve Reed and Jonathan Reynolds were appointed to the jobs they held in Opposition, Environment and Business respectively – there was more churn at the junior level. Starmer took advantage of experienced MPs and frontbenchers returning to Parliament after a previous loss to beef up his Ministerial teams. As such, the Defra Chemicals lead in Opposition, Ruth Jones, did not get appointed to the job in Government. This is a shame as BCF had met her several times, she understood the brief and was always willing to listen. Having said that, the new Chemicals Minister at Defra, Emma Hardy, has an excellent reputation and we look forward to working with her on
the future of chemicals regulation in the UK. The other Minister at Defra we will be dealing with, via the circular economy and waste portfolio, is Mary Creagh. She is one of the MPs returning to Parliament having previously been a Shadow Secretary of State for Environment under Ed Miliband and Chair of the House of Commons’ Environmental Audit Committee. As such, she brings huge experience to her new role.
Over at the Department for Business and Trade, the junior Minister responsible for industry and Chemicals is Sarah Jones. She retains the brief from Opposition, which is helpful in terms of continuity. We will be working closely with her to help make our voice heard in Government. Over at the Department for Work and Pensions, Sir Stephen Timms is looking after the HSE and so their critical part in chemical regulation, including biocides and CLP policy. He served as a Minister under Blair and Brown so is very experienced. The other Ministerial appointment of note is Nick ThomasSymonds as Paymaster General. He will be responsible for negotiating our future relationship with the EU. Even though Labour has ruled out rejoining, there are a number of measures that could be taken to help ease the additional red tape that has sprung up since Brexit.
We look forward to establishing contacts with all the above new Ministers and speaking to them about our sector and its priorities.
GOVERNMENT, NEW FACES
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ENGAGEMENT AND CAMPAIGNING?
Across the 244 BCF member sites and offices, 174 now have a new MP! That is a massive electoral churn. In fact, more than half of the House of Commons – 355 seatsis made up of rookie MPs.
That is a huge challenge for a trade association like BCF as we need to begin to educate MPs all over again about the importance of the UK coatings sector and our priorities regarding policies. Having said that, it is also a big opportunity to put ourselves front and centre and engage proactively with MPs to turn them into supporters of our industry.
At the Ministerial level, we are already in contact with the relevant post-holders. As I write, we have a meeting set up with Sarah Jones, the DBT Industry and Chemicals Minister, to talk about REACH and other areas of concern. By the next edition of Covered, I hope to be able to share details of more Ministerial meetings planned. But it is not just Ministers that matter and BCF has already met with the lead officials in Defra and DBT (largely unchanged) to establish what areas Ministers are prioritising and how we can feed into decision-making processes. We have had excellent relationships at this level in the past but will look to do even better over the course of this Parliament.
The area where we need to do more, though, is at the Backbench MP level, adding breadth to our engagement depth. We have a strong message to communicate in terms of our Essential Coatings campaign and we now need to revitalise this for the new Parliament, spreading the word to as many MPs as possible. I will be doing
this directly from BCF targeting meetings with MPs who join relevant Select Committees and All Party Groups, for instance, the Business Select Committee or All Party Manufacturing Group.
I also hope to work more closely with individual BCF members to meet and talk with more of the MPs representing their sites. I have written to all members asking whether they might be prepared to ask their local MP to visit them, show them around the site and talk to them about the positive contribution you make to the economy and local community. It will be an opportunity to raise issues of concern to your business –e.g. regulations like REACH or supply chain issues – and it would set up the opportunity for me to meet them in Westminster to talk about BCF and the national coatings sector picture. At the end of the day, BCF is a lobbying organisation, and your company is a local employer! It will always be easier for a local company to get an MP to visit and also more memorable for the MP if they look around a site and meet ‘real’ people. I am happy to offer advice and support – and even attend – any such meetings arranged, and if you are not able to meet your local MP in the constituency, I can always look to meet them in Westminster anyway.
If you’d like further information and support for approaching your local MP, you can contact David at david.park@bcf.co.uk.
NEW GOVERNMENT, SAME LOBBYING PRIORITIES
Part of our engagement with Backbench MPs will be about telling the Essential Coatings story – the big picture of who we are as an industry and why our products are so important to the economy and to their constituents’ lives. However, it is also important to develop relationships so that we have a number of MPs who will be prepared to support us when we lobby the Government on specific asks. Whether it is a fiscal ask ahead of a Budget, or a regulatory ask as legislation is being developed, having MPs ready to back us up and explain how these changes would impact on you in their constituencies can often make all the difference.
WHAT ARE OUR LOBBYING PRIORITIES?
Remarkably the same as they have been for the past couple of years. What has changed is the background environment against which those ‘asks’ are set.
At the end of 2023, we published a short manifesto for the sector which contained a list of 5 broad policy asks.
• A proportionate, clear, and consistent regulatory environment for chemicals.
• An industrial strategy to support manufacturing.
• Support for businesses to make the transition to a more sustainable UK.
• Long-term focus on skills and training.
• Improving post-Brexit trade.
HOW DOES THE NEW GOVERNMENT’S APPROACH STACK UP AGAINST THOSE ASKS?
The previous Government’s consultation on a new proposal for UK REACH was allowed to continue over the election period. However, during the election, Rachel Reeves, in particular, was vocal in saying that Labour would seek to align the UK more closely with the EU in this area, indeed, to seek a ‘bespoke deal’ on chemicals. This implies that the work done to-date to develop a UK REACH system
may be discarded. This may not necessarily be a bad thing – as long as we still end up with a model that is proportionate and workable. However, it will likely mean yet more delays and uncertainty for the near future. Clarifying and shaping what is going to happen in this area is key over the coming months.
Labour had committed to an industrial strategy in Opposition and the King’s Speech included reference to setting up an Industrial Strategy Council. BCF broadly welcomes this move –we felt that the last Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Plan was too narrowly drawn and not truly strategy in terms of addressing key issues affecting the sector. There is still little detail as to how the Council and Strategy will work, however, and we will want to feed in as much as possible to the development process.
Helping business transition to a more sustainable UK is likely to be linked to Government proposals for pump-priming private investment into green infrastructure. It’s new ‘National Wealth Fund’ and nationally run ‘Great British Energy’ company will be at the heart of this. Likewise, the Government’s plans for a new body, Skills England, need to be fleshed out. We know the much-complained-about Apprenticeship Levy will be reformed to become more flexible – something we specifically asked for – but will, again, need to work with Government to develop a more sustainable successor.
Finally, on improving trade, the Government has made clear it wants to deliver an improved relationship with the EU. How much exactly will be on offer we cannot be sure, but we know, as per the Chancellor’s comments above, alignment on chemical regulations is planned.
Painting a career in coatings
Leah Elvin, Administrator and Careers Coordinator
When considering a career path, one of the most crucial factors is choosing an industry that not only provides a good financial reward, but also offers variety, opportunities for personal growth, and the chance to make a tangible impact. The coatings sector stands out as an exceptional choice for those seeking a fulfilling and rewarding career.
Their all-encompassing role in daily life makes coatings not just important, but essential. By working in this sector, you have the potential to contribute to innovations that make everyday items better and more sustainable. Whether you have a background in chemistry, engineering, manufacturing, or business, there is a place for you in our industry.
As the newly appointed Careers Coordinator, my mission is to raise awareness of the extensive range of career paths available in our industry. In the short time I have been with the BCF I am astounded at the vast range of prospects and the innovation that drives the coatings industry forward. From research and development to marketing, sales, production, and environmental sustainability, our industry offers diverse career paths that cater to a wide array of skills and interests. My goal is to not only shine a light on these opportunities but also to connect aspiring professionals with the resources, mentorship, and training essential for their success. By fostering a deeper understanding of the industry’s potential, I hope to work with members in inspiring the next generation of talent to pursue fulfilling and impactful careers within the coatings sector.
I have started engaging with academia across the UK to understand how we can better reach the minds of tomorrow. From my discussions, there is a significant lack of awareness amongst students, largely due to the industry’s under-representation. To address this, we must elevate the profile of the coatings sector by participating in careers fairs, offering skill-building sessions, and hosting webinars. Integrating these efforts into the academic careers calendar will ensure consistent engagement and help us inspire future professionals to join us.
As part of our ongoing efforts to develop a comprehensive careers strategy, we are proposing several initiatives aimed at attracting, developing and retaining a skilled workforce, and we’d like the personal opinions and views of our members on these potential recommendations to ensure that our new careers strategy will align with the industry’s needs and priorities.
Our industry survey in collaboration with Cogent Skills has now been circulated. If you haven’t already, please get this filled out, no matter what role you sit within your organisation your opinion will be invaluable in shaping our career focus for the future of coatings.
Our Careers in Coatings member survey results will be circulated in the coming weeks. If you have any questions or thoughts about the survey, please get in touch with Leah via email at leah.elvin@bcf.co.uk. To view our members’ latest job vacancies, please visit www.coatingscareershub.com.
BCF’s Coatings Ambassador programme trains its 50th Ambassador
The British Coatings Federation has partnered with the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) and Oil & Colour Chemists’ Association (OCCA) since 2019 to form a network of ambassadors from the coatings industry engaging with schools and universities across the UK. The trained cohort has now grown to over 50 ambassadors.
Coatings Ambassadors from various businesses in the coatings supply chain are being trained and given materials to hold careers sessions at schools and universities. When delivering the course material, ambassadors will introduce the coatings industry, and share their career paths and the varied jobs and opportunities available within the sector. The Coatings Ambassador programme will play a significant role in BCF’s new careers strategy by utilising this team of industry representatives to attend careers events across the UK.
June’s workshop, run by Cogent Skills, hosted a diverse group of attendees from organisations including Jotun Paints, Safic Alcan UK, BASF, Grolman, Sherwin-Williams, INX International, Nazdar, HMG Paints and AkzoNobel. This year’s event follows the success of the previous events over the last five years, with students describing the day as informative and fun.
The workshop provided guidance on how to reach out to the younger generation, using activities, presentations and creative projects.
“On behalf of OCCA, RSC and BCF, we would like to thank the companies and individuals who took part. Our network of Coatings Ambassadors is hugely important to educate the next generation on our industry, something which is a priority at BCF, and we are continuing to be more proactive in this area moving forward. We wish them every success in helping to develop the future workforce for the coatings sector.” concluded BCF’s CEO, Tom Bowtell.
For more information about the programme, visit www.coatingscareershub.com/ambassadors. To register your interest for the next workshop and receive the latest communications on future training dates, please email leah.elvin@bcf.co.uk.
PAINTCARE – MOVING TO IMPLEMENTATION
Dr Stephen Snaith, BCF PaintCare Consultant
STRATEGY AND RESOURCING
The BCF Board meeting held on 5th March approved the PaintCare strategy, the action plan and next steps, including PaintCare Governance and funding for the next phase of work. There was unanimous agreement at the meeting that the next phase of work would need to delve much more into the detail and develop an operational plan for launch before signing the project off for launch. This work would include worst- and best-case scenarios for cost and environmental impacts and a detail plan for launch.
Resourcing
At the Board Meeting. It was recognised that the current capacity within the BCF and its consultants was insufficient to deliver the next stage of the work and that
there was a need for additional expertise, especially around waste management.
Following the departure of Michael Pye from the BCF, PaintCare will contract with Biffa to help develop the operational model and costs for collection, bulking, separating and reprocessing of leftover paint. PaintCare will also contract with Resource Futures to develop other aspects of the project including, governance, reporting, organisational structure, contracts etc. In addition, PaintCare USA will be providing a strategic overview, data sets and templates for launch through their CEO and Operations Director.
The PaintCare Implementation Task Force is an important part of this phase of work. The task force consists of representatives from the decorative paint company members and remanufacturing members
and its purpose is to support and advise the PaintCare Project team in all matters relating to PaintCare in relation to the decorative paint manufacturing industry, The Taskforce has had four meetings to date and meets every two weeks.
Initial areas of focus have been on:
1. The development of a trade store based collection and backhauling operation for painters with leftover paint
2. Development of a social enterprise model that can be supported and developed by working with PaintCare to mutual benefit.
The Board supported the strategy, governance model and agreed funding from BCF reserves subject to the details being finalised.
SAVE THE DATE
14TH MARCH 2025
THE SLATE, UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK
The BCF hosted the first ‘Road to Net Zero Seminar’ in November last year, which was attended by over 100 delegates from across BCF’s member companies and their wider supply chains. The event included the launch of the BCF Net Zero Roadmap as part of the BCF Board’s pledge of two years ago that the sector will meet Net Zero by 2050.
We are proud to announce our next edition of the ‘Road to Net Zero Seminar’. This event will take place on the 14th March 2025 at Warwick Conferences, just on the outskirts of Coventry. The focus will continue to be on scope 3 emissions – this time from downstream activities of our manufacturing members – and low carbon hydrogen. We expect this to be a popular event and wanted to get the word out early so you can be sure to clear your calendar.
In March, the BCF confirmed the first speaker for the seminar: Gavin Ruddick who is the CEO at Steer Automotive – the UK’s biggest accident repair bodyshop group and an important customer for our sector. The programme will also include a couple of panel discussions – one of them on packaging EPR, with Dr. Margaret Bates (Head of the EPR Scheme Administrator) – and a keynote speaker (probably one of the recently appointed Government ministers).
The BCF will share the full programme in due course, and tickets will go on sale in the coming weeks – so watch the space! We look forward to seeing you there.
Patricia DuranyFernandez, Sustainability Manager
There has been some movement with the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging scheme since the Spring 2024 edition of Covered, with the recent update on producer fees. The BCF welcomes this long-awaited update, even though it is only a first estimate.
This follows the important announcement in March, where Defra amended the definition of ‘household waste’ in the Government EPR regulations. The associated Environment Agency’s guidance considers, in addition to products sold directly to a business end-user, the following primary or shipment packaging as non-household where it meets both of the following:
• it is packaging for a product, where the product is designed only for use by a business or a public institution;
• and the packaging for that product is not reasonably likely to be disposed of in a household bin or a public bin.
Unfortunately, the issue with packaging that satisfies one of the criteria but not both, and the so-called ‘dual packaging’ (for business use and general consumers), will still be treated as household waste.
It is important for our members to note that if you are classed as a large organisation (i.e. annual turnover of more than £2m and annual packaging handled of more than 50 tonnes), you should have reported your packaging data for the period July to December 2023 by the 31st May 2024 – otherwise companies may face enforcement action by Defra. Small organisations do not have to report their packaging data for 2023 for compliance reasons; however, they will have to report their 2024 data (January to December) by April 2025. The Environment Agency’s guidance on ‘household waste’ does not impact the 2023 data submission but it will have to be followed when submitting 2024 data.
In August, Defra published the first in a series of illustrative base fees to help businesses prepare for the implementation of the packaging EPR scheme. Although these fees are not final figures and may change significantly, it is a starting point which will allow members to do some calculations on the likely costs associated with EPR.
Government intends to publish refined figures for the illustrative base fees in September once more data has been reported. The next deadline for reporting 6 months of 2024 household packaging data (January to June 2024) is 1st October 2024 – and the Environment Agency’s guidance on ‘household waste’ should be followed for this. From year 2 of EPR, in 2026, fees will be modulated to ensure packaging materials that have a lower environmental impact will be the least expensive for producers to use; further information will be released in Autumn 2024.
If you have any queries about the EPR scheme, please contact the BCF team at info@bcf.co.uk.
HAVE YOUR SAY STANDARDS INFLUENCING THE INDUSTRY:
By Malcolm Morris Technical Manager, Sherwin-Williams Protective and Marine Coatings
Standards exist to define and control how to perform a process correctly, reproducibly and in a documented manner. These documents impact just about every aspect of any industry, including paints, coatings, printing inks and wallcoverings; from raw material specifications, product testing, specification development, quality control and many other areas.
Without these standards documents, our industry would descend into chaos!
Standards can be issued at various levels; from national standards bodies (‘NSB’) such as British Standards Institute ‘BSI’ in the UK, European standards (EN) or most commonly as international standards which are administered by the International Standards Organization (ISO).
Standards are produced by a collaboration between standardization professionals who are employed by ISO, BSI et al, to oversee the correct editorial procedures and keep the projects within tight deadlines; and volunteer experts from the relevant industry who provide the experience and expertise required for the technical content of the standard.
The whole process is essentially a transfer of information, opinions and constructive amendments up and down the chain from NSBs into the working groups, until consensus is achieved, and a new or revised standard can be published.
The crucial message is that standards cannot be produced without experts, and our industry needs new expertise to take the place of those who retire. There is perhaps a perception of an ‘expert’ as someone who is of mature years and reaching the end of their career. This is not the case - the BCF and BSI are reaching out to a younger and diverse generation of young professionals, who are able to bring fresh ideas and energy into the standards development process.
Speaking from personal experience; this work is fascinating, challenging and highly rewarding, opening a huge network of fellow professionals from across the globe. All that is required is a modicum of experience, common sense and ability to reach a reasoned consensus. Many of the WG meetings are held online, although there is a necessary commitment from individuals and agreement from their employer for travel to a few physical meetings over the course of a year. There is an annual congress of TC35, usually in June, at which attendance is invaluable. These are hosted by an NSB (in 2024, this was hosted by BSI in London, in 2025 it will be in Tokyo).
There is a hierarchy of authority within the process:
ISO Technical Committee ‘TC’ which oversees the whole suite of standards for a particular industry, e.g. ISO TC35 covers all standards relating to paints and varnishes.
Sub-committees within the TC cover groups of standards, e.g. TC35/SC12 covers all standards related to surface preparation of steel substrates, TC35/SC9 covers test methods for paints.
Working groups are the ‘engine room’ where individual standards are written and reviewed prior to eventual publication, e.g. TC35/SC12/WG2 creates standards for surface preparation assessment of steel substrates.
Experts take the draft documents back to be reviewed at national ‘mirror committees’ who review and comment on drafts to be sent back to the ISO working groups. e.g. BSI STI/21 is the UK mirror committee which reviews standards for paint systems and surface preparation for metallic substrates.
National experts are volunteers drawn from the industry itself, typically nominated by trade associations such as the BCF, although other professional bodies (such as ICorr) or even sponsored individuals may be appointed. The national standards body will nominate its own experts to participate in the ISO working groups.
If any individuals from the coatings industry who feel that this work might be an interesting way of expanding their career and helping to develop the next generation of these essential documents can contact Kerry McLoughlin (kerry.mcloughlin@bcf. co.uk) at the BCF who can put them in contact with the appropriate BSI personnel.
On the 12th November 2024, the BCF will be hosting a webinar which will provide further information on the importance of standards, the BSI, and how to get involved. A BCF communication will be sent out in due course.
CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS
BCF SURVEY ON THE USE OF ANTIFOULING PAINTS
Do you use antifouling paints? Can you help secure their continued use by completing a short survey?
While antifouling does a great job of keeping hulls clean and has environmental benefits such as improving fuel efficiency and preventing the spread of invasive non-native species. Most antifouling paints used contain active biocidal substances. The paint leaches biocides and prevents the hull from being fouled by different organisms. The biocides are regulated under the Biocidal Product Regulation (BPR) and are required to pass both an environmental risk assessment and a human health risk assessment. An important part of this approval process is the assessment of risk to human health and the environment from the paints themselves, and the correct procedures that should be followed by boat owners when applying them.
There has been a long tradition for boat owners to paint their own vessels, the British Coatings Federation (BCF) ran a survey in 2015 to determine the extent at which users of antifouling paint protect themselves through the use of personal protective equipment. There was an excellent response to the survey. Following the survey, the BCF, the RYA, British Marine and The Yacht Harbour Association have produced a number of leaflets to promote best practice when using antifouling paints. Including:
• the “Protect, Collect & Dispose” initiative which focussed on environmental best practice when antifouling yachts and boats;
• the “Controlling Antifouling Washings from Shipyards” leaflet which focusses on best practice to prevent release of antifouling paints to the environment; and
• “DIY application of antifouling paints” which contains guidance and best practice on application of antifouling paints.
However, due to the hazardous nature of the paints they are coming under increasing regulatory scrutiny and there is concern that the authorities may decide to restrict the application and use of antifouling to strictly professional applicators due to concerns over their hazards.
Ensuring the safe use of antifouling paints in a DIY/ boat owner scenario continues to be a major focus for antifouling paint manufacturers, the manufacturers are keen to understand the existing awareness of the hazards of antifouling paint, as well as the use of personal protective equipment and measures taken to prevent release of the paint during application and use. As such users of antifouling paints are requested to complete a short survey.
THE SURVEY IS OPEN FROM 4TH SEPTEMBER 2024 – 30TH NOVEMBER 2024
BOAT OWNERS:
PROFESSIONAL APPLICATORS OF ANTIFOULING PAINTS:
BOATYARD OWNERS/ MANAGERS: CHANDLERS:
FOCUS ON THE FUTURE:
TOWARDS A BRIGHTER EUROPEAN
Following the EU elections and the upcoming renewal of the College of Commissioners, several potential shifts in policy priorities are possible. While a broad commitment to the European Green Deal and climate neutrality by 2050 will continue, more emphasis on European industry and measures to protect and enhance its competitiveness can be expected.
Our Annual Conference, taking place from 9 to 11 October 2024, will feature thoughtprovoking speakers and discussions, all aimed at helping you better understand the upcoming regulatory environment that increasingly emphasises sustainability and competitiveness. The goal is to gain invaluable insights into the trends and forecasts shaping our path forward.
Wednesday 6th November 2024
The Principal, York
The 2024 BCF Awards are now open for entries!
Many thanks to our sponsors, Stort Chemicals, BASF, Verlingue, Xyntra, Fenton Packaging, BioCote, Lisam and Tronox who make the event possible. Thanks also to all our independent award judges.
This year’s award categories are as follows:
Sustainable Innovation: Multinational Award
Sponsored by:
Shortlisted:
Race to Net Zero Award
Shortlisted:
Corporate Social Responsibility: Multinational Award
Shortlisted:
Sustainable Innovation: SME Award
Sponsored by:
Shortlisted:
Corporate Social Responsibility: SME Award
Shortlisted:
Marketing Campaign of the Year Award
Shortlisted:
Excellence in Training Award Sponsored by:
Shortlisted:
Customer Service:
Multinational Award
Sponsored by:
Shortlisted:
Young Leader of the Year Award Sponsored by:
Shortlisted:
Customer Service: SME Award
Shortlisted:
Diversity and Inclusion Award Sponsored by:
Shortlisted:
Helen Anderton INX International UK
Jo Douglas-Harris Venator Materials
Catherine Friar Hexigone Inhibitors
Sophie Holliday Crown Paints
Robyn Smith Crown Paints
Apprentice of the Year Award
Sponsored by:
Shortlisted:
Veejay Bachetta AkzoNobel Decorative Paints
Elliott Taylor AkzoNobel Industrial Coatings
Oliver Williams Thermaset
Student of the Year Award Sponsored by:
Shortlisted:
Catherine Gibson PPG Architectural Coatings UK
James Scullion Tor Coatings
Isla Taylor HMG Paints
Coatings Care Overall Best Performer Award
Sponsored by:
Shortlisted:
Shortlisted: Ashington Birmingham
Coatings Care Progress Award
Now almost all shortlisted companies have bought tickets, so we are opening up ticket sales to all BCF member companies. Perhaps you thinking about entering our Awards next year, and would like to get a flavour for the evening? Or would you like to enjoy a team experience event with the opportunity to network with colleagues while celebrating the achievements of the industry?
Tickets are £225 (+VAT) per person, or £400 (+VAT) including overnight accommodation at The Principal Hotel. To book your tickets, please visit:
Thursday 23rd May 2024
Worsley Park Country Club, Manchester
Sponsored by:
At our Annual Conference this year, we raised funds for The Community Heartbeat Trust, who have been working together with rural communities to turn disused telephone boxes into Community Public Access Defibrillator sites or cPADs.
Lead sponsor:
Calling of the UK General Election allowed BCF to remind delegates of its five asks for the future Government in its Essential Coatings report and manifesto
Delegates were shown how they can create opportunities by utilising the latest innovative technologies in their business operations
Raising awareness of the value proposition for the coatings industry to the next generation of talent and supporting the development of young leaders in the sector was a key focus of the Conference
Over 160 senior decision-makers from the UK's paints, coatings, printing ink and wallcoverings sectors gathered in Manchester for the annual British Coatings Federation (BCF) Annual Conference on Thursday 23rd May.
The opening session covered the UK and global political and economic outlook, hearing from Andrea Boltho of Oxford Economics and BCF’s own Public Affairs Manager David Park who delivered his perceptions and predictions for the future of government following the announcement of the UK General Election shortly before the event. Roald Johannsen, Vice President of Automotive Coatings EMEA at PPG, closed the session by outlining European Coatings Association CEPE’s future strategy in his role as Chairman and how members can benefit through BCF’s international relations.
The day's proceedings took a forward-looking focus, hearing from Sherin Mathew, founder of AI Tech UK, followed by Fhaheen Khan, Senior Economist at Make UK and Professor Allan Matthews of the University of Manchester, who all provided insights into how businesses can harness and benefit from digitisation and innovation.
Keynote speaker Toni Kent
The afternoon session opened with an interactive panel discussion, chaired by Steve Bennett of Business of Science. He was joined by Tim Doggett of the Chemical Business Association, and participants from BCF member companies Molly Kershaw of PPG Architectural Coatings (BCF Young Leader of the Year 2023 and member of Coatings NextGen Council), Helen Anderton of INX International (Co-Chair of Coatings NextGen Council) and Andrew Roser of AkzoNobel – Dulux Decorator Centre (BCF Apprentice of the Year 2022 and Co-Chair of Coatings NextGen Council). They all provided valuable perceptions on how BCF and the wider chemical supply chain can look to promote careers in, and find future leaders for, the industry. It was also announced that in 2024, BCF have teamed up with skills body Cogent Skills to form the BCF’s new group, the Coatings NextGen Council, made up of the industry’s young leaders who will act as the steering committee for BCF’s future careers work.
This theme of careers was also followed by keynote speaker Toni Kent, Former Microsoft Manager, speaker, writer and podcast host who shared her story to provide an inspirational talk on social mobility and the future of work. The day's proceedings were closed by BCF CEO Tom Bowtell, taking to the stage to outline BCF’s highlights of the last year, and the challenges facing the sector.
After a fantastic day of networking with industry colleagues, the delegates at the evening dinner were entertained by stand-up comedian Justin Moorhouse.
The event also raised over £2,000 for the event’s charity partner, Community Heartbeat Trust, and its Minutes Matter Campaign, which has installed over 800 lifesaving defibrillator stations in red phone boxes across the UK, with paint provided by BCF member companies.
BCF CEO Tom Bowtell commented: “It is vital that we as the trade association for the coatings sector always look ahead and assist our members in their own planning for the future. With the growth of AI, broader digitisation and innovation across the industry, we are keen to highlight and debate how coatings businesses can benefit, or not be caught out by change. Moreover, in addition to promoting new technologies, we must do more to encourage more young people to pursue careers in coatings. It was therefore fantastic that the conference was so supportive of our vision for promoting the industry to the next generation through our newly-formed Coatings NextGen Council.
“As well as careers and technology we also need to continue to look forward on a policy and regulatory basis too. With the UK General Election being announced less than 24 hours before the conference began, it also gave us the opportunity to remind delegates of BCF’s five policy asks for whoever forms the next Administration. We look forward to working with our members to engage with parliamentary candidates, MPs and Ministers to make clear what our sector needs from Government in future.”
BCF President Sharon Harte closed the Conference by thanking lead sponsor WRX Trade, and other sponsors Protex Chemicals, IMCD, Lisam Systems and Terrafend for their generous support.
The delegates at the evening dinner were entertained by stand-up comedian Justin Moorhouse
ANDY DOYLE AWARDED SILVER MEDAL
Andy Doyle was awarded the UK coatings industry’s highest honour, the Silver Medal, at the British Coatings Federation Conference in Manchester on 23rd May.
Andy Doyle, President and CEO of the American Coatings Association, was instrumental in the founding of the World Coatings Council in 1992 before becoming President and has been involved with the BCF throughout the same period. The BCF’s unique relationship with the American Coatings Association has proved invaluable, both in and out of the European Union. Andy was directly involved in helping to cement BCF’s representation on the European stage on the Board of CEPE and has been an advocate for BCF to retain its profile with National Associations around the world. Andy has also provided valued contributions to researching and understanding both Coatings Care and now PaintCare, following the scheme’s nationwide success in the US.
Andy commented on his commendation: “I’m extremely honoured and humbled by this recognition from the BCF. I have always felt that our two organisations share a special bond. The BCF is an exceptional association, deftly led by their CEO Tom Bowtell and admired not only in the UK but globally as well. I am very grateful for the many years of friendship and have greatly enjoyed the chance to work alongside a terrific BCF team.”
Tom Bowtell, Chief Executive of the British Coatings Federation industry that the Silver Medal was developed to recognise. He has been a prominent figure in the global coatings industry and is a huge advocate for the BCF. We would like to thank Andy for his support and expertise throughout the years and congratulate him on this very much deserved accolade.”
The medal was presented to Andy by Peter Rieck, former BCF President and Silver Medal winner.
BCF nominated for four Memcom Excellence Awards
The BCF are delighted to announce that we have been shortlisted in four categories for the prestigious Memcom Excellence Awards! We have been shortlisted in the following categories:
Best Use of Video - BCF’s How to: Guide to cleaning your paintbrushes and rollers
Sustainability Award - BCF’s Net Zero Roadmap and Quick Start Guide Team of the Year
CEO Leadership - Tom Bowtell
Congratulations to all those shortlisted. The winners will be announced at the ceremony in London on Thursday 26th September.
To view the full shortlist, please visit:
In support of
BCF celebrates 800 defibrillator transformations at 2024 charity cycle
On Friday 28th June, the British Coatings Federation (BCF) held its fourth annual charity bike ride in support of the Community Heartbeat Trust (CHT), starting at their office in Coventry before covering the breadth of the local Warwickshire countryside. This year’s event raised just under £20,000 for CHT and the BCF have now contributed more than £120,000 through fundraising and paint donations from members which have transformed over 800 unused iconic red phone boxes into life-saving defibrillator stations through the Minutes Matter campaign.
This year’s event had a total of 66 riders, who took part in one of three distances: 35km, 52km or 100km. BCF participants have now cycled a total of 18,150km, a distance equivalent to travelling from London to Taiwan and back.
The Community Heartbeat Trust, by repurposing thousands of decommissioned and unused red phone boxes, aims to preserve the lives of 60,000 people, that is half of those who suffer from cardiac arrest every year. For every minute that someone in cardiac arrest is not receiving CPR or the assistance of a defibrillator, their chance of survival decreases by 10 per cent. The UK Resuscitation Council suggests a defibrillator should be no more than five minutes away from wherever medical treatment is required.
Tom Bowtell, CEO of BCF, said: “I am extremely proud of the work we do with the Community Heartbeat Charity, after over a decade of partnership through the Minutes Matter campaign. This has given over 800 communities across the UK access to a potentially life-saving defibrillator, as well as giving a new lease of life to iconic red phone boxes
found in most villages. I want to thank our riders for taking part in our Charity Cycle and our members for their kind and generous contributions.”
Martin Fagan, National Secretary of the CHT said: “Once again, the Community Heartbeat Trust charity (CHT) is immensely grateful to BCF for their fundraising efforts supporting CHT. In past years we have used these funds to provide free training courses to the public to help increase awareness of Cardiac Arrest and how this should be treated. Many thousands have attended the courses sponsored by BCF and their members, and a very big thank you for all your support.
Cardiac Arrest is sudden and potentially life-threatening. Its survival is through the implementation of a story called the ‘Chain of Survival’ – 5 stages you go through to save a life. (1) Recognise help is needed; (2) Call 999; (3) start chest compressions; (4) use a defibrillator; (5) send to hospital. Education is needed to understand each stage and why it is important to link these together. It’s not just about a defibrillator. Your funds will help train more people, and really make a difference.”
Sponsored by:
The BCF would like to thank everyone who has taken part in this year’s Charity Cycle and donated.
A special thanks to all our sponsors AkzoNobel, BioCote, Cogent Skills, Dacrylate Paints, INX International UK, Merck Group, Tronox and UPOL, whose support of BCF’s Charity Cycle Ride is invaluable.
To read more about the campaign, and find a defibrillator near you, visit:
BCF STAFF UPDATE
WELCOME EMMA SCOTT-HENDY, EA TO CEO
Very sadly, Joanne Jones, EA to CEO and Office Manager who joined in October last year, has been offered a fantastic new opportunity and moved onto pastures new in the summer. Emma Scott-Hendy, our new Executive Assistant to our CEO, Tom. You may have already been in contact with Emma if you have approached Tom with any queries. Emma has introduced herself below:
‘I am very excited to join the BCF family and thank everyone for their warm welcome so far. Originally from Ireland, I moved to the UK in 1995 settling on the south coast. There I started my administration career originally as a secretary, but then moved quickly to Personal Assistant. Following a move to the Midlands I began my Executive Assistant career. A surprising fact to learn about me is that I am also a trained opera singer.’
WELCOME LEAH ELVIN, ADMINISTRATOR AND CAREERS COORDINATOR
As part of BCF’s new careers strategy in 2024, a new role was created in order to prioritise this area and provide dedicated support for BCF members, as well as bolstering our administration resource within the wider team, particularly on PaintCare. Leah introduces herself below:
‘I’m Leah, the brand new addition to the BCF family. As Administrator and Careers Coordinator, it is my role to work with our members in creating, implementing, and promoting careers strategies across the industry.
I’ve spent the last two years working in agency recruitment so am well versed in recruitment strategies and processes that will attract and retain the next generation of talent. I love all things fitness recently completing my first half marathon in May followed by a 50km round trip of hiking and cycling around Snowdonia national park to raise £50,000 for Every Youth UK. I am already very much excited to get involved in next year’s BCF charity bike ride. I’ve been fortunate enough to visit over 35 countries around the world during my time as international cabin crew so if you can’t find me in the gym, I will normally be planning my next adventure away to somewhere beautiful and warm.’
BELLE LAKE PROMOTED TO SENIOR MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR AND LORRAINE BEARD BECOMES FINANCE AND OFFICE MANAGER
In light of Jo's departure, BCF have now promoted Lorraine Beard to Finance and Office Manager. In even more positive news, we have also promoted Belle Lake to Senior Membership Coordinator to continue developing her role of providing outstanding support to the BCF membership.
SOPHIE DUNHAM RETURNS FROM MATERNITY LEAVE AND RECOGNISING CALLUM PLUMMER’S CONTRIBUTIONS
As of September, BCF’s Marketing Executive Sophie Dunham has now returned to work from maternity leave after welcoming her daughter Aurora last year. In her absence, Callum Plummer, a talented photography student from Coventry University, joined the team to support BCF’s marketing activities. Callum made a fantastic contribution in his time with BCF, most notably at BCF events, his work on the Essential Coatings campaign and winning the 2024 Publication of the Year Award at the Trade Association Forum Awards for his support on the Net Zero Roadmap. Callum is an valued member of the team and will be hugely missed, and we will continue to keep in touch and support him as he goes back to university to complete the final year of his studies.
INTRODUCING BCF’S NEW SUSTAINABILITY MANAGER, ZOE SLADE
Sadly BCF’s Sustainability Manager, Patricia Durany-Fernandez, has returned to Spain with her family due to her partner accepting a major new role in their hometown Vigo.
Patricia has done a stunning job over the last year, including the publication of the BCF Net Zero Roadmap, and she has been passionate about supporting our members towards Net Zero and help our industry contribute to a more sustainable future.
Joining at the end of October, Zoe Slade, BCF’s incoming Sustainability Manager, introduces herself below:
‘I’m Zoe and I’ll be joining BCF as Sustainability Manager where I’ll be supporting our members on their individual journeys to deliver net zero carbon emissions.
My background is in the energy sector, where I’ve spent 20 years supporting organisations become more energy efficient and developing products and services to help them decarbonise their activities.
I live in Rugby with my husband, where we’ve spent the last few years renovating our house. Now that we’ve been able to lay down the tools, you’ll often find me exploring the local area with our Labrador, Zander.
I’m looking forward to getting to know our members, understanding their process and the challenges these present for their carbon footprint.’
ALI BROWN RETIRES FROM THE BCF
From Tom Bowtell, BCF CEO:
After 27 years of dedicated support to BCF members and the coatings industry, Ali Brown is retiring. I’ve had the privilege to work with Ali for the last 12 years, and BCF just won’t be the BCF without her.
Ali’s core strength is her attention to detail and commitment to go the extra mile for members, delivering above and beyond member expectations. This is one of the key reasons we’ve been so successful in growing BCF’s membership, which has doubled in the last 10 years, to over 250 members. Membership retention is always over 95% for Full members, and even hit 100% in 2023, which is a fantastic achievement given we’ve over 140 Full members.
Ali and her husband Chris now live in the New Forest, and we wish them both all the best for a long and happy retirement together.
We will be announcing Ali’s successor shortly, and we expect him to start later in the Autumn.
Former BCF President Chris Harris has sadly passed away at the age of 78.
Chris was the former General Manager UK&I of Dulux Decorative Paints, and was served his term as BCF President in 1995/96. Chris spent all his working life in the decorative paints industry at ICI (now AkzoNobel), having held a variety of marketing and sales positions and carrying out a number of international roles throughout his career.
He was married with one daughter, and lived in Berkshire.
‘He was a perfect gentleman, old school values and a pleasure to work for, but not to say he was any the less demanding for that. He was a marketing man by background but rose up the ranks to run the decorative paints business for ICI.’ - Steve Snaith, BCF PaintCare Consultant and former colleague
‘Great chap, I had a lot of respect for him both at work and when work finished, socially. He was a bridge between my old man’s era (Tony Rieck) and mine and if my memory serves me correctly was the Board Member who first approached me about becoming President at the Leeds Conference all those years ago.’ - Peter Rieck, former BCF President and fellow Board member
‘Chris was very much a hands-on President and presided over quite a difficult period of increasing regulation of the industry - and an office move! Coming from a decorative background and having good contacts with the customer sector, he was very much involved in the emerging VOC regulations and all that that involved.’
- Moira McMillan, former BCF CEO
Former BCF President John Cunningham has also sadly passed away.
John Cunningham was a proud Welshman. His business career began with Petrofina Group in sales and marketing, before transferring to Sigma Coatings in 1976. He made his way through the ranks before being appointed Managing Director in 1988. John’s term as President succeeded Chris Harris in 1996/97 and he served as Vice President alongside Chris during his tenure.
He lived in North Oxfordshire with his wife Barbara and has one daughter Philippa.
‘John was one of those larger than life individuals who was known across our industry, an excellent sense of humour but always forthright in his approach. He will be greatly missed particularly amongst the longer standing members of the Paint and Coatings sectors.’
- Peter Rieck, former BCF President and fellow Board member
‘John and Barbara were very good friends and I have happy memories of being in their company.’
- Moira McMillan, former BCF CEO
New members
If you would like to find out more about the opportunities available to our members, and the support we provide, please contact Belle Lake at belle.lake@bcf.co.uk.
Associate members
PALEUS Chemicals & Polymers
UK producer of Acrylic emulsion polymers for 20+ years for the adhesives market, now offering its PALACRYL range of pure acrylic and styrene acrylic products targeting the coatings and construction markets, and in development of new bio-monomer based products. In-house polymerization combined with a flexible manufacturing methodology & set up, allows PALEUS to be competitive in supply of medium sized annual demands of designed products which larger players can view as beneath their target size.
www.paleus.com
Sensopolis
Sensopolis is a UK manufacturer of non toxic anticorrosive pigments marketed under the brand name of Nanoguard ACP. They also supply a range of resins, curing agents, fillers and additives. On top of that they offer services like discrete sales and marketing assistance when entering new markets and launching new products. The company counts with an inhouse DGS. This service is also provided to customers previously covered by the 2018 exemptions.
www.sensopolis.com
Oxerra Pigments UK
The Oxerra Group is a major manufacturer of inorganic pigments including synthetic iron oxide, chromium oxide, zinc and manganese ferrite and CICP. The company as a strong record of R&D and continues to deliver new technology and innovation. The company is privately owned and headquartered in Singapore with global manufacturing assets in Europe, USA, Asia and China. In the UK the company manufacturers CICP pigments and liquid dispersions used across the paint and ink sector.
www.oxerra.com
Associate members
COROB S.p.A.
In every corner of the world, our customers put their trust in COROB for the highest standards of colour accuracy, efficiency and productivity. Ever since introducing the first fully automated tinting machine 40 years ago, our quest to bring innovative solutions to the world of colour never stops. You will find our dispensing and mixing technology in a diverse range of places from paint retailers, distributors, industrial and production facilities, spanning the entire Paints, Coatings and Inks sectors.
www.corob.com
Anstar Ltd
Founded in 2018 and based in Leeds, Anstar is a leading Speciality Chemical Distributor. We’ve quickly become leaders in the UV-Curing space across the UK and Europe. Our success stems from a lean, customer-focused approach, strong technical support, and a culture of innovation. Our customers benefit from our dynamic and dedicated team, who are the driving force behind our business. Committed to excellence and transparency, Anstar offers high-quality products and unparalleled end-toend service across various industries. Connect with us today to discover how we can support your raw material requirements.
www.anstar-ltd.com
Natural Power International
Natural-Power International AG develops environmentally friendly binders for manufacturers in the global building materials industry. All products are uniquely biocide-free, non-flammable and contain neither harmful chemicals nor other harmful substances. The Swiss company is highly specialised in combining metals (including alloys), woods and wood-based materials or organic and inorganic substances permanently, sustainably and absolutely reliably.
This improves the product quality of building material manufacturers, optimizes previous qualities and credibly enables ecological responsibility to be communicated to the outside world in the form of actions.
www.natural-power.international
Upcoming events and meetings
All BCF meetings are now face-to-face at our offices in Coventry unless otherwise stated.
October
November
Visit our website to keep up to date with latest meetings, events and to register.
THURSDAY 5TH JUNE
BCF ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2025
CHESFORD GRANGE HOTEL, KENILWORTH, WARWICKSHIRE
The BCF Annual Conference brings together industry experts to speak on key issues affecting the sector.
Join us for a fantastic day of speaker insights and networking with industry colleagues followed by a 3-course evening dinner and entertainment.
SPONSORED BY
Would you like to sponsor our Annual Conference? We have a limited number of sponsorship opportunities available. Please contact info@bcf.co.uk for more information.
Meeting rooms at Spectra House
State of the art meeting rooms in Coventry
Easily accessible via M6, M69 & A46 Spectra House, Westwood Way, Coventry, CV4 8HS
Features
HD interactive touch screens
Video conferencing facilities
HDMI/VGA connectivity
High-quality conference room speaker system
High speed Wi-Fi
USB power sockets
Use of member’s lounge
Bean-to-cup coffee machine
Catering available
Air conditioning
On-site parking
Use of 4 electric vehicle charging ports on request (charged at 40p/kW*)
Unlimited tea, coffee, squash and biscuits can be ordered at a rate of £5.50* per head. Catering can be ordered at a rate of £11.50* per head.
As part of our meeting room hire, you will gain access to our modern, comfortable member’s lounge. Our spacious hub is a perfect location for networking and taking in the day’s events. Catering is also available upon request and, perhaps most importantly, a bean-to-cup coffee machine.
*Subject to change.
The Silver Room
The Silver Room is the largest meeting room the BCF has to offer. Room capacity is 26, boardroom style. State-of-the-art video and conference calling are also available.
Daily Rates
The Magenta Room
The Magenta Room is the second largest meeting room at Spectra House. Room capacity is 12, boardroom style. Video and conference calling are also available.
The Morris Room
The Morris room is the smallest meeting room at Spectra House. Maximum room capacity is 6, boardroom style. Video calling and conference calling are also available. Disabled access and toilet available.
Daily Rates
