Membership Benefits – our reasons to join

We find that there is no single benefit that attracts firms to join the BCCA.

Some appreciate the work that we do speaking on their behalf to regulators. Others value our advice or guidance, often delivered through our training programme. This all blends together in the way we are able to share the experiences of our members in a safe environment.

Advocacy – We aim to influence decisions made by government, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) amongst others. We listen to our members and speak on their behalf to relevant stakeholders.

Some of the issues we are currently working on include:

  • The access to banking services
  • The introduction of Cheque imaging
  • Price Comparison Websites
  • Planning Regulation Changes
  • FOS – historic complaints

Up to date information – We pride ourselves in providing up to date information to our members. We send out a weekly email update Insight, which covers industry news stories, regulation changes, and updates on any topical issues.

We also issue regular Extra publications providing additional insight on specific topics, feedback on any stakeholder meetings and a compliance Q&A, covering frequently asked questions.

And we publish a quarterly magazine called Review which includes relevant articles from industry specialists, regulators and BCCA staff.

Media and public relations – We can also help our members by advising on reputational issues. Our Chief Executive, Jason Wassell is one of the UK’s first Chartered PR practitioners, as well as Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations. We are therefore placed well to provide advice and support to members on media, political and stakeholder matters.

Sector specific regulatory advice and guidance – We offer advice and support to our members via direct contact with BCCA staff and guidance/ insight briefings.

Sector specific training*- We provide sector specific training for consumer credit and Money Service Businesses (MSB’s).

Online training packages* – In partnership with online learning specialists Unicorn Training, members can subscribe to award-winning online compliance titles through Unicorn’s ComplianceServe learning and performance platform.

Conciliation service – We can help to resolve disputes between members and their customers.

Croner Business Support Helpline – Members are provided with free access to the legal helpline, where they can seek advice on issues such as employment or company law;

Annual Conference*

Regulatory Business Plan* – If you are applying for FCA authorisation, you may be interested in our popular regulatory business plan review service. This is often an area where applicants feel out of their comfort zones.  We can advise on how to restructure the plan and advise on additional information that the FCA would expect.

Risk management* – As risk is such an important part of the regulatory process, we have also been working with firms on aspects of their risk management.  That can range from sense-checking their risk register, through to more extensive involvement in advising on their risk management framework (policy documentation, independent assessment, risk register, draft procedures).

AML* – We can provide additional guidance support in this area including policy and process reviews. This is an issue that is important to both MSBs and FCA regulated lenders.

Policy work* – We have a range of policy templates that are available to purchase including Business Continuity, Data Protection, Whistleblowing etc. Regulators often want firms to go further than the submission of templates, but these are a great foundation and we can help with customisation.

Website Reviews* – We can review your website for compliance and provide feedback on how to meet the required standards.

* These services are open to members and non-members (with the exception of the online training packages) and additional competitive charges apply.  However, members will receive reduced rates for these services.

Affiliate Members

In addition to the membership benefits above:

  • Your company logo, one line description of your services and a website link on our “Affiliate Services” page in the “Members Only” section of our website. As a trade association we do not endorse suppliers of services to our members but make details available to them so that our membership can make an informed decision;
  • Your company logo, a description of your services and contact details published in each edition of our magazine “Review”; 
  • Use of our Affiliate Logo on all literature and adverts;
  • 50% reduction on the first advert that you place in our quarterly magazine “Review”;
  • 50% reduction on the published delegate rate for our Annual Conference;
  • £100.00 discount on an exhibitor trade stand for Conference 2016. Affiliates allowed up to two members of staff included in the price;
  • Priority booking of trade stands for Conference;
  • Option to include promotional material (restricted to 1 x A4 or equivalent) in member training course packs (limited to 3 training events per affiliate);
  • The option to include promotional literature in our new member pack.