Association Overview
For marine businesses seeking to navigate an increasingly complex regulatory landscape, British Marine’s Professional Services Association offers invaluable support to its members and the broader industry. We caught up with Chair, Paul Knox-Johnston, to find out more…
Tell us about the Professional Services Association?
The British Marine Professional Services Association (PSA) has evolved in the last couple of years from what was formerly known as the Insurance, Finance, and Legal Services Association. The name change reflected a broadening of the association’s reach, aimed at welcoming other regulated services, such as marine surveyors, into the fold.
The shift has increased the association's scope and impact, uniting a variety of highly specialised businesses from across the leisure marine industry.
Having been involved with the association for many years, prior to becoming Chair, I have seen the positive progress this has brought after what had been a difficult few years.
What does the PSA do?
By promoting open discussion, the PSA connects members and helps address challenges by identifying and raising key issues to the British Marine Council.
One of our main activities is to facilitate networking and to enable our members to engage, share knowledge and build relationships across the PSA membership. A recent example of this came from discussions at last year’s Inland Waterways Conference regarding the Recreational Craft Directive, which highlighted an issue affecting several members. Through the member network, we were able to facilitate a collaborative approach across legal and financial sectors, which helped those affected to better navigate the concern.
Another of our core missions is to connect regulated businesses with the wider British Marine membership. Unlike brokers, retailers and marinas, for example, which often interact anyway on an operational level, regulated businesses such as insurance firms or legal services tend to work on the periphery of the industry. Having said that, the services provided by PSA members, such as marine insurance or legal advice, are essential for businesses across the leisure marine sector; their expertise helps companies navigate complex issues, such as VAT on boats, contract negotiations, and regulatory compliance.
In that sense, our members act almost as a gateway, if you like, in enabling marine businesses to understand and comply with the wider legal and regulatory frameworks. While we don’t want people to think of the association or its members as obstructive in any way, our members are vital in helping businesses to operate within parameters set by government agencies, such as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which layers on top of the marine industry’s own regulatory frameworks and can bring added complications.
For me personally, having worked in multiple regulatory industries, as well as in brokerage and charter, it’s very rewarding to see PSA members in action and see the greater transparency that brings to the industry.
A key part of the Association’s purpose is to help build awareness of this by creating opportunities to connect and establish businesses relationships. Currently, therefore, we are aiming to increase the number of events run in collaboration with other associations; I’d urge anyone interested in doing so, to get in touch.
Are there any other ways in which you support members
Training also forms a significant element of what the PSA offers. Every year, the association hosts training sessions aimed at providing members with the knowledge required to operate within the marine industry. These sessions range from briefings on industry-specific regulations to case studies that help attendees understand the practical applications. This year, for example, the PSA partnered with British Marine South and the British Marine Trade Association to host an event in Portsmouth which featured talks on marine trade insurance, small business operations, and other relevant topics.
We co-ordinate with other British Marine associations to host these events, so our members are able to further broaden connections across different sectors of the leisure marine industry. Again, this is an area we are currently reviewing to see how we can increase the number of training events we run in the near future; please do get in touch if you are interested in collaborating.
Are you looking to broaden membership in other ways?
Absolutely. As well as working for and with marine-specific regulatory businesses, we also form a unique and highly valuable resource of specialised knowledge for non-marine companies looking to expand into our sector.
This is something our association deals with fairly frequently; unlike a boat builder for example, who - through the nature of their business - needs to be embedded with knowledge and connections already within the industry, our sector is a little bit different in that it often attracts non-marine companies wanting to side-step into leisure marine.
Whether someone is setting up a marine insurance company or wishes to start providing legal services to boat retailers, we have a wealth of knowledge and experience that can help newcomers circumnavigate common issues, establish useful relationships, and accelerate their entry into the industry. As an association, the PSA is happy to help, and we welcome new and non-marine specialist businesses to become members.
What plans are in place for the future of the PSA?
The PSA is proactively looking to further integrate with other British Marine groups – both regional and sector-specific. As a body, we want to share the wealth of knowledge we have with British Marine’s wider association infrastructure, and by building stronger connections with other associations - such as the Boat Retailers and Brokers Association, for example, which is particularly complementary - the PSA can ensure its expertise is available to the broadest possible audience.
Many businesses within the wider British Marine membership will need advice on marine trade insurance, legal advice, or finance support. PSA members are uniquely placed to provide these services, and the association is eager for other groups to approach them to help in spreading this message. By fostering greater collaboration, the PSA can continue from strength to strength as a vital pool of resource for the leisure marine industry.
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about the PSA
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About Paul Knox-Johnston, Chair of British Marine’s Professional Services Association
Paul Knox-Johnston is currently Sales and Marketing Manager for Haven Knox-Johnston and Chair of the Professional Services Association. His involvement with British Marine has been long-standing, beginning in 2006 when he joined the committee of what is now the Professional Services Association. Working at the time in yacht brokerage, he transitioned then to marine finance and later to insurance, remaining an active member of the PSA committee for much of that time. During his tenure, he has focussed on widening the PSA’s membership to include a greater number of business types, and strengthening the event and networking programme.
About British Marine
Associations
British Marine has 23 associations that members are able to join as part of their membership. The associations exist to communicate and bring together our members based on their geographical location or business interests.
As a British Marine member, you are automatically eligible to join one of our nine regional associations and one of our 14 sector specific associations that best represent your business interests. Depending on your membership package, you may be eligible to join more than one association. Alternatively, there is always the opportunity to join additional group associations, subject to a small additional charge.
Each association provides you with exclusive access to a multitude of networking opportunities whether that is at a regional level or with likeminded businesses in your own sector of the industry. You can discuss current challenges and barriers with your peers, work together on projects and initiatives to drive progress for our industry, or bring forward common issues that British Marine will then lobby for you on a national level.