CHANGES AT THE FCA BUT STILL SAME GREAT SERVICE
Posted: 16/02/2012
Author: Samuel Zelmer-Jackson
Category: Fencing
16/02/2012 - After more than 13 years of dedication to raising standards within the Fencing Industry, "Fencing's National Treasure" Wendy Baker is stepping down from her role as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Fencing Contractors Association (FCA).
Penny Robson, Company Secretary of the Wilde Group, Council Member and current National Chair of the FCA said “I have been on the council for the past 9 years and have admired her passion and determination to get recognition and accreditation for the fencing industry and as a result the FCA has become a well respected and recognised National Trade Association”.
Ian Frost, Managing Director of Newton & Frost Ltd, Council Member and former National Chair of the FCA recalled that "When Wendy first took this position; the FCA was a tired organisation with only 72 members. Over the years she has worked tirelessly to encourage more companies from within the industry to join up and last year, despite the financial climate, the membership stood at 232".
Prior to taking up this role, Wendy had been on the FCA Council, a Board Member Trustee and Company Secretary of the National Fencing Training Authority, making her involvement a total of 20 years working for and on behalf of the Fencing Industry. After taking up the post she was instrumental in bringing industry under the umbrella of Lantra Sector Skills Council. Robert Tabor, Lantra’s Director of Finance and Deputy Chief Executive said: "Wendy started working with Lantra in the early 1990’s, when the land-based industries were starting to work more closely together. During that time she has contributed significantly to the development and success of Lantra. Over the years she has championed the skills of fencing and successfully raised the profile of this industry."
The processes Wendy put in place kept the industry out of the scope of CITB (Construction Industry Training Board – now Construction Skills), the resultant effect for us all was that we escaped returning to the ‘good old levy paying days’ which is the position to date. NFTA also brought the gift of Awarding Body status to Lantra, enabling them to work with the fencing industry to continue the development of the formal qualification process, started by NFTA with the NVQ/SVQ Level 2 in Fencing being their first qualification. Wendy was also first to Chair the Lantra Sector Skills Council Fencing Industry Group, a post she held for 9 years. Peter Martin, Lantra’s Chief Executive said: "During her time working with the industry Wendy has been instrumental in securing funding to support the development of assessor capacity. Her passion and dedication to the skills and professional standards of this industry is truly inspiring. She has been an asset to the entire fencing industry and will be greatly missed."
Wendy has represented the Fencing Industry at all levels whether meeting Politicians, British Standards Representatives, MOD or supporting individual fencing companies celebrating their time working in the Fencing Industry. During her time as CEO, Wendy has moved the industry forward by her support of a number of initiatives - some of her proudest achievements are listed below:
She has been the chair of Sector Scheme Committee 2A, General Fencing, since its inception, and is a committee member of Sector Schemes 2B, Vehicle Restraint Systems, Sector Scheme 2C, Environmental Noise Barriers and Sector Scheme 4
Wendy also negotiated with CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) the first industry led joint card scheme known throughout the industry as FISS/CSCS.
Preservative Treatment of Timber. It is through her work with others on the sector scheme committees that the quality assurance and career structure within the industry was initially developed and continues to evolve. Lance Williams from the Highways Agency who has worked with Wendy for the last 20 years on Sector Scheme Committees said "Wendy is a dedicated and dynamic Lady who always pushes things through" and Ian Frost added "Throughout her membership of these committees Wendy has unwaveringly championed the cause of FCA members ensuring that their interests are cared for in the best possible way". Gordon Jenkins, Director of Operations at CSCS who with Wendy was instrumental in setting up the FISS/CSCS partnership said "Wendy’s passion for the fencing sector was evident from the first meeting that CSCS had with her, and whilst there were challenges in getting the FISS/CSCS scheme off the ground, Wendy’s determination and ability to collaborate with CSCS for the benefit of not only FCA, but also the wider fencing sector, proved to be the key in making it work. I am proud to call her, not only a good colleague but also a friend".
Penny Robson also added "We have seen Wendy’s devotion and commitment to ensure that the industry has a voice on a wide range of committee’s and workings groups and believe me; they have all come to know and respect Wendy. Despite all of this I think the thing that Wendy is most proud of during her time as CEO of the FCA is raising over £101k for charities. The FCA charity golf day, held each year in June has been a great fundraising event and many charities, large, small, local and national have benefited from the money raised." The event this year to be held on the 29th June will be the 15th event.
Although stepping down as CEO, we are pleased to announce that we will not be losing Wendy’s industry experience and most valuable industry knowledge. She remains Managing Director of Online Services Ltd, the company which administers the FCA, and will remain under contract as FCA Acting General Secretary until the end of 2013. In this role her unwavering support will continue as she has agreed to mentor, steer and coach the FCA team to ensure seamless committee representation and continuity in service delivery and support for the FCA membership. Hugh Kennedy, Managing Director of J B Corrie Ltd, Council Member, who commences his 2 year term as National Chair at the AGM in London on the 23rd February said "I would personally like to thank Wendy for holding on for a couple more years - Luckily for me this fits in nicely with my spell as chairman! Although she is easing back from her role as CEO, I am delighted that Wendy and her team have agreed to continue to provide the same excellent service. Over the years Wendy has substantially increased the membership, skilfully steered the FCA through a perpetual barrage of challenges, accumulated an immense amount of knowledge, made very valuable contacts, instigated a vast array of initiatives and largely ‘pulled the strings’ on most of the Council actions and decisions.
With Wendy’s retirement as CEO a brave new Online Services Ltd has emerged, that will provide the FCA with a seamless transition in service and will ensure that the FCA continues to enjoy all the same excellent leadership and back up it has enjoyed since Wendy took over as CEO/administrator".
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