Training, partnerships and philanthropy: NTDA national chairman Martin O’Brien’s speech

Speaking on behalf of the executive officers of the NTDA, national chairman Martin O’Brien welcomed delegates to the 7th NTDA Tyre Industry Conference (sponsored as it was by GB Tyres (UK) Ltd in association with Linglong Tyres), before updating us all on the continued growth of the association and addressing the subjects of recycling (via a TRA update) and industry training.

First off, NTDA membership: “In 2020, we welcomed eight tyre distributors and four suppliers into membership and this year recruitment has been truly exceptional with 37 tyre distributors and nine suppliers joining to date.”

According to O’Brien the new members hail from a wide range of backgrounds: “From local independent family-run tyre retailers to large national fast-fit chains and from international product manufacturers to independent major tyre repairers and re-treaders, who have joined our recently launched Responsible Repairer Group, and from across the whole of the UK, we continue to attract some of the most well-known and professional companies in the sector and the team at Aylesbury are still fielding enquiries on a weekly basis from businesses that are recognising the tangible benefits of being part of our association.”

In late 2019 NTDA took over the administration management of sister body the Tyre Recovery Association (TRA). So how is this progressing? “The synergy between the objectives of both associations has led to a wonderful working relationship and I am also delighted that TRA membership is also thriving both in relation to full members and affiliates. This is, again, great news for the industry and will go a long way to improving professionalism in the end-of-life tyre recovery sector…”

Over 7,500 commercial tyre technicians are now REACT approved

Moving onto the subject of training and development, O’Brien highlighted progress that NTDA initiatives have made in the area: “Technician training remains a key area of activity and although some of our approved training providers were forced to close a number of times over the past two years, I am delighted to announce that more than 7,500 commercial tyre technicians have now been trained, assessed as competent and issued with a REACT licence, that’s an additional 1,500 since 2019.

“The licence is universally recognised across our industry by manufacturers, tyre distributors, customers and insurers alike and is the ‘de facto’ licence to work safely at the roadside.”

In addition. more than 1400 commercial tyre technicians have also been trained, or re-trained, assessed as competent and issued with an NTDA Commercial Tyre Technician licence and 120 technicians have now been issued with the NTDA Retail Tyre Technician licence”, but there is still said to be “a mountain to climb to overcome the desperate skills shortages we are experiencing in our sector.”

Partnership with National Highways

From here, the national chairman moved onto the subject of the NTDA’s partnership with National Highways (the body formerly known as Highways England): “In August this year we also signed a Strategic Partnership agreement with National Highways which now recognises REACT as industry best practice for technicians working on the Strategic Road Network.

Despite different circumstances and fewer events with which to raise funds, the NTDA continued its philanthropic activities:

“Since the NTDA decided to adopt the Wheelwrights’ Charity as it’s chosen charity in 2016 and more specifically it’s 2020 Vision for Mobility Appeal, the NTDA and its members have donated more than £70,000 in support of WheelPower the national charity for wheelchair sport.

“Over the years WheelPower has supported many people to discover their talent for a particular sport. This includes some of our recent Paralympians at Tokyo, like David Weir (wheelchair racing), Sammi Kinghorn (wheelchair racing), Alfie Hewett (wheelchair tennis), Ben Pritchard (rowing), Jessica Stretton (archery) as well as Melanie Woods, whose racing wheels were specifically funded by the Wheelwrights’ Charity small grants scheme.

“Melanie came fifth in the 800m T54 wheelchair racing event at Tokyo, her first Paralympics. An amazing achievement considering she only came to WheelPower’s Inter Spinal Unit Games introductory sessions, supported by the Wheelwrights’ charity, just over two years ago….

“….Our continuing ability to enable the Wheelwrights’ charity to make these and other grants to WheelPower and others to help support future opportunities for disabled people to get into sport and lead active lives depends very much upon your generosity.”

But it doesn’t end there. In 2022 the NTDA Tyre Industry Golf Day which will be held at Rudding Park in Harrogate on Tuesday 5 July. This year’s event at the Oxfordshire in Thame attracted 80 golfers and another 20 guests to the dinner afterwards and raised £1,950 for the aforementioned Wheelwrights’ charity.