Sheetplant

Benefits of joining the Sheet Plant Association

The Sheet Plant Association exists for the benefit of its member companies and their employees.

The Association will foster, promote and encourage activities which meet the following aims and objectives.

• Provide a forum where the owners and managers of Corrugated Sheet Plants can meet and discuss matters of common interest.
• Provide a forum where Suppliers to the Sheet Plant sector can discuss matters of common interest with companies engaged in that sector.
• Co-ordinate and pursue joint action in respect of matters affecting the corrugated packaging industry and the Sheet Plant sector.
• Promote the Corrugated Sheet Plant sector to existing and potential customers.
• Promote and encourage best practise amongst member companies.
• Provide training for industry specific skills and knowledge, and training for personal development for the employees of member companies.
• Promote co-operative working between member companies.
• Co-operate with and exchange information with associations having similar aims and objectives, not only in the UK, but also in Europe and the USA.

What you miss if you don’t join …

• Network with other Sheet Plant professionals at regular Members’ Meetings, with highly focused, value-adding agendas aimed specifically at the Sheet Plant sector of the corrugated packaging industry.
• Share experiences and opinions on issues involved in running a Sheet Plant in open forum ‘Members Sessions’ at each meeting, as well as one to one with delegates during social time.
• Keep up to date with industry news and events through the fortnightly publication titled ‘Board Converting News’ and annual ‘Who’s Who in Corrugated’, both included free in the SPA membership package.
• Benchmark key aspects of your Sheet Plant’s operation to measure how well it is doing in comparison to the ‘best in breed’, and thus identify specific areas for improvement.
• Obtain Sheet Plant specific training for craft skills and for personal development at hands on SPA training courses held in Members’ plants.
• Access professional advice on legal, personnel and Health and Safety matters via the SPA free telephone helpline.
• Join with like-minded Sheet Plant professionals so that your voice and your opinions are heard by government and by those who legislate for our industry.
• Co-operate with other similar Associations, including AICC in the USA and Federation du cartonnage in France, for the long term benefit of the corrugated packaging industry.

“We have found our membership of the SPA to benefit our organisation enormously. The combination of industry focused advice from people that understand boxes along with the opportunity to network with other owners and managers has played a significant part in driving our business forward. I would highly recommend SPA membership”
		Douglas Lamb The Boxshop Ltd
“Quite simply, the SPA adds value to the business, and has done so at each stage of our growth over the years. The time and effort spent attending the meetings is time and effort well spent. The opportunity to network with other sheet plants and a wide variety of suppliers, be kept up to date with industry best practice and the latest employment legislation. There really is something for everyone!”
	Ken Shackleton The Cardboard Box Co Ltd

SPA CHAIRMAN	Graham Sutherland (gsutherland@ardenpackaging.co.uk)
	Corrugated Packaging has been in Graham’s blood since that paper cut running a slitter scorer in his student days working in his father’s factory. He graduated from Nottingham University with BA (Hons) in Industrial Economics, before qualifying as a Chartered Accountant. Since 1984 Graham has worked for Arden Packaging based in Stockport, Manchester: a corrugated sheet plant which also supplies a wide range of packaging materials to provide a total packaging solution for customers requiring high service levels. In 1991 Graham was appointed Managing Director. For over 20 years Graham has had contact with relevant Trade Associations and in recent years become more actively involved in their management. Graham is also a Confederation of Paper Industries Council Member for Corrugated Sector & a National Packaging Council Director
SPA VICE-CHAIRMAN	Tim Gray (tim@dairi-pak.co.uk)
	Tim is owner and Managing Director of Dairi-Pak Ltd. - a £7million sheet plant based just outside Shrewsbury. Tim has worked with Dairi-Pak since graduating from Plymouth University with a Business Studies Degree (BA Hons.) in 1991. Tim has been a staunch advocate of the SPA over the years has been on the Executive Committee for 10 years and has been pivotal in establishing Five Star Accreditation as the only recognised ‘industry specific’ best practice award for the sheet plant sector. He has also taken on responsibility for the new SPA website. Tim is also Five Star Co-ordinator on the NPC Executive Committee.
TRAINING CO ORDINATOR	David Pedley (davidp@gwp.co.uk)
	Founder and Chairman of The Great Western Packaging Company Ltd. a group of 3 companies consisting of a conventional sheet plant and 2 specialty divisions, Corstat Containers and Eastman Packaging. The group employ 97 people across the 3 sites based in the South West of England. David is a Mechanical Design Engineer having completed a City and Guilds Technical Apprenticeship in Mechanical Engineering in 1980. He has 26 years experience in the packaging industry in both a sales and management capacity. He holds an accredited diploma in Company Direction from the Institute of Directors. David has served on the committee of the SPA for 10 years
SPA Executive Committee	Richard Jarratt (richard.jarratt@sh-fiske.com)
	Richard is Chairman of S H Fiske Limited, the sheet plant owned by his family. Based in Bristol in southwest England, S H Fiske is typical of many UK sheet plants - annual sales of £2m, a staff of 25, and serving a customer base mainly within 50 miles of the plant. After an earlier career in engineering, Richard has been in the sheet plant industry for the past 20+ years. A corrugated packaging enthusiast, he is passionate about sheet plants and their role in the corrugated marketplace. He was Chairman of the Sheet Plant Association between 1997 and 2005, and is a member of Council of the Corrugated sector of the CPI, where he chairs the Promotional Committee.
	Raj Bhardwaj (raj@knowitall.co.uk)
	An energetic, uncommonly enthusiastic workaholic who has developed a highly successful approach to getting professional results in a hurry; whilst having fun. Experience in 9 packaging plants; most of these years were spent in senior sales and operational management roles. This experience is underpinned by a sound education: an MBA (with Distinction); 1st class degree in Marketing with Systems Analysis; a Diploma in Marketing and a Diploma in Management. He set up his own consultancy, training and recruitment business (Know It All) in 2004 – which has a particular focus on the packaging industry.
	Chris Hall (chris.hall@easypack.uk.com)
	Chris is CEO of Easypack/POP Displays Group - with 17 years experience working within the sheet plant sector Chris started out by working in various roles within the family business, Easypack Corrugated Cases Ltd, taking over as MD in 1997. In 1998 he set-up POP Displays Ltd with a partner and quickly became established with one of the major retailers for retail ready displays. In 2004 Chris bought out the remaining shares in the family business and his partners shares in the display business. In 2007 the companies were re-branded as Easypack/POP Displays Group with three trading divisions, namely, Easypack Corrugated, POP Displays and Easypack Creative with a combined turnover of £6.5 million.
NPC Secretary & SPA Secretariat	Allan Glen (npc@natpack.org.uk)
	Allan and Lorna are a father daughter team who provide an efficient service to the SPA members. Allan, as a young man, became a chartered accountant before entering the packaging industry. Allan has spent 30 years within the packaging industry and has a wealth of knowledge.
	Lorna Quinn (npc@natpack.org.uk)
	Lorna attended university and studied business and French. Lorna then ran her family company which was based in Scotland and in France. 12 years later, she then decided to work along side her father. Lorna speaks three languages and has a strong Marketing and European Economic background.