Benefits

By being a member of the BPA and contributing to its work you and your colleagues will benefit from:

INFLUENCE
STATUS
KNOWLEDGE
OPPORTUNITIES
SERVICES

INFLUENCE - with decision makers, including government

One of the BPA’s main aims is to raise standards in the parking industry. To fulfill this aim the Association has, in recent years, worked with members and other organisations to produce a number of policy documents and training qualifications, some examples of which are given below. As a member you will have the opportunity to get involved in BPA policy work and, in so doing, can make a real difference to how your industry develops.

Review on Decriminalised Parking Enforcement, by Richard Childs QPM BSc FSyl. An independent review, published in 2005, commissioned by the BPA with support from the Department for Transport (DfT), that made recommendations to government for inclusion in their Statutory Guidance notes on the Traffic Management Act 2004. Many of the recommendations made have been included in the new civil parking enforcement guidance.

Model Contract - launched in 2004, produced for use by local authorities when hiring contractors to manage parking enforcement. The contract emphasises a modern partnering approach and moves away from performance being measured largely on revenue/ticket generation to measuring indicators such as compliance and customer satisfaction. Having been in operation for three years, it is currently being reviewed to ensure that it meets users’ requirements.

Skills and Qualifications – the BPA, in conjunction with City & Guilds, launched a new qualification for parking attendants in 2005. This qualification is now being updated to reflect the changes in the TMA 2004. The National Sector Skills strategy has been developed and was launched in 2007. The Skills Board has been set up and is partnered with Asset Skills.

Approved Operator Scheme – launched in October 2007 the scheme is for members who operate parking enforcement services on private land and unregulated public car parks. Controlled parking on private land is largely unregulated but by requiring members to adhere to a Code of Practice, the scheme recognizes those businesses who operate reputable and fair enforcement.

STATUS -  by belonging to a body of repute and one that is committed to raising standards of training and professionalism

The BPA acts as a forum for discussion on policy and practice and is often consulted by government departments such as the DfT and the Home Office. Increasingly, as the BPA works on raising standards within the parking industry, we are asked to comment on various parking related issues by the press. By being a member of the Association you will be joining a body that is increasingly seen as the representatives of the parking industry.

KNOWLEDGE - industry news, views and technical developments

• Parking News, the Association’s premier journal, will be sent to you 11 times a year.
• BPA news - e-zines delivered to your inbox monthly to keep you up-to-date with the latest industry information and BPA news.
• Parking Trend, the European Parking Association’s journal, will be mailed to you 4 times a year.
• Parking Practice Notes (technical papers) are produced by experts in the industry, and available to you free of charge through the BPA website.

OPPORTUNITIES - for networking, exhibiting products and training

• Parkex, the biggest dedicated parking exhibition in the world, is the BPA’s largest event attracting 1,000s of professionals in the industry. Members receive discounts for exhibiting.
• Seminars, workshops and social events, are held nationwide all year round, with members eligible for discounts on tickets.
• Regional Groups exist throughout the UK, and are designed to provide networking opportunities for members at a more local level. Groups organise their own meetings, seminars and social events with administrative support provided by the BPA.
• Special Interest Groups bring together members who have a particular interest, such as clamping or enforcement.

SERVICES  - ranging from discounts to technical support

• Discounts on events - members receive up to 30% off the full price.
• Discounts on advertising - members receive up to 20% off advertising rates in Parking News or eZine, and can enter the Product and Services Guide on the website for free when advertising in the Parking News Product and Services Guide.
• Free members directory on the web - listing contact details for all our members.
• Members area on the website - contains exclusive features such as a discussion forum, access to technical information and IHS library services.