UNDERFLOOR HEATING SPECIALISTS NOW UNDER BEAMA UMBRELLA

UHMA The Trade Association for Surface Heating and Cooling is to become part of BEAMA.

The move, supported by an overwhelming majority of UHMA Members at an Extraordinary General Meeting, brings the UK’s only trade association speaking for the underfloor heating industry under the umbrella of a professional representative body.

“This is a momentous day for UHMA,” said Chairman Chris Ingram in his address to the EGM delegates. “The Association has made huge progress in the 14 years since its foundation. We have a healthy and fast growing Membership and UHMA is widely acknowledged as the prime source of information on all aspects of low temperature radiant heating and cooling.

But our progress has reached the limit of what can be achieved by volunteers, however dedicated.

Now UHMA needs a presence in the corridors of power and a voice that will be heard by those who shape the future of Britain’s energy policy.

BEAMA can give us that voice.”

Campaigns

Westminster based BEAMA has been actively representing manufacturers in the heating and hot water sectors for over 30 years. It campaigns on behalf of companies making domestic heating controls, electric space and water heating, domestic heat pumps, water treatment and thermostatic mixing valves. Associated industries such as smart metering are also covered by BEAMA and the association is a leading player within the Smart Energy and Low Carbon Solutions debate.

Addressing the specially convened UHMA meeting, Kelly Butler BEAMA’s Marketing Director explained how many active trade associations were seeing the benefit of combining resources to cope with the quantity and quality of lobbying activity now needed in UK and the EU.

“There is considerable advantage for smaller associations in this approach,” he said, “a streamlined model offers much wider resource and influencing links backed by significant funding power.

UHMA members will gain particular value from linking with key sectors already within BEAMA such as heating and hot water controls and, of course, heat pumps. “

Influence

BEAMA employs over 20 members of staff and enjoys increasing influence in the UK and EU through membership of the key trade association/lobbying committees. It has an established track record of success in shaping policy for the benefit of its members.

The power to influence is matched by specialist service. BEAMA offers well established legal and statistical services to its members.

Welcoming UHMA to the BEAMA ranks a delighted Kelly Butler told the meeting that a development plan would be put into immediate action.

“The first priority following integration, he said, “will be to set out a 3 year work plan for implementation from April 2011. “

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