Winners of trade association industry oscars announced

The Trade Association Forum (TAF) and leading membership services organisation Associa have just announced the winners of the Trade Association Forum Best Practice Awards 2004 ñ the trade association industryís equivalent of the ëOscarsí.

The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) scooped the top award for ëTrade Association of the Year 2004 ñ sponsored by Associaí. Judges agreed that the CML provided excellent leadership, innovation and success to its members.

Also receiving a top award was John Higgins, Director General of Intellect, the trade body for the UK based information technology, telecommunications and electronics industry, who clinched the ëThe Individual Award 2004 ñ sponsored by Associaí.

Judges felt that Higgins had made an outstanding contribution to the development of Intellect and had enhanced the reputation of trade associations in general.

Higgins was appointed Director General of Intellect at its launch in May 2002 and has since provided the leadership to establish the organisation in its new identity and wider role.

Ian Dalzell, chief executive of this yearís sponsors Associa, commented:

ìThere is clearly a high degree of professionalism among trade associations and this was reflected by the very high standard of this yearís entries.

ìThe awards are an excellent initiative for raising the profile of the trade association sector and Associa is proud to play its part in helping this excellent initiative prosper.î

Winners of the remaining eight categories were:

Commercial Initiative Award ñ The Carpet Foundation
The Business of Representation Award ñ Scotch Whisky Association
Exhibition of the Year ñ British Marine Federation
The Membership Success Award ñ The Recruitment and Employment Confederation Ltd
Magazine of the Year Award ñ National Caravan Council Ltd
Newsletter of the Year Award (Electronic) ñ Association of British Healthcare Industries
Newsletter of the Year Award (Print) ñ United Kingdom Warehousing Association
Website of the Year Award ñ Food and Drink Federation

The awards, taking place for the second time since being introduced last year, stimulated a huge interest, with more than 80 trade associations taking part, submitting nearly 100 entries.