Dear Colleagues,

FWC Membership

Just before Christmas we invited FWC members to renew their subscriptions. We further advised that the Board considered it necessary to have sufficient subscribing members to employ an administrator.

At the time of writing, the number of renewing members is approximately 100 but unfortunately that will produce insufficient income with which to make the appointment of administrator.

The Board has therefore decided not to bank subscription renewal cheques that have been sent to us at this time and to hold them until the end of March 2009, when a final decision will be taken about membership. Some organisations have sent payment via bank transfer; should the Board decide to return payments we will refund these payments by cheque.

The founder members of the FWC will in any case continue to meet even if the decision is taken not to continue as a membership organisation. We believe that much has already been achieved but we are conscious that much still needs to be done to strengthen and represent our industry. The changes to the FAW course structure and the introduction of the EFAW course come at a very difficult time for the British economy and we are certain that the changes and the associated advice to industry and the commercial sector will need considerable input from a respected industry body.

Whatever the future of the FWC as membership organisation you can rest assured that the founder members will continue to work for the good of the whole industry.

I will ke