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If you’re a business owner in the UK, you’re probably aware of your industry trade association even if you’re not a member. But what is a trade association, and why do people join them? What does a trade association do with your fees, and what role does it fulfil for your sector?

A trade association is formed of like-minded businesses working together towards common goals. Trade associations are run by a sector for a sector. There are trade associations in almost every sector of the United Kingdom economy.

Associations are not-for-profit organisations which usually raise money through membership fees or subscriptions. The idea is if everyone pays a little, so together you can achieve a lot!

The purpose of a trade association

Trade associations focus on issues that affect everyone in the sector rather than specific individual businesses.

While the specific aims of each trade will vary, there are usually some common themes that all good trade associations will cover.

Represent their members

Above all, a trade association is that unified single voice of its members. They should represent you to the UK governments, other public bodies and potentially even your customers through public relations and media engagement.

By listening to members, bringing them together and hearing their concerns, trade associations can see the big-picture issues affecting the sector and set out strategies to make changes.

For example, the British Pest Control Association (BPCA) spent significant time campaigning for key worker status during the Covid-19 pandemic to protect the food and hospitality industry during lockdown.

Support the sector

Small businesses often lack the resources larger companies take for granted. An SME is unlikely to have in-house specialist legal, health and safety, or industry-specific technical advice.

Trade associations have collective buying power. They can either employ or contract specialists to support members in specialist areas.

For example, BPCA provides members with pest control, tax, legal, health & safety, tendering, recruitment and HR advice as part of their membership fees.

Many trade associations also create continuing professional development resources, learning and networking opportunities, and up-to-date sector news to keep their members at the forefront of their field.

Assure consumers

Trade associations, particularly in self-regulating or unregulated sectors, have a role to play in assuring the quality of the services members provide.

For example, in the UK, pest control isn’t a protected term, meaning almost anyone can set up shop and call themselves a pest controller. BPCA sets membership criteria such as assessments, qualifications, insurances and a Code of Conduct that assures customers they’re choosing a company they can trust.

Companies passionate about doing the right thing and client delivery are most often drawn to joining their trade association, as membership often proves that you exceed the bare minimum requirements in a sector.

Associations typically have complaint procedures, meaning if things go wrong, clients can seek help with remediation from their contractors' trade association. This gives consumers an extra level of consumer protection.

Who owns and runs a trade association?

Trade associations don’t have shareholders, as such. The members own the association, so they’re the ultimate bosses!

Members can help run an association by joining a board of directors, committees or a council. Elections are generally held so members can appoint other members to leadership roles. These roles are usually unpaid and voluntary.

Trade associations often employ a professional staff team to administer the association’s business. However, a staff team is accountable to the board or council, meaning that members still control the direction and strategy of the association.

For example, BPCA employs around 20 members of staff. However, the executive board comprises about 15 elected members from different companies. Below the board, BPCA has five committees, again made up entirely of volunteer members. BPCA reported 70 volunteers from member companies helping to run the association in 2022.

Reasons people join a trade association

Different businesses have different priorities and reasons for joining their industry trade association.

Representation in government

Trade associations actively engage with governments, lawmakers and civil servants on behalf of members. Some businesses join to help create a legislative landscape that’s good for their sector, organisation and clients.

Representation in the wider sector

Being a small business owner can be lonely, so meeting and networking with like-minded professionals through a trade association is often a big draw. Members share knowledge, learn from each other, and have access to information directly from their association at the heart of the sector.

To show clients professionalism

Particularly in unregulated sectors, it’s hard to show the difference between your company and a competitor. Association membership can show your clients you meet or exceed the industry’s best practice guidelines. Some clients may require certain association memberships before considering working with you.

You want to change your industry for the better

Companies that invest time and membership fees into their association actively contribute to improving the whole sector's profile, professionalism and profit. As an individual, you volunteer your time to a committee or the board to directly influence the shape of the sector.

Collective buying power and benefits

When 500 companies chip into the same pot, they have incredible negotiating and buying power. Expert advice line, advertising, product discounts, referral tools, media coverage, products, and services are often part of an association’s catalogue of membership benefits. Trade association membership can pay for itself if you utilise the membership benefits.

What a trade association isn’t

Trade associations are often confused for:

• Trade unions
• Professional bodies
• Regulatory bodies.

Trade association	A collection of businesses coming together to represent the sector and bring about positive change
Trade union (or workers association)	A collection of individual workers focusing on the well-being and rights of those workers.
Professional body	Set and uphold standards for individuals working within a particular profession or trade.
Regulatory bodies	Responsible for enforcing laws and regulations within an industry. Trade associations don't have regulatory authority but can collaborate with regulatory bodies to ensure their members' needs are considered.

 

A trade association may perform duties usually associated with a professional body in smaller industries.

For example, there is no professional body or institute for pest management in the UK, so BPCA helps shape things like qualifications, continuous professional development and career paths for workers. 

How are trade associations funded?

As a rule, most membership organisations are funded by their members through subscription fees.

However, other trade associations run commercial activities that supplement membership income and help to keep subscription costs down.

For example, BPCA runs commercial tradeshows like PestEx - the pest management show. We have a trade journal called Professional Pest Controller (PPC) magazine and run paid-for training and development courses for the whole sector.

This extra income helps pay for those big projects, public affairs and relations support, and enhanced membership benefits.

Do trade associations have a trade association?

Yes - there is a trade association for trade associations called the Trade Association Forum!

They encourage the development and sharing of best practices among UK trade associations and promote the role of effective trade associations to government, industry and the wider public.

Take a look at their animated video showing the power of UK trade associations.

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Getting involved with your trade association

As an association ourselves, we believe that all businesses should consider joining their trade association.

Joining as a member helps support your sector through the fees you pay. Volunteering your time helps shape the direction for everyone.

When inquiring about a trade association, do your due diligence. After all, you must consider what you get in return for your membership fees. Not all trade associations are built the same, and cheaper isn’t always better! 

Questions you could ask a prospective trade association include:

• What are you currently trying to influence at a government level?
• What changes are you trying to bring about internally in the sector?
• What membership benefits will I have access to?
• What are your membership criteria, and how does it protect the Association’s reputation?

If you work for a pest management company, ask us about membership today.

membership@bpca.org.uk
01332 225 112

Join BPCA

If you don’t work in pest management, search for your industry’s association on the Trade Association Forum’s website.