Application process

To ensure consistency, all applications to join the Association are subject to the same process detailed below.

 

What information is required?

• All applicants are required to submit details of their financial performance over the previous 12 months or most recent accounting period along with a completed application form. This information, including the turnover declaration is retained in confidence by BESA. These details are used to ensure that companies meet the eligibility criteria and as an objective measure of an organisation's financial stability.

Application process

• After your accounts have been scrutinised by the Treasurer you will receive written confirmation of your application for membership and the amount you need to pay, should your application be successful. Your subscription rate is based upon the turnover declaration made in your original submission for membership.
• Applications are then sent in writing to the Executive Council who have up to 14 days to comment. The Executive Council of the Association approves all applications and is the body which ensures consistency. If no objections are received the applicant is deemed as being unanimously elected to membership.
• At the same time, our existing membership is also given the opportunity to comment or object to all new applications. They may only object on the basis that the applying organisation does not fulfill either the eligibility criteria or the Code of Practice. A period of 14 days from the date of publication in Insight is allowed for the receipt of feedback.
• After approval from the Executive Council and existing membership, we will ask you to provide information for inclusion in our searchable online database of members on the BESA website. At this stage your payment should be forwarded to the secretariat.
• Once payment has been received, the secretariat will send a welcome letter containing your individual BESA website password which allows you access to member-only parts of the site. New members will also receive BESA logos which may be used on company stationery and marketing materials. A receipted VAT invoice will also be sent.

What happens if there is an objection to our application?

• If any objections have been received within the allotted time from either the wider membership or the Executive Council, the application will be scrutinised at the next full meeting of the Council. These meetings are usually held every quarter and in these circumstances, an application can take longer than six weeks to complete. In this instance, member services will request further information and material from the potential member in support of their application and represent the company at the meeting. The objecting member is required to provide evidence of their complaint in writing to the Executive Council.

For a brochure (with flow chart view of the process) click here.