Here’s a brief update to keep you in the loop on some of the key issues within the PSA.
Finances and EGM
I’m publishing this update ahead of the EGM (Extraordinary General Meeting) on 10th March 2025 at 7pm, which was originally called to allow you to approve the 2023-24 accounts which we weren’t able to approve at the AGM in October. We’re now in a position to do this following the extensive scrutineering work carried out by Will Kintish and Derek Cheshire.
We have also issued an interim statement for the first six months of this financial year, and Phil Ingle, our Finance Director, will provide further information on this at the EGM itself. To summarise it very briefly, we have stabilised the PSA’s financial position considerably and are looking to the future. There is, of course, still work to do. While keeping a close eye on costs, we are also working on additional revenue opportunities and ways of providing even more value to members.
Thank you to everyone on the Board for their hard work over the last six months in helping to steady the ship.
For a more detailed update on the steps we’ve taken to remedy our financial position, click here to read the Board Update.
Following the Crisis Team report, the Board has decided that all current Board members who served between July 2022 and September 2024 will resign and seek re-election at the EGM on 10th March 2025. The Board wishes to continue to lead the PSA with full support of the membership, so that we can move forward with confidence and continue the huge amount of work that has already gone into making the PSA financially sustainable.
Your attendance at the EGM is important and hugely valued. It’s an opportunity to hear directly from the Board, ask questions, and share your thoughts on the steps we’ve taken so far. Your input will help shape the PSA’s future, and your support is vital as we continue working towards long-term stability and growth. So please do attend – you can register here.
Conferences
We’re delighted that we’re not only able to host Impact! and the Speaking Business Summit in person again this year, but we have huge plans to make them even more valuable for members. To reach a point where we’re able to run these events in person while bringing financial stability to the PSA is remarkable – I’d like to give my thanks to the Board and particularly to Michelle Mills-Porter, our National President, for making that possible.
Attending Impact! and the Speaking Business Summit will not only help you develop your speaking ability and grow your speaking business – it helps to contribute towards the PSA and its recovery. We want to continue bringing valuable conferences to you as members, and the more attendees we get, the more value we can give you and the better we can make them.
Outstanding payments
Early on in this process, we identified that there were a significant number of membership fees and conference ticket payments that had been missed.
We recognise that these issues were due to faults in our systems and processes — this wasn’t your mistake. Despite that, we’re incredibly grateful to those who responded to our ‘hands up’ call, believing you may have owed something.
I’d like to thank Leon Bamforth, our Membership Director, for his extensive work, along with Edward Kay and the office team, in finding the anomolies in membership fees and conference ticket payments. It’s been a long and detailed process, but we’re now reaching out to members we believe may still have outstanding payments. If you’re contacted, please know we’ll work with you to resolve things as easily as possible. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated and plays an important role in helping us move forward.
Can you help us?
We have a number of volunteer positions available for those who would like to give back to the PSA while helping us to be more effective in supporting our members:
Membership Champions x 2
Are you passionate about the PSA and what it can do for our members? We are looking for 2 enthusiastic networkers who will support the Membership Director in growing the membership at all levels. Encouraging those who attend meetings to become members and assisting in promoting the member benefits and the value of being a part of the PSA UKI. Encouraging members to engage and grow their speaking businesses. Keep your ear to the ground and relay feedback from members back to the Board.
If this is you, let us know. Send an e-mail to [email protected] – Ref Membership Champion
New Members Day Facilitator
We have so many wonderful Trainer/Facilitators within the PSA UKI and this is a fabulous opportunity for someone to show their love of speaking by assisting the Membership Director with running the New Member Days. Some of these will be online and some in person.
Can you help New Members to find their way around the PSA, the website, and the Regional Events? Can you promote Member Benefits and the value of being a part of the PSA UKI?
We are waiting to hear from you if you think this sounds like fun.
Send an e-mail to [email protected] – Ref New Members Day Facilitator
Social Media Co-ordinator
We all know how important it is to be active online and the PSA is no different. We have many regional events and each takes care of its own postings, but the PSA needs someone who will be able to promote our events, conferences and appeal to new members too.
Is that you? Is social media your happy place? Are you great at interacting through social media posts? The PSA really needs you to help us encourage others to join our wonderful tribe.
If you would like to help us with being great on Social Media please send an e-mail to [email protected] – Ref Social Media
Google Workspace Manager
We’re looking for an experienced Google Workspace Manager to support our office team, mostly with Workspace Gmail accounts for our Board, office team, Regional Presidents and volunteers. Previous experience managing Google Workspace, ideally as part of your existing business, is essential.
If this sounds like you, please email [email protected] – Ref Google Workspace Support
A thank you to our HQ team
We’re incredibly grateful to our office team for their flexibility and dedication as we navigated the recent crisis. As you may know, reducing their working hours was a necessary step to help control costs. Despite the urgency of these changes, they adapted without hesitation, and we simply couldn’t have managed without them.
At the same time, we were mindful not to take advantage of their commitment. The PSA means a great deal to them, and we didn’t want a reduction in their pay to result in them working significantly more hours than they were compensated for. Together, we agreed on an approach that supports our recovery while still enabling us to deliver for our members as effectively as possible.
Of course, this hasn’t been without its challenges. There may be times when responses aren’t as swift as we’ve all come to expect, and we really appreciate your patience during this period. Please know that we’re actively working towards increasing their hours and improving response times as soon as we can.
Your next Chair
Ahead of the AGM in October, I agreed to step in as Interim Chair for a six-month period, with Yvonne Emery stepping into the role of Interim Vice Chair. This was expected to be enough time for us to bring stability for the future before someone new takes on the Chair role. I’m delighted that the Board’s efforts since then have done just that, and we’re close to appointing a new Chair.
Along with other Board members, I’ll be seeking re-election at the EGM to continue the work I’ve been doing for a further month. If I’m re-appointed, I’ll officially step down at Impact! in Birmingham on 12th April.
This has been a challenging time, but I’m incredibly proud of the turnaround we’ve achieved. I’d also like to express my gratitude to Yvonne Emery, who has worked tirelessly as Vice Chair alongside her L&D Director role during the same period. We’ve made a great team!
As we enter this next phase, I’m feeling incredibly optimistic about the PSA’s future. With your support, we’re in a strong position to grow, thrive, and continue serving our members. Thanks so much for being a part of this journey.
Speak soon,
Nathan Littleton – Interim Chair
