Stephen Kelly
Head of Policy
Midlands, West and Wales region
"I'm the Head of Policy for the Midlands, Wales and South West area and my key responsibilities are representing members' interests at a regional level. We aim to make sure we get the best deal for our members in terms of the legislation, without adversely affecting their operations. This involves a lot of lobbying on all levels - Brussels through to national Government.
In Policy we communicate policy matters to our members and send out weekly emails. We also hold regional freight council meetings that are chaired by members so we have truly a democratic structure. When new legislation is on the cards our members will often communicate their concerns and advise us on how it will impact them, and the forum offers a great opportunity for open discussion.
My role is so varied that there's no typical day as such. Often I'll be working with local authorities to ensure the needs of the freight industry are met. I've been with FTA for five years and joined because I wanted to get away from an office-based job. Now I spend a couple of days a week out and about, which I really enjoy. I also find the size of FTA very attractive as they have a strong place in the transport industry and a high profile.
I really enjoy my role because although you don't get results overnight, when you do, it's immensely satisfying. FTA is a great employer - they look after their staff and the rewards that come with my role are substantial. It's also a hugely proactive organisation and always takes on board their members' comments. It's great to work for a company that prides itself on these values, and this rubs off on everyone working here; we're all part of the same team, and really motivated in what we do.