History

We were there right from the beginning!

There has been a trade association representing leisure boat building right from the start of the growth of yachting for pleasure in the UK - back in Edwardian times during early 1900's.

Move your mouse left and right on the images below to explore our history.

Boat, Yacht and Allied trades Association

The commercial ship builders had their federations so, in 1913, the Boat, Yacht and Allied Trades Association was formed. It had some great aims:

  • Promotion and protection of its members
  • Promoting or opposing of legislation
  • Collection of debts
  • Keeping a record of County Court judgements, bankruptcies and the names of known swindlers

By 1919, the Association had 108 Full and 74 Associate members and a full time secretary with a salary of £150

A struggle

There were tough times in the 1920's and 30's, but the association kept going. It helped negotiate with the Admiralty for the commission of new vessels and continued to do so throughout the Second World War.

In 1947 the Association changed it's name to the Ship and Boat Builders National Federation, perhaps reflecting the increased role it was playing nationally in trying to win work for its members repairing Britain's war ravaged infrastructure.

Life in the following decade was not easy for the Federation with it's member's still struggling with shortages of materials and the austere atmosphere.

First Boat Show

The association, and later the Federation, never stopped trying to promote its members.

Since 1914, it had been putting on a joint exhibition at Olympia with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Over the years pressure came from members to have their own show and, in 1954, it happened. With the help of Max Aitken and the sponsorship of his paper the Daily Express, the London International Boat Show was born at the Empire Hall, Olympia.

There were many more to come and later National Boat Shows, the company set up to run the BMF Shows, made a successful acquisition of the Southampton Boat Show. Today National Boat Shows remains a wholly owned subsidiary of the trade association.

Battling for members

In 1973, the Federation had a real fight on its hands when the Labour Government imposed 25% VAT on boats. It did everything - lobbied MP's, joined forces with the Royal Yachting Association to appeal to the media - and finally got an audience with the tough Chancellor of the day, Dennis Healey.

In the end the battle was won -  a year later the rate was halved and then later still went back to the standard rate.

All together now

Over the years, more and more companies in the marine industry felt they should be represented by the Federation, particularly equipment manufacturers. After some reluctance by the boat builders this was accepted and by 1986 the Federation had become the British Marine Industries Federation.

And now

In 2008, the trade association for the marine industry rebranded as the British Marine Federation, and now represents 12 regional associations, 16 Group Associations and 1500+ members.