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Have you ever wondered what the industry's influential figures have on their desk? From counterfeit combating paperwork to ornate golden urns, you can tell a lot about a person by their desk. This is why Voltimum's roving reporter, Frankie Snobel, scoped out the desk of BEAMA Chief Executive, David Dossett.
Born in East London and raised in Essex, David started his career in the industry as a student apprentice engineer at the London Electricity Board. Eventually becoming a Chartered Electrical Engineer, David found procurement work with an Iranian oil company based in London. From here he moved on to working with AMDEA (The Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances), representing British manufactures and making sure "e;standards met were international standards"e;. In 1991, David joined BEAMA (The British Electrotechnical and Allied Manufacturers Association) and took on the prestigious role of Chief Executive in 2001. David and the BEAMA team represent manufacturers through focusing on safety, government legislation and environmental responsibility. "e;We work hard to ensure the association"e;s role continues to grow along with the services we supply,"e; said David. Combating counterfeit electrical goods is another huge issue focused on by David and the BEAMA team. Investigators are hired and deployed into suspected counterfeit product manufacturing facilities all over the world, raids are organized and counterfeit products are seized. When David has a chance to break free from the seriousness of his work, he enjoys supporting West Ham, drinking "e;proper beer"e; and spending time with his lovely grandchildren at his "e;home in the country"e; in Suffolk.
1. BEAMA"e;s Management Accounts: It is David"e;s responsibility to ensure that BEAMA"e;s books balance.
2. NICEIC Calculator: David is Chairman of the NICEIC, which is the "e;commercial arm"e; of the Electrical Safety Council (ESC). "e;I make sure the business acts in a commercial way so we can spend more money on ESC charity work,"e; said David. The calculator is a promotional item from the NICEIC. Said David: "e;It helps with the numbers on the management accounts."e; (refer to point 1).
3. 2007 EDA Handbook: This important booklet contains a list of all the members of the EDA (Electrical Distributors Association). There are also industry articles inside, one of which was contributed by David on counterfeiting.
4. Diary: Despite claiming not to be a "e;good diary keeper"e;, David picked this up at the China Export Commodities Fair, which has the reputation of being the biggest electrical fair in the world. Reiterating the problems with counterfeit goods, the day planner is branded with a "e;UK"e; logo that has a striking resemblance to a leading electrical accessories manufacturer, MK.
5. Invitation to the Electrical Safety Council (ESC) Annual Reception: David is Chairman of the ESC, which involves representing the council at functions, chairing board meetings and encouraging staff. This reception invites members of parliament and will give the ESC an opportunity to inform them of recent endeavours.
6. Intellectual Property Protection in China CD: This CD on property protection was issued by the Chinese government. David and the BEAMA team work with the Chinese authorities in their anti-counterfeiting efforts.
7. Pop Art Mug: This Lichtenstein-esque mug holds David"e;s cup of java. The image on the mug is of a rather sweaty and stressed out man. "e;Perhaps that"e;s the way I look in the office…especially when I"e;m looking at BEAMA Management Accounts,"e; joked David.
8. Report of the 2007 ECA Electrical Industry Conference: David and the BEAMA team work with and support the ECA. The 2008 Conference in Marbella will have BEAMA members speaking about products on the sustainability agenda and how to encourage installers to use these products.
9. CENELEC Brochure: David is the Vice President of Finance at CENELEC, the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization. "e;CENELEC"e;s standards have a direct affect on us,"e; said David about BEAMA and its manufacturer members. CENELEC"e;s mission is to set up electrotechnical standards that help develop the EU market for electrical and electronic goods and services through removing barriers to trade, creating new markets and cutting compliance costs.
10. Final Draft of the Electrical Installation Industry Charter: This ground-breaking anti-counterfeiting agreement was recently signed by the four presidents of four influential industry bodies ‐ ECA, SELECT, EDA, and BEAMA. It strives to "e;fight together against the trade in counterfeit electrical products and the proliferation of products not complying with standards"e;.
11. 17th Edition of the Wiring Regulations: 2008"e;s biggest electrical industry publication is sure to be on hand for David. "e;The draft is something that we have worked on through the association,"e; said David.
12. BEAMA Website: Here you can find important information about BEAMA (The British Electrotechnical and Allied Manufacturers Association), a list of manufacturers they represent, member services, industry news and information on hot topics. The website can be found at www.beama.org.uk
13. Urns: David was presented these embellished golden urns by the Director of the China Electrical Equipment Industrial Association (CEEIA), as he conducts quite a bit of work in China. "e;I"e;m saving them for my ashes to be kept at BEAMA,"e; joked David.
14. The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China Information Booklet: Details of the organization"e;s background and objectives are found in this booklet. David and BEAMA work with them in China. "e;They battle on our behalf,"e; said David.
15. Orgalime Guide - A Practical Guide to Understanding: Orgalime is the European federation that represents mechanical, electrical, electronic and metal articles industries as a whole. They actively promote competitive framework conditions for manufacturers and ensure trading conditions are fair. "e;They make sure legislations are correctly introduced and that our manufacturers understand them,"e; said David. The Orgalime Guide was produced by David and his European colleagues.
16. Counterfeit Kills Leaflet: This leaflet addresses the serious and potentially dangerous issue of counterfeit electrical goods in the industry. BEAMA has an Anti-Counterfeiting Working Group that "e;works to raise awareness and create political will in affected countries"e;. The leaflets are being circulated in the industry. More information, including how to become a member of the BEAMA Anti-Counterfeiting Working Group, can be found on the brand new Counterfeit Kills website at: www.counterfeit-kills.com