FBHTM Member Benefits

Services available to FBHTM Members

All members receive a constant flow of information on general Federation matters, DBERR and other Government Department’s actions which affect the industry, Health and Safety, Environmental, UK and EC Legislation, overseas business information and opportunities, standards, trade fairs and exhibitions, trade missions, hand tool industry statistics and business trend reports.

NETWORKING

Federation membership of the European Hand Tool Association [Comité Européen de l’Outillage (CEO)] provide forums to meet your European counterparts on a similar basis.

You can also make use of the MTA’s regular networking events, which include the Annual Dinner, Annual Forecasting Seminar, and Annual Lunch.

LEGISLATION

Whether we like it or not, the fact remains that what government decides, direct or as a result of EC Legislation, has a great bearing on our working lives – and on our industrial performance and profitability.  As the recognised spokesman for the whole of the hand tool industry, FBHTM is consulted on all matters affecting it.

The Federation is a leading member of CEO which speaks for the European hand tools industry as a whole.

The Federation is a member of BSI.

With these formal links the Federation and members are able to temper certain proposals; and put forward and argue alternative options.

TRADE FAIRS AND MISSIONS

The Federation provides representation at many exhibitions and trade fairs, including those overseas.  Government financial support is available to introduce members to overseas fairs and invaluable information is available from the Federation for first time exhibitors.

Many overseas missions attract government subsidy for travel and the Federation provides help to find out whether companies qualify.

STANDARDS

Federation membership of the British Standards Institution (BSI) provides an opportunity to frame National, European and International Standards for hand tools.  It is increasingly important to have an input to European (CEN) standards to ensure that these standards do not have the effect of introducing technical barriers to trade to UK manufacturers’ products.

Experts from member companies are encouraged to become members of the relevant BSI product committees and where appropriate, CEN and ISO committees.

Approved standards are used by many government agencies as a basis for purchasing; and as a member of FBHTM you can ensure that the standards concerned are fair to your own company.

STATISTICS

The Federation acts as a focus for the collection and dissemination of statistics on products manufactured by member companies, imports and exports, and assessment of UK and European market sizes.  UK situation and tendency surveys are carried out quarterly and parallel information on European countries is received from CEO.

OTHER BENEFITS

As an FBHTM member, you will also benefit from a number of MTA member services:

• MTA Friday Brief : weekly sector news, and technical and statistical update
• Access to Business Support Helpline : over-the-phone legal advice on a range of issues
• Access to Buying Support Agency : cut purchasing costs through
• Federation website maintenance & management : britishtools.co.uk and britishtools.com
• Free of charge use of MTA conference facilities in London

For more details on how you can join the Federation, or for advice on getting the most out of your membership, contact the FBHTM Secretary, Nick Stamp, on 020 7298 6408.