NTDA Spring Conference Takes Shape

Plans are already well advanced for the NTDA’s spring conference, which is being staged alongside Brityrex in May. It will be the first time that the NTDA has organised an interim event between its major conferences and the occasion will serve as an opportunity to update its members.

John Tarbox, chairman of the organising committee, commented: “We felt very strongly that so much came out of our Marbella event we should provide an opportunity to update the industry on the different projects which came to the fore at that conference and also give those members, who did not attend in Spain, an opportunity to add their voices to the ideas already put down – and also add a few more.”

The three major issues that will be reported on at the conference are the 3mm campaign, cold weather tyres and female motorists. The day-long agenda will also allow for further discussion of the subjects, assures the association’s director, Richard Edy.

“Our 3mm campaign is now taking shape nicely and if not already launched by the conference, we will certainly be able to show members copies of promotional material and report on the major awareness campaign with opinion formers which is scheduled to be rolled out in the next few weeks,” expanded Mr Tarbox.

Mr Edy added: “On cold weather tyres we have now put a small group together to push this forward and the female focus groups will have been held by the conference so we should be able to present the findings in Harrogate.

“One of the most important aspects of the Harrogate event will be to give the industry another opportunity to identify new issues and we are taking a slightly different approach in May to ensure that this process is streamlined”.

In preparation for the discussions NTDA members have been given a selection of subjects as suggestions for the basis of working groups. The topics include tyre supply, OE specs, truck tyre market, 4X4, run-flats and staffing.

The organisation of the event will be similar to the NTDA’s previous Marbella event and facilitator Rob Angell, who has worked with government and public bodies, will lead the proceedings. Three or four other professional facilitators, who will take a more active role in managing the working groups, will also join him.
“These working groups are fundamental to the success of our conference and we felt that too much responsibility was being put on the delegates themselves to run this part of the event so the use of outside professionals will make the running of the groups much smoother and easier on delegates” added Richard Edy.