Page 5 - BOSS Today Issue 1

value

as standard

Michael Gardner is the man at the helm of a new-style BOSS Federation.
And he has very clear ideas on what he wants to offer members.

ichael Gardner does not mince largest wholesaler and dealer groups right
his words. In no uncertain down to the smallest independent business.
terms he has set out his As an industry representative BOSS needs to
Magenda for the future of be all-inclusive from the top to the bottom.”
The BOSS Federation. “In recent years BOSS has And there’s more. “BOSS also needs to be
gone off the boil a bit,” he says. “It needs to be the first port of call when it comes to lobbying
rejuvenated, to be reinvented.” government both on UK and European
And Michael is just the man for the job. His legislation,” says Michael, adding “and we
experience places him in an excellent position to will set a clear environmental policy for the
carve out a fresh new future for BOSS Federation industry so the whole industry can become
and its members. Michael took over as chief carbon neutral.”
executive officer of the BOSS Federation in July Michael says a key objective is to ensure BOSS
2008 following the agreement between BOSS is adding value not adding cost for its members.
and the British Printing Industries Federation Michael provides an example of what he means.
(BPIF). A qualified accountant – he is a fellow “Philip Beer, of Hamlin Paper Brands and chair of
of the Chartered Institute of Management the Manufacturers’ Forum, has recently used the
Accountants and the Association of Chartered Platinum Plus and Legal Plus services. He used to
Certified Accountants – Michael has worked in think of BOSS as a cost to his business but now
both the printing and offices supplies industries. he sees it as an extension of his management
Past employers include printers Williams Lea team, providing added value services and advice
and Greenaway Harrison and Cartwright Brice, in areas such as human resources, health and
WH Smith Business Supplies and Niceday in the safety and law.”
offices supplies sectors. Michael also established Michael’s aim is that all members will see
an offices products company for the Burton a benefit in membership, particularly in this
Group. tough economic climate. “We are in the midst
Michael believes BOSS’s value to members is of the worst recession since the 1930s, now we
vital. “BOSS has been representing its industry want to help members improve their financial
for 100 years. Such is the service it provides to its performance offering help with cashflow and
industry that Alan Barclay [BOSS chairman] said credit insurance issues.”
if we didn’t have BOSS we’d have to create it.” “Like Madonna we need to reinvent
But Michael is very clear that more needs ourselves,” says Michael. “We lost our way for
to be done and what a modern BOSS should a while but now we need to work with our
look like. “We need to be the industry’s leader, members and stakeholders to rejuvenate a
to represent every part of the industry from the BOSS valued service.” n

4 BOSS TODAY / August 2009 August 2009 / BOSS TODAY 5