The British Metals Federation (BMF) offices in Brampton, near Huntingdon, already house the Wood Recyclers Association and the Textiles Recycling Association. And plans have been agreed with the British Secondary Metals Association – which traditionally has represented the non-ferrous metals recycling industry to put a merger proposal to both BMF and BSMA members to form a new organisation to be based at Brampton.
Mr Hulse brings with him experience gained in a career in the motor industry, mostly with the Ford Motor Company where his last position was as government affairs manager for the UK. For the past three years, he has worked for the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders as the secretary to the ACORD cross-sector consortium, of which the British Metals Federation is a leading member.
He succeeds Rick Wilcox who has been executive director of the BMF since 1994. George Bond, president of the BMF, said that Rick Wilcox had done a “tremendous amount for the BMF.
“Rick is the eternal optimist. He is an expert at saying let's look at this again and he always helps find a solution.”
Mr Bond conceded that the Federation has it range of difficult characters and many individuals with long-held views. “Rick has helped bring members together in many ways and I think we are moving forward very positively now.”
The president singled out the importance of the proposals with the BSMA and said that Mr Wilcox had done a huge amount of other work, including helping to reorganise the structure of the BMF.
“Rick has done a stalwart job and in David we have someone who will be able to take the Federation forward to the next level.”
Mr Wilcox said that his seven years at the Federation had seen several highlights. “The greatest is leaving in the knowledge that all being well there will be one trade association rather than two. I could never see the sense in two since the day I joined. I see the one association as being a platform for the whole industry to be better represented.”
A second, said Mr Wilcox, was the practical guidance document that was agreed with the Environment Agency “on waste versus non waste. In my view we have come to a very successful practical guidance agreement which, while protecting the environment, does not harm commercial interests.”
In the future Mr Wilcox is to take on responsibility for the Wood Recyclers Association and will help the BMF on a one day a week basis.
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