David Savastano, Editor07.15.22
A few weeks ago, a group of past presidents of the British Coatings Federation (BCF) gathered at the BCF’s headquarters in Coventry to look through old historical records of the BCF and its predecessors. It was a special occasion, not only for the camaraderie of the attendees; after all, it’s not every day that a trade association celebrates 110 years!
Indeed, the British Coatings Federation is celebrating its 110th anniversary this year. The BCF has created an extensive archive of historical records, which can also be previewed online. It makes for interesting reading.
A lot has changed in the British paint and coatings industry over the years. However, one thing remains a constant: people make the difference in any industry, and this is particularly true of the BCF and the industry’s volunteers.
The History of the BCF
What we know today as the BCF started as the National Federation of Associated Paint, Colour and Varnish Manufacturers of the United Kingdom.
“On 9 January 1912, the inaugural meeting of The National Federation of Associated Paint, Colour and Varnish Manufacturers of the United Kingdom was held in Leeds, having been incorporated on 20th November 1911,” said Tom Bowtell, chief executive of the BCF. “A Council meeting was held on the same day when the election of Officers and Members of the Council, nominated by the five local paint associations, took place.”
Bowtell noted that at the first Council Meeting in January 110 years ago, there were 127 members, and their first issue of concern was the White Lead Agreement. Despite industry consolidation, those numbers have grown throughout the years.
“Now, we have over 140 Full members and another 120 Associate members representing not only the paint sector but also inks, wallcoverings, and associated interests,” Bowtell observed. “Issues of concern have proliferated way beyond those envisaged by the first founding members, but the ethos remains unchanged: effective cooperation to ensure the success and competitiveness of the Coatings Industry.”
The National Paint Federation remained unchanged for five decades, before a merger united the industry.
“In 1963, the National Paint Federation merged with two other associations to create the Paintmakers Association of Great Britain Limited,” said Bowtell. “In 1993, the Paintmakers merged with the Society of British Printing Ink Manufacturers, creating the British Coatings Federation. The paint and ink makers were joined by the Wallcovering Manufacturers Association in 2005.”
Highlights for the BCF
Working with the UK government is a critical task for the BCF. The association has worked closely with the UK Government over the years in the development and professionalization of the sector, to ensure a safe working environment and safe chemicals in society. Key government departments include the Health and Safety Executive and Defra, which is responsible for chemical regulations.
Along the way, the BCF has created programs to benefit the environment.
“In 1996, the BCF’s Environmental programme, Coatings Care was launched, and we now have over 25 years of data on 45 health, safety and environmental KPIs,” said Bowtell. “The industry has committed to Net Zero by 2050, which was agreed in October 2021, ahead of the COP26 summit in Glasgow.
“Many paints, coatings and ink production sites are now zero waste to landfill, and 84% of decorative paints sold in the UK are water-based,” Bowtell added. “Solvent emissions have reduced threefold as a result in the last 25 years.”
When asked about influential figures in the BCF’s history, Bowtell pointed to the late prime minister Margaret Thatcher, who had personal connections to the paint and coatings field.
“Although she’ll be remembered more for politics than paint, the late Margaret Thatcher had coating industry connections as well,” said Bowtell. “At least one report suggests that the former prime minister would never have met her husband, Sir Denis Thatcher, without those connections. Perhaps she would never have had her legendary governmental reign, either.
“Margaret Roberts reportedly met Denis Thatcher at a Paint Trades Federation function in Dartford, Kent in 1949. He worked for the family paint and wood preservatives company; she was a research chemist. They fell in love and married in 1951,” Bowtell added. “Denis worked for his family’s paint and wood preservatives company, Atlas Preservatives, originally based in Deptford, London, ultimately becoming general manager.”
Denis Thatcher became chairman of the Council of the National Paint Federation and co-author of a book called “Accounting and Costing in the Paint Industry.” Meanwhile, Margaret Thatcher was able to forgo her work as a research chemist in order to advance her political career. After training as a lawyer, she entered Parliament in 1959 and the government in 1961.
“After long hours and sales drives abroad, an ‘exhausted’ Denis decided to sell his paint business to Castrol in 1965,” Bowtell noted. “He then become a director of Castrol and later Burmah Oil. Margaret served as British prime minister for more than 11 years (1979-90), with her former paint business leader and oil executive at her side. Denis retired from the oil business at age 60 and became a full-time consort of the political leader. He died in 2003.”
Leslie Silver OBE was another important figure in the paint industry’s history. He was the founder of Silver Paint and Lacquer in 1947, which later became Leyland Paints. Today the company, still based in Yorkshire, is owned by BCF member PPG Architectural Coatings. Silver was president of the Paintmakers Association in 1979/80.
“Leslie Silver instigated the ‘Silver Medal’ award on his retirement as president of the Association in 1980, to recognize outstanding individual service in the UK paint industry,” Bowtell said. “When a suitable candidate is identified, the Silver Medal is awarded at the BCF’s annual conference.
“In 1982 Silver was awarded the Order of the British Empire for services to export and named Yorkshire Businessman of the Year in 1983,” he noted. “Leslie Silver was chairman of Leeds United Football Club from 1983 to 1996, and Chancellor of Leeds Metropolitan University from 1999 to 2005. He retired from the paint industry in 1991.”
The BCF Today
Sustainability is the key topic at the moment, and the BCF is on top of that crucial topic.
“We have a new initiative called PaintCare, which will allow leftover household paint to be remanufactured back into paint again. We have set the ambitious target of 75% of leftovers to be re-used, recycled, or remanufactured by 2030, from just 2% today,” said Bowtell. “We are also looking at sustainable and recyclable packaging, where our printing ink members are actively working with brand owners.”
Brexit has also created challenges for UK companies who are exporting goods to the EU, and the BCF is doing what it can to ease this process.
“The new landscape of chemical regulations post-Brexit is also a key issue for us – with the ambition from our members to align with the EU where it affects trade,” Bowtell noted. “The UK is a net exporter of paints, coatings, and printing inks, with exports close to £1 billion per year.”
The good news is that the UK paint and coatings industry continues to grow.
“The industry has typically grown in line with GDP over the years, but this changed in COVID, with a 30% surge in demand for DIY paints with the country in lockdown,” Bowtell concluded. “This has now rebalanced, and demand patterns are looking closer to pre-COVID levels. The industry continues to protect and enhance surfaces and substrates, and as part of our essential coatings and ink campaign, we will be further raising the profile of the sector in the coming months.”
Indeed, the British Coatings Federation is celebrating its 110th anniversary this year. The BCF has created an extensive archive of historical records, which can also be previewed online. It makes for interesting reading.
A lot has changed in the British paint and coatings industry over the years. However, one thing remains a constant: people make the difference in any industry, and this is particularly true of the BCF and the industry’s volunteers.
The History of the BCF
What we know today as the BCF started as the National Federation of Associated Paint, Colour and Varnish Manufacturers of the United Kingdom.
“On 9 January 1912, the inaugural meeting of The National Federation of Associated Paint, Colour and Varnish Manufacturers of the United Kingdom was held in Leeds, having been incorporated on 20th November 1911,” said Tom Bowtell, chief executive of the BCF. “A Council meeting was held on the same day when the election of Officers and Members of the Council, nominated by the five local paint associations, took place.”
Bowtell noted that at the first Council Meeting in January 110 years ago, there were 127 members, and their first issue of concern was the White Lead Agreement. Despite industry consolidation, those numbers have grown throughout the years.
“Now, we have over 140 Full members and another 120 Associate members representing not only the paint sector but also inks, wallcoverings, and associated interests,” Bowtell observed. “Issues of concern have proliferated way beyond those envisaged by the first founding members, but the ethos remains unchanged: effective cooperation to ensure the success and competitiveness of the Coatings Industry.”
The National Paint Federation remained unchanged for five decades, before a merger united the industry.
“In 1963, the National Paint Federation merged with two other associations to create the Paintmakers Association of Great Britain Limited,” said Bowtell. “In 1993, the Paintmakers merged with the Society of British Printing Ink Manufacturers, creating the British Coatings Federation. The paint and ink makers were joined by the Wallcovering Manufacturers Association in 2005.”
Highlights for the BCF
Working with the UK government is a critical task for the BCF. The association has worked closely with the UK Government over the years in the development and professionalization of the sector, to ensure a safe working environment and safe chemicals in society. Key government departments include the Health and Safety Executive and Defra, which is responsible for chemical regulations.
Along the way, the BCF has created programs to benefit the environment.
“In 1996, the BCF’s Environmental programme, Coatings Care was launched, and we now have over 25 years of data on 45 health, safety and environmental KPIs,” said Bowtell. “The industry has committed to Net Zero by 2050, which was agreed in October 2021, ahead of the COP26 summit in Glasgow.
“Many paints, coatings and ink production sites are now zero waste to landfill, and 84% of decorative paints sold in the UK are water-based,” Bowtell added. “Solvent emissions have reduced threefold as a result in the last 25 years.”
When asked about influential figures in the BCF’s history, Bowtell pointed to the late prime minister Margaret Thatcher, who had personal connections to the paint and coatings field.
“Although she’ll be remembered more for politics than paint, the late Margaret Thatcher had coating industry connections as well,” said Bowtell. “At least one report suggests that the former prime minister would never have met her husband, Sir Denis Thatcher, without those connections. Perhaps she would never have had her legendary governmental reign, either.
“Margaret Roberts reportedly met Denis Thatcher at a Paint Trades Federation function in Dartford, Kent in 1949. He worked for the family paint and wood preservatives company; she was a research chemist. They fell in love and married in 1951,” Bowtell added. “Denis worked for his family’s paint and wood preservatives company, Atlas Preservatives, originally based in Deptford, London, ultimately becoming general manager.”
Denis Thatcher became chairman of the Council of the National Paint Federation and co-author of a book called “Accounting and Costing in the Paint Industry.” Meanwhile, Margaret Thatcher was able to forgo her work as a research chemist in order to advance her political career. After training as a lawyer, she entered Parliament in 1959 and the government in 1961.
“After long hours and sales drives abroad, an ‘exhausted’ Denis decided to sell his paint business to Castrol in 1965,” Bowtell noted. “He then become a director of Castrol and later Burmah Oil. Margaret served as British prime minister for more than 11 years (1979-90), with her former paint business leader and oil executive at her side. Denis retired from the oil business at age 60 and became a full-time consort of the political leader. He died in 2003.”
Leslie Silver OBE was another important figure in the paint industry’s history. He was the founder of Silver Paint and Lacquer in 1947, which later became Leyland Paints. Today the company, still based in Yorkshire, is owned by BCF member PPG Architectural Coatings. Silver was president of the Paintmakers Association in 1979/80.
“Leslie Silver instigated the ‘Silver Medal’ award on his retirement as president of the Association in 1980, to recognize outstanding individual service in the UK paint industry,” Bowtell said. “When a suitable candidate is identified, the Silver Medal is awarded at the BCF’s annual conference.
“In 1982 Silver was awarded the Order of the British Empire for services to export and named Yorkshire Businessman of the Year in 1983,” he noted. “Leslie Silver was chairman of Leeds United Football Club from 1983 to 1996, and Chancellor of Leeds Metropolitan University from 1999 to 2005. He retired from the paint industry in 1991.”
The BCF Today
Sustainability is the key topic at the moment, and the BCF is on top of that crucial topic.
“We have a new initiative called PaintCare, which will allow leftover household paint to be remanufactured back into paint again. We have set the ambitious target of 75% of leftovers to be re-used, recycled, or remanufactured by 2030, from just 2% today,” said Bowtell. “We are also looking at sustainable and recyclable packaging, where our printing ink members are actively working with brand owners.”
Brexit has also created challenges for UK companies who are exporting goods to the EU, and the BCF is doing what it can to ease this process.
“The new landscape of chemical regulations post-Brexit is also a key issue for us – with the ambition from our members to align with the EU where it affects trade,” Bowtell noted. “The UK is a net exporter of paints, coatings, and printing inks, with exports close to £1 billion per year.”
The good news is that the UK paint and coatings industry continues to grow.
“The industry has typically grown in line with GDP over the years, but this changed in COVID, with a 30% surge in demand for DIY paints with the country in lockdown,” Bowtell concluded. “This has now rebalanced, and demand patterns are looking closer to pre-COVID levels. The industry continues to protect and enhance surfaces and substrates, and as part of our essential coatings and ink campaign, we will be further raising the profile of the sector in the coming months.”