Special Feature - BTHA

The BTHA celebrates 80 years of serving the toy community

Last month, with the British Toy & Hobby Association celebrating it’s 80th anniversary this year, Toy World highlighted to readers the vital work of those directly involved with the BTHA in championing the UK toy industry and raising awareness of the importance of play. This month, in part two of our exclusive feature, we bring readers stories from current members and former chairs. From their proudest moments to why the BTHA is so important to both the UK toy industry and the UK’s most vulnerable children, this selection of ‘talking heads’ reflects what makes the association special, why it’s work must continue, and why, after eight decades, it remains the voice of the UK Toy industry.

Foye Pascoe - Former BTHA chairman

How would you describe the BTHA?

The BTHA feels like a family: a family that shares a passion for play, for toys, for games, and for the success of our industry. A family that supports each other with expertise, knowledge and camaraderie, expertly led by the fantastic BTHA team. From wonderful Toy Fairs and incredible Toy Trust fundraising efforts to world-leading technical and toy safety support, the BTHA is always steadfast and professional but with a welcome dose of fun and friendship.

Jacqueline Taylor-Foo - General manager UK & Ireland, Jumbo Group

What do you get out of your BTHA membership?

The information and communication from the BTHA is fantastic, covering relevant and topical subjects. Of course, there’s also access to free seminars and training sessions as well as priority tickets to the annual Toy Industry Day, featuring superb guest speakers.

What's the one thing people should know about the BTHA?

The BTHA team covers topics relevant to product design, toy safety, ethical manufacturing, environmental issues, and responsible marketing, to support and protect over 140 members. They also do a great deal to support children’s charities via the Toy Trust, with events that allow the whole industry to get involved in fundraising efforts.

Nick Austin - Co-founder of Vivid Toy Group and former BTHA chairman

What is the importance of the BTHA to the industry?

Firstly, the BTHA gives members a powerful voice with which to speak to both governmentand non-governmental organisations, and as such is an invaluable lobbying asset. Secondly, it also can offer free, prompt advice to members, helping them avoid the costs associated with challenging trading and legal issues. Thirdly, it offers an array of key services (including London Toy Fair) that help toy companies to connect with customers both domestically and internationally.

What was a highlight for you whilst you were on the BTHA board?

The BTHA’s support for us in our first year of trading enabled Vivid to navigate a way through a China/EU quota trade dispute that otherwise could have left us with no access to sourcing from China factories – it was a real life-or-death situation for our fledgling business. Thankfully a solution was found, and eight years later we became the UK’s No. 1 toy company. We owe our existence to the BTHA and its successful lobbying with the UK and Chinese government.

John Herriman - Chief executive, Chartered Trading Standards Institute

As a member, what is your involvement with the BTHA?

CTSI is immensely proud of its long-standing and important relationship with the British Toy & Hobby Association, and we are delighted to wish the organisation well as it celebrates its 80th anniversary.

The BTHA plays a vital role in the consumer protection jigsaw: protecting consumers, especially children, and maintaining high standards across the toy and hobby sector. It’s also a staunch supporter of the Trading Standards profession. We collaborate closely in a number of key areas, including providing ongoing training and development for Trading Standards professionals at the CTSI Annual Conference, supporting CTSI’s prestigious Hero Awards - which celebrates those working in consumer protection - and collaborating with the BTHA on key policy priorities and campaigns. The BTHA consistently goes above and beyond to create a fair playing field for legitimate toy manufacturers and ensures that product safety is at the forefront of the toy sector.

Alan Munn - Former BTHA chairman

In what relation have you worked/been involved with the BTHA over the years?

In 1982, whilst managing director of Milton Bradley Limited, I was invited to join the board of the British Toy and Hobby Manufacturers’ Association, as it was then named. Up until that time, the association board comprised only British toy companies, many of whom still had manufacturing units in the UK. Milton Bradley Limited, being an American company, was the first non-British company to be represented.

I was appointed chairman in 1991 -1992, during which period we undertook a number of key changes and developments. Reflecting the changes in the industry, given that there were more toys being made overseas, the name of the association was changed by dropping ‘Manufacturers’ from the title, and a new logo and branding were created. Toy Manufacturers of Europe (TME) was formed, later changed to TIE, to enable a closer interaction with the European Commission. Work started on the Lion Mark to provide consumer recognition for quality and safe toys, and the Toy Trust Committee was formed to raise and distribute funds to charities supporting children.

I served as president from 2001 -2004 and retired in June 2005, but I am pleased to still be involved with the Toy Trust committee.

What is the importance of the Toy Trust to the Industry?

It is estimated that there are 1.6m children in the UK living in vulnerable situations but receiving no support or help from the system. The toy industry exists because of children, but up until 1991 it made very small, insignificant contributions to children’s charities - often just a few thousand pounds raised by a simple auction at its annual dinner.

We know that through toys and through play, we bring many benefits and much happiness to children, but we asked how we could help the ‘forgotten’ children. In 1991, whilst I was chairman, we established the Toy Trust Charity Committee, with the sole purpose of raising funds and distributing grants to charities specifically supporting disadvantaged children. By involving the whole industry, including retailers and toy suppliers, we’ve shown the compassionate and caring side of the toy trade. To those taking part, the charity offers a feeling of pride: the Toy Trust has raised and distributed over £7m to children’s charities both in the UK and overseas during the past 30 years.

Roger Dyson - Former BTHA chairman

In what relation have you worked/been involved with the BTHA over the years?

I was invited to join the BTHA Council in about 1995. I later joined the Toy Fair Committee under the chairmanship of Jimmy Hunter: when Jimmy became chairman of the Council, I became chairman of the Committee. I was later elected chairman of the BTHA and served between 2008 and 2010. I remained on the Council for the following two years as past chairman before standing down when my elected term expired. Being invited to serve on the BTHA Council was a great honour, and becoming chairman was an even greater one. The opportunity to serve with a peer group that included Alan Munn, Peter Brown, Nick Austin, Kevin Jones, Clive Jones and Jerry Burnie OBE, to name just a few, was a real privilege..

How has the BTHA changed over the years?

The BTHA of 2024 is an entirely different entity to that of 1995. Nowadays, the BTHA is far more inclusive - in 1995 there were no female Council members, but Christine Nicholls and Rosie Bales were later elected, and I was pleased to choose Christine as my vice chairman. It’s also significantly more proactive, efficient and effective. The BTHA of 2024 is reflective of the needs and requirements of the 21st century and Roland Earl and his team should be congratulated on the excellent work that they do on behalf of the UK toy industry.

Nicolas Dimier - Senior manager, Quality Assurance, Hasbro

As a member, what is your involvement with the BTHA?

I’ve been part of the BTHA Technical and Sustainability committees for about 10 years. These committees provide consistent, pragmatic technical advice and are a great forum in which to discuss upcoming regulations with industry experts. BTHA meetings are always the ones I prioritise in my diary.

Christine Nicholls - Vice chairman and creative director, Golden Bear Products, and acting chairman of The Toy Trust

In what relation have you worked/been involved with the BTHA over the years?

I was really delighted to be invited to join the BTHA council some 20 years ago, having been a member of the association since Golden Bear was launched in 1979. I had the honour of being the BTHA’s first ever female chairman and president, roles I am very proud to have held.

I am now acting chairman of the BTHA’s charity, the Toy Trust. I’m extremely passionate about the work undertaken by this committee in supporting disadvantaged children from many different backgrounds. This is all made possible by the amazing fundraising efforts from everyone within our industry. It’s been a privilege to work so closely with the team at the BTHA and to be involved with the many issues that are handled on behalf of all its members.

What are the main benefits you've experienced from BTHA membership?

The BTHA provides huge support to its members. From toy safety and sustainability to trade and ethical manufacturing, the vast range of guidance available to members is both extremely comprehensive and invaluable. The regular news updates are always of interest and help to keep up with the latest developments and activities. The annual Toy Fair at London Olympia is always an important and exciting event: the BTHA member discount for exhibitors is a great benefit too.

What did you enjoy the most about being BTHA chairman?

The role of chairman gave me a wonderful opportunity to get more deeply involved with industry topics, both in the UK and abroad. It was always interesting to meet up with like-minded toy people and it remains an absolute pleasure to work closely with the BTHA team, which looks after all our interests so well. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working together towards the common goal of supporting and promoting the wonderful toy industry that we’re all very lucky to work in.