Upfront Graham Titchener covers some of the different strands of work elected members of the BPA do for the collective industry Whats in a name? Communications and lobbying continues to be sector. The importance of all things EV-related a central and supportive area of BPA business, will be recognised at a dedicated joint Parkex/ as we establish, maintain, and build upon our Traffex EV theatre, allowing us all to meet with relations with the powers that be (and may key stakeholders who are driving the future of be). It covers a variety of work, ranging from EVs. This raises a number of questions, including the ongoing Private Parking Code to penalty how our industry proactively supports and charge notice levels, pavement parking and embraces this change, which leads into: is our electric vehicles (EVs), and ensures the BPA is Association and sector more than just parking? at the forefront of these conversations. I have I think so, and at the CEA meeting this month the privilege to chair we will be holding what was called the workshops to look Is our Association Public Affairs and at this. Well even be and sector more than Communications considering the name just parking? Board, and is now the of the BPA, building Communications and upon the strapline of External Affairs Board Beyond Parking (ideas (CEA). This name change helps to put a greater on a postcard, please!). We will also be reviewing emphasis on communications, BPA events and the Positive Parking Agenda and what this external affairs. brings to our sector as the world of EV grows The BPA is recruiting for a head of external plus our industrys role as it continues to help affairs, given how essential our increasing work influence and inform government policy. with stakeholders, industry and government Theres so much going on, including the has become. Having this new role will allow new strategic plan for the BPA, so these next our long-standing head of communications few years promise to bring further change and and marketing, Dave Smith, to focus more focus, and it is up to all of us to ensure that this on communications and marketing, and take is a positive change for our BPA community, our on a leading role in the industrys events. industry and the public as a whole. Recently, the newly established events panel A key ask then of you, dear reader, is to get which reports into CEA met to look at this involved and help shape the future! years packed events programme, including Parkex, where details of a new BPA event will Chair of the BPA Communications and be unveiled. External Affairs Board In that vein, next months Parkex promises to communications@britishparking.co.uk be a packed three days for everyone across our Graham Titchener 3 PN May 2023 pp02-03 Upfront.indd 3 25/04/2023 10:57