To all our clients, partners and stakeholders,

As we all continue to battle COVID-19, I would like to share with our clients, partners and stakeholders an update on how the BBA is dealing with the short-term impact and our planning for medium- to longer-term changes.

Let me start with an assurance: The BBA is open for business and its future is not at risk. While this is a challenging time for everybody, the senior management team in the BBA meets three times a week (virtually) to review all options and scenarios. We also have a weekly call with our Board, where our cash flow requirements are explored in detail. As such, we are confident that our plans and reserves will carry us through the remainder of 2020 and beyond.

Like many SME’s, we have made use of the support provided by the UK Government and assessed our staff resource requirements in some detail. As a result, we have asked some of our staff to go on furlough. Additionally, we have introduced some pro-active cost-savings measures in the business, which have been supported by the wider BBA team.

I am very proud of the support of BBA colleagues throughout this process, even as some of these measures have had a personal financial impact. They have risen to the challenge with pro-active ideas, personal sacrifices and a can-do attitude that fills me with confidence for our future. I owe them my gratitude and thanks.

As you would expect, some parts of our business have been affected more than others. For example, our team in Audits & Inspection (A&I) have not had the usual access to client premises and have had to postpone some activities. However, in other areas we have been able to switch to virtual inspections on sites we know well, with our auditors and inspectors guiding this process remotely.

Our Test facilities remain open for business, and our premises are spacious enough to continue this work with recommended social distancing measures deployed.

In our Product Approval and Certification (PAC) business, we have had an element of homeworking in place for many years. Therefore, switching to working from home on a full-time basis has worked seamlessly.

We are also using this time to accelerate the transformation of our PAC business unit. The work being done consists of two parts – (i) Project Alpha, which is focused on establishing a ‘new way of working’ and (ii) reducing our backlog and creating additional capacity. For each of these programmes, we have brought on board experienced and dedicated transformation specialists.

We want to assure all our clients, partners, stakeholders and supporters that the BBA is still open for business and we look forward to serving you for the next 50 years.

If you wish to get in touch or find out more, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected]

Regards,

Hardy Giesler
BBA CEO