A ‘fresh chapter’ for bacta as John Bollom returns as National President

The British Amusement Catering Trade Association (bacta) has announced that a total of 45 members have been elected to take-up positions in the group’s newly announced streamlined structure. 

A ‘respected industry personality’, John Bollom has been voted National President, meanwhile Joseph Cullis, Owner of Scottish operating company Windmill Leisure, has been named Vice-President – both under two-year terms. 

Described as a ‘fresh chapter’ in the history of the UK amusements trade association, Nick Harding, Greg Wood and James Miller are the three Past Presidents to have been voted onto the new 11-person bacta National Council. 

A further 40 bacta members have been elected by their peers onto the newly configured Gaming Council (20 members) and Amusement Council (20 members).

Bollom, whose proposal to introduce a dynamic streamlined structure for the association was unanimously accepted at an EGM held in May, stated: “I’m delighted to become the first National President of what is a new bacta. This is a really important phase in the life of an organisation which has served the industry well and which turns 50 next year.

“The purpose of the reorganisation was to create a structure which is more aligned to the dynamic nature of the leisure entertainment business that we are all involved in as well as a structure which would appeal to a broader constituency of bacta members.

“Ours is an industry packed with talent and energy and this structure enables bacta to draw on those talents and attributes, remove the bureaucracy which slows the decision making process down and instead get on representing the business interests of our members with gusto, focus and creativity.

He also explained that the group has been ‘really pleased’ with the level of engagement shown during the nomination process. The association has particularly cited the volume of nominations received for the new positions and the numbers who have voted. 

“Both the Amusement and the Gaming Council include members who have not previously had any official involvement in bacta and I look forward to their insights and perspectives on the future of the business,” Bollom continued.

Furthermore, Bacta Vice-President Cullis praised Bollom for taking-on the restructure programme, lauding the arguments presented to members as based on ‘thorough research, careful analysis, and experience coupled with a vision for the future’. 

“This isn’t a cosmetic exercise but a measured and strategic initiative which gives the industry the very best chance to succeed in what is a competitive and challenging environment,” he concluded.

The new members assume their leadership roles at bacta as the UK government and Gambling Commission (UKGC) move forward with consultations on the Gambling Act review. The association has been politically active on this matter, with Chief Executive, John White, speaking before parliament last month.