A room bursting with members from across the country and from many different companies” is how Elizabeth Speed, Chair of Bacta’s Social Responsibility Committee described last week’s sold-out SR Exchange which was held in Leeds.
The event which featured an inspiring address from Rob Mabbett of Better Change and valued insight from the Gambling Commission’s Director of Policy, Bryony Sheldon, was targeted at the industry’s front line consumer-facing staff who were present in significant numbers.
“We had 70 seats and every one was filled” confirmed Elizabeth Speed. “It was great to see a number of different faces as this event works with the frontline staff who embody Bacta’s commitment to social responsibility on a day-to-day basis. Seeing a room of engaged members, listening and learning from one another on how best to deliver best practice across the industry was a highlight. This event would simply not have been possible without the openness and thoughtful comment of all the venue staff who were present.”
She continued: “Events like the SR Exchange are a testament to the benefits of Bacta membership, showing the positive contribution that being a part of the trade association can mean for staff throughout the entirety of the business. The frontline staff that took part deal with customers on a day to day basis, and it is these people that put Bacta’s commitment to social responsibility into action.
“Throughout Bacta’s 50-year history, social responsibility has been a cornerstone of our values. Our members know that good practice means good business and the Social Responsibility Exchange is a testament to this.”
Bacta’s SR Committee Chair also believes the opportunity the Exchange provides to share insights with the industry regulator should not be overlooked. She explained: “The Gambling Commission passed on their thanks for the invite to the event and reiterated their appreciation to Bacta members for their commitment to social responsibility.
“It is due to the positive relationship the industry has with our regulator that we are able to work together on events such as this and all of the participants were grateful to Bryony for her contribution.”
Looking ahead to what future editions of the Exchange could look like she said: “This is our 6th SR Exchange and it is now firmly a feature in the Bacta calendar. The format of table discussions, interspersed with insightful speeches from the likes of Better Change and the Gambling Commission, was very well received.
“The enthusiasm for the event is palpable and we are keen to see it grow into a larger venue, with more attendees, from more members and for the SR Exchange to go from strength to strength. We look forward to holding the next edition in a different part of the country to affirm Bacta’s commitment to responsible gambling in every part of the United Kingdom. As an industry we are in the business of enjoyment and pleasure, not harm – so our members welcome these events as an opportunity to strengthen this position.”
Kane Whitlock, Rubicon Pastimes Ltd
“We found the SR Exchange very engaging. It was really beneficial to have the opportunity to network and engage with industry colleagues that are dealing with the same scenarios.
It’s extremely important to include those front-line workers that are the boots on the ground and who are face-to-face with customers and dealing with the challenges of SR every single day. These people are the nerve centre of making a difference and implementing realistic solutions to the issues that we face. As an operator in the north of England we also appreciated the event being held in Leeds.
I think the high points of the day were firstly the level of communication and interaction between attendees and secondly Rob Mabbett who gave a very impactful presentation. As a result of the Bacta SR Exchange, customer-facing staff will be better equipped to deliver the best-in-class safer gambling that we are all working for. In my opinion this is due to the effectiveness of the breakout groups where staff were able to discuss different methods of how they go about making gambling safer for players.
When all ideas are communicated in this way, staff can take the most successful aspects and incorporate it into their work. In terms of specifics we will be looking to make some additions to the introduction process to new customers, cautioning the risk of a ‘big win’ for people who are new to gambling and in particular the potential of 18-24 year old males being more at risk of gambling related harm. We will also be doing some work on the ‘Return to gambling’ process for people who are coming back from a period of self-exclusion.”
Mark Heelis, Crown Leisure
“The SR Exchange provided an opportunity to interact with other companies from across the industry, meet with the Gambling Commission as well as members of Bacta’s leadership team.
It was good to hear what was expected, how other companies approach SR and receive confirmation that the undertakings that we have in place are appropriate and effective. I think it’s very important to have an event that’s dedicated to the people responsible for implementing SR in venues.
The key speakers were informative, they kept it interesting and had everyone’s attention. The opportunity to interact in smaller groups enhanced the participative nature of the Exchange. In terms of take outs the opportunity to listen to and learn from different approaches and experiences was central to the day. It updated our knowledge of the latest thinking on SR but also provided reassurance that our training is effective and that as a team we are able to deliver social responsibility to a great standard.
Overall, I think having such a well-attended trade association organised SR event reflects extremely positively on our industry.”
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