Peterborough & District CAMRA Voting Form

I would like to continue in my position as BFO for the coming 2026 Beer Festival. In the last 10 years of my working life, I was Managing Director of the UK subsidiary of an International Equipment Manufacturing Company with a £10Million - £12Million turnover in the UK. As MD I was responsible for all aspects of the business including budgeting for annual costs associated with the Building, Staff, Overheads, Marketing, National Sales and Financial Viability. Many of these skills have proved beneficial in the ever-growing and demanding role of BFO, particularly since COVID, as we have witnessed a downturn of attendance across all UK CAMRA Beer Festivals. Organising the Beer Festival is NOT a ONE-MAN task, it requires the strength of a positive team of volunteers prepared to give up, in some cases, weeks of time in preparing, running and post festival projects. As BFO it is important to work closely with the Finance, Cellar, HSO and Site Services managers to ensure continuity and planning accuracy, without these managers in place the festival would simply not happen. As most of you are probably aware, if the membership chooses to move forward with me, then PBF 2026 will be the 40th year I have chaired the BF Committee. My experience and ability in managing this expertise is second to none. This experience is vital to the success of the festival and whilst I accept that no one person is indispensable it would be folly not to take advantage of my years of experience. Year on year the infrastructure of PBF has become more sophisticated and inevitably more costly. The BFO needs to have a firm grip on reality, be able to introduce cost savings where appropriate and to have a crystal ball to future guess such things as the number of visitors, the number of glasses required, the cost and selling price of wet sales and the ability to react often at short notice to changes. As well, as experience I believe that enthusiasm is a secondary, but non the less an important consideration and this has always been to the forefront of the key members of the BF team, particularly myself, we do what we do because we believe in it. I have made it known that I will not stand again as BFO after the 2026 festival, so I hope that the branch can appoint a suitable candidate to step forward and shadow me so that in 2027 the branch will have someone knowledgeable in the role of BFO. To try to step into the role of BFO without any basic knowledge or experience would be utter madness, please somebody shadow my role and step up to the plate in 2027 with at least the basics of experience. In moving away from BFO role I would be more than happy to act in an advisory capacity in the future if that is what the branch wishes.

As a long time volunteer at the PBF I have seen the festival grow to the great event it is today. I want nothing more that to see it continue and become even more successful. I have been involved in many aspects of the event and I believe my skills will take the event in the right direction and make it more financially viable and future- proof. I fully understand the responsibilities that the post brings and I have been recruiting suitably experienced people to take on the variety of roles that are needed. In my professional capacity I have overseen projects with budgets in the region of hundreds of thousands of pounds in the construction industry, and brought a number of high profile projects to fruition within budget and timescale. With my experience in different roles such as cellar, wine & gin bar, kitchen and sponsorship, to name a few, I have a unique view on some of the areas needing attention. Over the years I have felt that many new ideas put forward have been marginalised which has stifled creativity. I'd like to see new ideas on improvements and changes to the festival to be listened to and acknowledged. In my non-CAMRA roles I have successfully run the 9 Bridges charity beer fest for 2 years, generating over £8000 in profit. I have also been instrumental in making the Priory Beer Fest in Market Deeping a success, raising over £10,000 for charity. I have now reached a point in my working life that gives me more time to spend working on the many aspects of the festival. I look forward to working towards the continued success of the festival and welcome your ideas and support.