General Information
The British Management Data Foundation (BMDF) was formed in 1979. It is an independent body concerned with matters affecting the performance and the global competitiveness of its member companies to whom it gives independent advice, information and data.
The companies and organisations supporting the BMDF do not have an overall corporate view. They represent many differing interests and viewpoints. This, however, is one of the strengths of the BMDF and enables issues to be considered from a wide perspective.
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The BMDF stems from a joint study project by several major British companies in the 1960s. The co-operation, which included the setting up of joint teams to carry out studies in various plants of the participating companies, proved very successful and paved the way for the formation of the British Work Measurement Foundation in 1970.
Discussions between member companies began to cover broader aspects of productivity and company competitiveness and in order to recognise what was by this time an established wider role, the Foundation was formally reconstituted in 1979 as the British Management Data Foundation.
Membership was, and still is, restricted to a limited number of British companies and companies with substantial operations in Britain in order to keep a responsive, informal and mutually supportive atmosphere and to enable projects to be progressed quickly and effectively.
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The experience and knowledge within British companies is considerable and wide-ranging, not only in technological expertise but in the many facets of successfully running operations and in the methods and approaches to overcome managerial and people problems.
Many companies face almost identical problems but on different time-scales or in different environments. Much can be gained by frank, friendly and confidential discussions and debates in the setting that the Foundation meetings are held, learning from each other and seeing particular problems more clearly and in better perspective from their impact in varying conditions.
The BMDF has developed into a unique forum enabling constructive co-operation to take place in an informal, supportive and effective basis and also to act as a centre for independent advice and data on matters affecting the global competitiveness of British industry.
This approach of the Foundation is intended to promote maximum interchange of managerial information to achieve greater understanding on all matters of expressed mutual concern, particularly to help improve our performance and competitiveness in world markets.
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AIMS OF THE FOUNDATION
Promote maximum interchange of managerial information on matters of expressed mutual concern - particularly to help improve our competitiveness in world markets.
Establish and provide basic data to enable a better understanding of current core issues. Promote the solution of mutual problems by joint discussions, meetings, visits, study tours and joint projects.
Use the varied and considerable experience of members to mutual benefit and to widen members’ perspective.
Make available all appropriate information for the general benefit of British industry, to give independent advice and to discuss with Government as appropriate matters affecting our global competitiveness.
Conduct its affairs on an informal supportive and confidential basis encouraging all members to contribute and to participate.
The Directors of the BMDF
The Director of the BMDF is Andrew Cowgill BSc ACA CTA, who was appointed on 17 December 2009.
Anthony Cowgill had been the Director of the BMDF from 1979 to the date of his death on 29 October 2009. See his obituary.
The BMDF has a Council of Management which oversees and directs the activities of the Foundation.
The aim of all BMDF activities is to identify and analyse current core issues and by achieving a better understanding of these, enable more informed decision-making.
Activities include review meetings and the issue of data and information on a wide range of current matters of importance to industry.
Restrictive Membership
Membership is by invitation only and is restricted to a maximum of about 25 companies (including a small number of overseas organisations with a significant stake in the United Kingdom) in order to keep a responsive, informal and mutually supportive atmosphere and to enable members to be represented at all meetings at which they have an interest.
Funding
The BMDF is an independent organisation and does not receive any funding from official or government sources. It is non-profit making, limited by guarantee and is funded solely by members’ annual subscriptions.
Review Meetings
The BMDF provides an exceptional forum in which all of the relevant parties are able to meet to discuss specific issues in a particular area.
The meetings are held regularly to survey the current situation in specific fields that are of particular concern and have an impact on the member companies.
The intention of the discussions is to examine a particular subject from a wide range of perspectives and to analyse, question and challenge current thinking. Members present will be able to understand more clearly the views and perspectives of the different organisations involved.
The meetings are generally held in London, in Pall Mall, and followed by a buffet lunch during which the discussions can be taken further in a more informal setting.
Most meetings are small (between 12 to 20 or so) and are usually held under the ‘Chatham House rule’ so that frank discussion can take place ‘round-the-table’ with maximum involvement among the participants.
Among the areas under current discussion are:
Global Competitiveness and Manufacturing Strategy, including research and development policies, and achievement of quality and ‘world best practices’;
European Union matters: Policy matters, Implications for Industry including the development of the Single Market, regulation, energy, competition and Economic and Monetary Union;
Better Regulation: Reducing regulatory burden on Industry;
Energy: Policy matters - Competition, costs, conservation, security of supply considerations, renewable energy, fiscal and financial considerations, emissions trading and carbon pricing, European Union implications on the UK energy market;
Pensions: including regulation, funding, accounting, and policy issues;
Fiscal and Monetary Policies: Effects on Industry, including short and long term issues, funding of projects and the impact of regulations and accounting standards.
Prominent authorities from outside the BMDF are invited to attend, including government ministers, opposition spokesmen, representatives of government departments and representatives of the institutions of the European Union.
Points arising from these review meetings are progressed as necessary with the most suitable people concerned with the issues.
Data
Data regularly issued to members includes, in addition to BMDF papers and reports, full texts and synopses of speeches of importance to industry including those by British and foreign government ministers, pertinent academic papers etc.
The aim of BMDF publications is to give the source information on major matters of concern to enable a better understanding of the key issues.
When appropriate, data is also issued publicly – such as the BMDF books on the EU Treaties, including the ‘The Treaty of Lisbon in Perspective’ and ‘The Treaty of Nice in Perspective’ (which are the most understandable versions available).
Distribution of Papers
In addition to the distribution of papers and calling notices etc to members, copies are also sent where appropriate to interested authorities and others particularly concerned with the issues involved including the Number 10 Policy Unit and other Government Advisers.
This page was last updated on 2 January 2010© Copyright Andrew Cowgill, 2010