October 2020

updates from www.hpmag.co.uk HYDRAULICS & PNEUMATICS October 2020 51 Contact BCAS at Tel: 020 7935 2464 e-mail: info@bcas.org.uk website: www.bcas.org.uk It is in times of challenge and change that trade associations come into their own, offering impartial support and advice – not only to their members but to the wider supplier and end-user community. Here at BCAS, a reduction in committee meetings and sustained period of working from home during the Coronavirus pandemic has enabled us to focus efforts in other areas. This has included improving our online training and producing new technical advice and guidance materials for end users. We have now delivered a new learning management system and have transferred all of our learning modules online to https://e-learning.bcas.org.uk. This will provide easier access for our members and a host of valuable online materials for users of compressed air, vacuum and downstream air treatment products. A great investment for the future supporting best practice and creating a safer and better-informed customer and industry at large. Building on the past For many years, BCAS has been the secretariat for many standards committees, producing technical standards for our industry on a broad range of products and services. BSI and ISO for example, depend on industry Support in times of change By Vanda Jones, executive director, the British Compressed Air Society. participation to ensure these standards are balanced, workable and add value. Standards are core to the trade association and as we move into the post EU era, it will be critically important to ensure members and users are well informed of any changes and potential divergence in this important area. As well as the day-to-day standards development work, we are working closely with BSI to ensure that our industry key players are well represented at this important crossroad. We are a ‘go-to’ service for standards’ interpretation in our sector and this new era brings with it challenges that we are ideally placed to support. Working in the present As we get used to working in our new normal, we are refocussing on the industry’s requirements. We have now left the EU and uncertainty still abounds as we advise our members to prepare for a hard Brexit. This is primarily on the basis that business needs time to prepare and that is simply a commodity that we don’t have as we near the end of the transition period. We continue to work together with other trade associations in our sector to ensure that the voice of the sector is heard in the most efficient way. Why BCAS With increased emphasis on the value of using a responsible supplier, the BCAS website is there to provide a wealth of practical, free advice. Use our ‘find a member’ section to source a reputable BCAS member. All members adhere to our code of conduct, so you can be sure that you are receiving trusted advice. Vanda Jones: “The BCAS website is there to provide a wealth of practical, free advice.”