Annual Report 2008
| Annual Statistics 2008: figures to year end 2007 (Please note that this download is in the Microsoft PowerPoint Format) UKSPA performs a number of key services for its members each year in return for an annual subscription fee, which we have been pleased to be able to maintain at the same inflation-proofed level for the last seven years. We have worked hard to secure sponsorship and other forms of revenue to subsidise the cost of delivering services and running the UKSPA office. This 'funding gap' continues to be a concern and I am tasked to ensure this gap does not become too onerous. In terms of revenue for this year, 68% of our income derived from membership subscriptions, 18% from publications and 13% from very generous sponsorship from CUH2A, our principal sponsors who continue to support activities of the Association. In terms of expenditure, 75% of our costs are attributed to staffing, 18% to running the UKSPA office, 5% to staff travel, 2% to consultancy and professional services. The increase in membership numbers and the volume of activity through our office this year is clearly an indication of the wider interest shown in our activities both in the UK and internationally. Our core membership benefits are:
Laboratories of the Future This conference in July provided a useful opportunity for UKSPA members, tenants and others working in the science community to get together to look at current and future best practice in the Laboratory sector. Over 180 delegates attended the conference with over 400 more visiting The Scientific Laboratory Show which was running alongside the event. The speakers covered a wide area with the presenters including Laboratory designers and architects from the UK, Spain, Australia and the USA. UKSPA sponsors CUH2A and Business Affiliates Tait Engineering and Agenda also contributed to the success of the day. Presentations are available on the UKSPA website – visit the 'Past Events' area to download these. Delegate feedback has been extremely good with 94% of delegates expressing a positive rating. Discussions are already underway to see if the event can be repeated in 2009. UKSPA Membership Toolkit and membership communications At the Spring Members' Meeting we discussed a number of communication initiatives that would enable more effective communication between the UKSPA office and our Members. We are only too aware that there are valuable opportunities available to members and their tenants which are often not seen or identified at the right time by the right people. In busy offices we recognize that it is very easy to press the 'delete' button without recognizing the value of the communication to ourselves or our customers. With this in mind we have developed a 'Members Toolkit' – this has been published and available at www.ukspa.org.uk/toolkit and provides a description on the services that the Association has on offer. We hope that members, new and old, find the publication a useful summary of our activities. We have also worked to develop a monthly e-newsletter to increase the quantity, and also quality, of information that members receive from the UKSPA office. We have much valuable information available to members and believe that a monthly e-newsletter will deliver most of that information to our members' desktops in an easily digestible format. Please let us know if there are any improvements, or different types of information that you would like to see in this newsletter. The UKSPA Affinity Programme –'UKSPA Advantage' For some time the UKSPA Board have been supporting the executive to develop a purchasing initiative principally aimed at reducing the operation costs for tenants of science parks. Last year saw the launch – and crash – of a pilot initiative with 19 member parks volunteering to test a website with a limited number of product and service suppliers. The pilot proved to be rather more complex than is actually needed for this type of initiative, and therefore we have looked at new ways to broker supplier/tenant relationships and relaunched the initiative as UKSPA Advantage in much more simple form. It is worthwhile reminding ourselves that UKSPA Member Parks are a valuable national asset shown by the:
Finally, I am pleased to report that despite the inherent turbulence of a small organisation undergoing staff changes and significantly increasing activity due to the conference, that we managed to achieve our agreed budget during the year, and to add a small surplus to our cash reserve that can now be called upon as cash flow becomes more erratic. Whilst we are financially sound it should be noted that the Association does continue to operate on tight margins, with little financial flexibility. The sponsorship we receive from commercial sponsor, is very welcome, and we are grateful in particular to CUH2A who have continued to give us generous financial support. The programme of events and activities that we now have available to members is greater than ever before, and we believe offers value for money for our most important asset – our members. Acknowledgement I am very grateful to UKSPA members, the Board and our many Business Affiliates who have worked with us and supported the Association over the past year and to our sponsors for their continuing support, without whom the Association would be a much less effective organisation. I would also like to thank the many members who contribute to the work of the Association through running focus groups, returning data, or simply offering their support and advice to each other. Paul Wright September 2008 |