Bollom to steer streamlined Bacta as national president

Bollom, managing director of Mumbles Entertainment Pier in Swansea, Wales, is stepping up from the role of vice-president.

His election was uncontested after his proposal to streamline Bacta was approved unanimously by members at an EGM in May.

Bollom will succeed Greg Wood. The latter will join fellow ex-national presidents Nick Harding and James Miller on a new 11-person Bacta National Council.

Bollom, who succeeded Trevor Sutton as vice-president a year ago, has a long-running association with Bacta. Earlier in his career, he held various roles within the body, including as regional chairman, national president, treasurer and trustee.

Reforms

In February 2022, he was asked to report on and recommend a new structure for the organisation.

The proposals were ratified after four previous recommendations failed to win the required backing of members.

Bacta also announced that Joseph Cullis, the owner of Scottish operator Windmill Leisure, will serve as vice-president, also for two years.

Bollom and Cullis will join 43 other members who were elected to take up positions within the new streamlined structure. More than 70 nominations were submitted to join the new Gaming and Amusement Councils.

Important phase

“This is a really important phase in the life of an organisation which has served the industry well and which turns 50 next year,” Bollom said.

“The purpose of the reorganisation was to create a structure which is more aligned to the dynamic nature of the leisure entertainment business… 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.

“We have been really pleased with the level of engagement evident in 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.”

“Vision for the future”

“Huge credit should go to John for taking on the restructure programme,” Cullis added. “The arguments presented to members were 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.”

Earlier this week, Bacta called on the UK government to relax visa rules for the sector’s workers.

White said that adding roles to the UK’s “Shortage Occupations List” would help to counter a labour crisis.

The CEO added that the industry is struggling with a Brexit-driven exodus of workers coupled with the hangover of Covid-19.