Chief Executive’s Report

Association members continue to deliver despite all that is thrown at them

BALI National Landscape Awards 2022

What a fantastic event this year! It is such a pleasure to see the winners of the Association’s prestigious National Landscape Awards celebrating in style at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House, and a real honour to be able to provide the platform to showcase our members outstanding achievements.

Despite all that has happened politically and the uncertainty that Brexit, Covid-19 and Plant Health regulations brought with it, Association members across the country have been reporting that they have continuing order books albeit a little more cautious than at the start of the calendar year. It is a wonderful sight therefore, to see that our members continue to uphold and exceed the professional standards expected of them, proudly demonstrated via the National Landscape Awards.

The entries into the Awards this year demonstrate the importance of using skilled professionals to undertake work whether it be in a small domestic garden or on large ground maintenance/construction contracts. With around 900 guests at the Awards, I’m sure you agree it was a tremendous industry event and I would like to congratulate all of the Principal and Special Award winners, and a huge congratulations to Maylim, our Grand Award winner. For a full round up of the day, including all winners, please see page 24.

Once again, I would like to express our very sincere gratitude to our Chair of the Adjudication Panel, John Melmoe and to his team of industry experts for their professional commitment to the task of selecting this year’s award winners. In undertaking an enormous amount of work on our behalf to maintain the reputation and integrity of the National Landscape Awards, each judge gives their time freely and commits to ensuring that the benchmark of excellence is not just maintained but raised. I am delighted to say that under John Melmoe’s stewardship, 2022 has been no exception.

On behalf of the Board and wider Association membership, I would like to thank them for the enormous amount of work they undertake to ensure this reputation and integrity is maintained. I would like to congratulate every Association member who entered this year and acknowledge the achievements of those who have ultimately been successful.

The judges and the awards process have been very capably co-ordinated and project managed by Emily Feeney (Events Project Manager) from Landscape House. Once again, without the commitment shown from Emily, supported by the team at Landscape House, the whole awards process would not have run so smoothly. It’s so great to see the support from you, our members for ensuring that this remains the leading awards ceremony of the industry.

Membership satisfaction survey

As you will be aware, we recently conducted our annual membership satisfaction survey. This provides you with the opportunity of feeding back with your thoughts about your membership and help shape the future strategy and business planning in order that they focus on you, the member.

Participation in these surveys is crucial and invaluable from our perspective as we can gain your views on how we are doing and where we need to concentrate our efforts in order to serve you better. I would encourage more of you to engage with us in this way as it helps to assess if we’re getting it right! So, a huge thank you to those of you that did provide us feedback. We are now further analysing the results and comparing to the survey we undertook in 2021 to identify what action we can take to improve our service to you, the member.

I am extremely pleased with those items highlighted in green as these show an improvement upon last year

or that we have exceeded our target of 75% Excellent/Good feedback.

No need to undertake the CITB Touch Screen Test for LISS/CSCS cards

Following an Association audit, we have had approved the ROLO Health, Safety and Environmental courses at Operative, Supervisor and Manager levels via Build UK and the Construction Leadership Council (CLC). This now means that we do not require the CITB ‘touch screen test’ to be done in addition to the ROLO courses.

This is great news and a real win for the wider landscaping industry not just association members. Please watch out for further announcements regarding when this will commence but it is anticipated to happen in the New Year.

Collaborative work being undertaken

• Questions being raised in the House of Lords regarding ornamental horticulture and landscaping, and

how government can support the industry which will help deliver on government policies as well as promote growth in the economy • A further inquiry into horticulture has been called for which will showcase the part that industry can play in delivering on the government’s 25-year environment plan and bring more workers into the industry • The Association has recently had a positive meeting with LANDEX.

The aim is for the organisations to work closer together to promote the landscaping industry as a credible career choice. Also to improve the level of education provision in colleges, working with the help and support of the BALI

Chalk Fund • Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Charter developed for the landscape industry. Professional bodies from across the landscaping industry have come together and developed a charter, committing to improve

equality, inclusivity, and diversity. See the charter on page 40 • We had a successful meeting with the Department for Work and

Pensions (DWP) to look at how they can initially look at working with national companies to ease the burden of recruitment and to find funding streams for aiding the training of those entering the industry. Initial presentation has been done with the BALI-National

Contractors Forum (BALI-NCF) on this with a view to rolling out to the wider membership • Embodied carbon or ‘whole life cycle carbon’ work being undertaken with the Landscape Institute • An industry group looking at the carbon capture and mitigation for businesses to improve their carbon footprint

Association Services – rated good or excellent 2021/22 2022/23 Knowledge, advice offered and professionalism of staff 90% 90%

Communication of industry developments and legislation 85% 89% Speed of response to enquiries/telephone calls 88% 89%

Promotional opportunities for your business

Administration and turnaround time of LISS/CSCS SmartCards

58% 65%

69% 83%

Workshops/events/networking opportunities Promotional opportunities for your business

74% 88%

70% 78%

Association Benefits - rated good or excellent 2021/22 2022/23 BALI Accredited logo

86% 90%

Who's Who Landscape Directory

Landscape News

87% 74%

88% 90%

E-newsletter

79% 85%

Technical Officer support

Webinars

80% 85%

75% 80%

Regional Events

Dispute Resolution Service

National Landscape Awards - Entrant

BALI HR/H&S in association with Quest

BALI Insure in association with Aston Lark

60% 73%

80% 81%

87% 74%

81% 80%

67% 64%

BALI Jobs in association with Horticulture Careers 50% 52%

Regional AGM’s

I look forward to seeing many of you at the Regional AGM’s in the new year, and I hope that as many of you as possible will try to attend this very valuable networking sessions and there are some exciting guest speakers and events coming up. Please watch the Association website events pages for the most up to date information bali.org.uk/events.

Regional AGM’s 12 January - Midlands 27 January - South Thames 7 February - North Thames 16 February - Yorkshire & North East 9 March - South West

In the meantime, on behalf of the Landscape House team, may I wish you and your families a very happy festive season and your business every success in 2023, in which I hope your Association can play a part. Best wishes,

Wayne Grills

Chief Executive