Comment by BVAA Director Rob Bartlett

BVAA Board

As we come to the end of another busy year here at the BVAA, I do find it remarkable that the situation we find ourselves in right now is so much different to what was forecast a year ago, and yet the year ahead again seems so clouded and hard to fathom.

Being a not-for-profit, when our members sneeze, we invariably catch the cold.  So it is all the more remarkable that this year – which started with dire prospects over the war in Europe, in the shadow of Covid and political uncertainty - was a brilliant success for BVAA, in almost every respect.

Across the spring period, we were delivering Training via online courses, and February saw us inducting a new cohort into our Future Leaders Programme (FLP).  In March we had without doubt the best and most popular Northern Regional Dinner and Supplier Day event we’ve hosted since we started.

In April and May we were extremely busy on the external exhibitions circuit, culminating in – again – the best BVAA Conference we’ve ever held and an absolutely brilliant IVS exhibition in Bergamo, Italy.  In June our own Desktop exhibitions scene opened up again to great delight.  Even the summer months were extraordinarily busy preparing as we were for so many events and activities.

The autumn saw BVAA providing a phenomenal amount of unique and bespoke training for our many clients - now another of our specialisms - yet more desktops, and it culminated in what was undoubtedly the best FLP presentation we’ve ever seen, and the best AGM Gala Ball that anyone can remember.  Then to top it off we had the very welcome return to the Valve World Expo in Dusseldorf after an enforced four-year break.

Why did it all come together one might wonder? 

The answer is simple really.  The BVAA and its membership benefit hugely from the most dedicated, skilful and over-performing team imaginable.  The joy in spending every day, as I do, in the presence of brilliance cannot be overstated.  They are, put simply, the most amazing and joyous team, and I and the BVAA membership are truly blessed.

I wish you all the merriest of Christmases and the most amazing New Year.

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