A few conference blogs.

 

I had intended to blog everyday from conference but for some strange reason I was quite busy.  So the next few will be a day by day account

Monday

I travelled down late morning to Brighton knowing that the team had prepared well and everything was on track.  It was an enjoyable journey and I managed to get a lot of e-mails done on the train.  I dropped my bags off and headed to the Brighton Centre mid-afternoon, excited to see how it was all going – well of course.  Having no crisis to attend to I decided to make myself useful and help out on reception.   I hope, like me, found the new electronic registration system worked well.  It was good to meet and great friends and colleagues and we were busy due to the fact that there were mini-theatre sessions running in the afternoon.  I also took the chance whilst there to look at the Playsafe entries and the TSI video booth.  Just loved the colour scheme.

The afternoon seemed to fly by and before I knew it the welcome reception was starting.  This year we decided to hold it in the exhibition space and the mixture of the buzz of the exhibition, some chilled out music and refreshments made it an excellent start to the week.  After that I shot across the road to the branch welcome drink.  Of course I was home at an extremely early hour, to make sure that I was fresh for the rest of the week.

Shaping up TSI both internally and with partner organisations

I'm very sorry that I've not blogged for a couple of weeks.  Like a lot of others I took some time off at half term and have been catching up ever since.  It always feels manic just before and just after a break these days!

In the couple of weeks since I last blogged we had the first staff meeting of my tenure.  It was good to get an understanding of what staff expect from me and to keep up to date on all the work that is going on.  It also provided an opportunity for me to begin to set out my vision for the organisation, which will see us become much more member led.   

We have also cracked on with a couple of key decisions for TSI.  Firstly we have made the appointments to the Codes Approval Board and I look forward to working with the candidates – they will be announced at the official conference launch next week.  Other decisions around our application for chartered status mean that we will be looking towards this year's AGM to make the appropriate amendments to our rules and by-laws.

My introductory meetings have continued at a pace with meetings at the Office of Fair Trading, Citizens Advice and Electrical Safety Council amongst others.

I have had a couple of meetings with Graham Jukes from the Chartered Institute for Environmental Health.  One looking at how we maintain the Home Authority database and one focusing on how we ensure professional standards when local government decides to outsource regulatory services.  It is clear that as we go forward there will be a real need for our organisations to work closely together to help shape our professions.

Catching up with our colleagues at TSI Branches

In the last couple of weeks I have visited a number of branches.   It is always good to hear from our members and update them on what we are doing on their behalf. 

Major topics have included our role in the new landscape – primarily in relation to business advice and approved codes.  A lot of work is also being undertaken on competence and how we deliver on the Council’s request to support the progress of the Trading Standards Practitioner status. 

I’ve also used the opportunity of these meetings to set out what I want the Trading Standards Institute to be – an open and inclusive organisation with the branches at the heart of our governance. 

A royal treat

Yesterday I had the great pleasure of attending a garden party at Buckingham Palace.  I must admit to feeling like a giddy child as I waited with my better half Eileen at the gates.  When we got in, the gardens were a truly magnificent sight.  

By chance I met a number of people I know including one of our Board members Ian Warwick.  We had a lovely plate of sandwiches and cake before we queued to see the Queen walk by on the way to the royal tent.  A number of people had been chosen to talk to the Queen – for example Janet Russell from the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health whom I also happened to bump into.  Unfortunately we hadn’t been chosen for this, but we had an amazing day – save for the tired feet from walking round the vast gardens.

Three days of excellence

Before I left to go on my trip I had three really exciting days.  The first was on the Wednesday when, alongside Graham Jukes, we judged the shortlisted entries for our MJ award.  It was a great reminder to me of the truly positive impacts both trading standards and environmental health services can have on their communities.  Tired, but inspired, we debated long and hard before choosing a winner - but you will need to wait until the awards dinner in June to find out who won.

I then had the pleasure to meet the 2012 Playsafe winners at the House of Lords.  The four young winners were amazing – a really positive representation of their generation.  My heartfelt thanks go to the British Toy and Hobby Association for their continued support of this awards and our profession as a whole.  I look forward to seeing the 2013 Playsafe entries at our Conference in June!

I spent the Friday in Hampshire hearing about some of the challenges trading standards there are facing and their plans to address them.   It was really good to see constructive dialogue between all parties.  Not only are they an excellent service now but they are developing some clear plans for the future.   

Four boys in a boat

Sorry I’ve not blogged for a while but I’ve been enjoying a few days down in sunny (sort of) Devon with a few of the boys.  I say boys but I was the youngest by some 11 years and we certainly showed our age with lots of early nights.  It was good to catch with old friends from my time at Westminster and to hear about how things are there. 

Talking of old friends; in a tiny village in Devon I bumped into Christine Wade, ex-head of Essex Trading Standards and the Office of Fair Trading.  She was looking well and certainly better than me –I’d just walked up and down one of the local hills! 

A personal recommendation for those of you who know the Ferry Boat on the waterfront at Dittisham.  On the first Sunday of the month during the summer they have a “beachside” party with a live band and a good BBQ and paella.  We certainly enjoyed ourselves.

What a beautiful day

Yesterday I had one of those hectic days with lots of meetings and running around - but it was also a day that I really felt that I was becoming a chief executive.  It has been a slightly strange feeling moving from being a head of service to an organisational head, but I'm now growing into it.

My day started with a meeting with the property ombudsman.  It was a good discussion about how we work together to help improve standards in the sector.  We also considered some of the changes happening to the regulatory landscape in their area - it was a good reminder that policy changes don’t just impact on regulators but also on businesses.

Then it was off to the Office of Fair Trading to talk about the transition of business education to the Trading Standards Institute, and about price guidance in particular.  It was a really positive meeting and helped shape our thoughts on how we might make price guidance a living document and better engage with primary authorities.  We will be progressing work on this under the TSI banner shortly, so watch this space for more news.

Then it was off to meet Catherine Brown (CEO of the Food Standards Agency) with Graham Jukes of the Chartered Institute for Environmental Health.  These are regular meetings and it’s good to share thoughts and ideas in an informal way.  I find the approach very refreshing and open. Unsurprisingly topics touched upon included horsemeat and competence.  There was a real commitment from all that we need to work together to learn lessons from the horsemeat scandal and to ensure the continued competence of our officers.

My final meeting of the day was with Lord Curry, chairman of the Better Regulation Executive.  He has a wealth of experience that can help guide our work and it was good to understand that we have a shared goal of better regulation - not de-regulation.  But it is equally clear that with the resources available to us it will be a balancing act. 

I got home a bit tired – but smiling.