You may well think we are biased - perhaps we are - but many of the benefits we provide to members far outweigh the cost of belonging to the DSPA, so for the uninformed, let us look at a brief snapshot of member benefits provided by us.

The DSPA National Council is of the opinion that DSPA membership does provide excellent value for money and even at the highest band rate, feels that for many members it is like having an extra member of staff available (can you employ someone for £87.50 per month?). At the bottom end, we could not find any other Trade Association providing membership for less than £250.00 per annum and felt that even the bottom band – £152.00 per annum (which equates to less than £3.00 per week) – was not much to pay considering what you get.

One member recently told us that he had saved his annual subscription by using our recommended insurers who saved him a third of his previous premium.

Access to the Croners Business support helpline which enables you to obtain free advice from professionals on all aspects of running your business be it tax, vat, employment, H & S, Licensing, copyright, landlord and tenant, contracts—the list is virtually endless. No limit to the number of times you call them – no timed duration for any call – just professional accurate advice to help you run your company.

The following list, not exhaustive, provides a glimpse of what we do and areas we are involved in.

• Environmental issues – in conjunction with Envirowise and Environmental Action;
• Research and Development into many aspects of screen printing at University of Wales – Swansea;
• Our own DSPA Print Qualifications Centre – Our staff are fully qualified Assessors, Verifiers and Expert Trainers in Screen Printing. The team includes a City & Guilds External Verifier for Printing NVQ's. - speak to them by calling Carol Swift on 01226 249590 or click on this link: DSPA PQC
• Advice and information on Health and Safety, business matters, employment legislation, technical issues, sourcing service, pension provision;
• A first class combined business insurance scheme;
• Automatic membership of FESPA the Federation of European Screen Printing Associations;
• Free company details entered onto the DSPA's website directory;
• Discount on many DSPA publications;
• Regular Bulletins with H&S, COSHH, environmental and legislative updates;
• Practical guides on a wide range of topics;
• Assistance with union approaches/issues;
• Regional programmes of technical and social activities e.g. dinner/dances, 5 a side soccer, golf societies etc.
• Credit checking service (check up on that company you are planning to do business with before you get your fingers burnt);
• And on joining we shall send you our member handbook on CD-Rom – 140 pages packed with information on all the above topics and more so it can be easily stored on your computer and instantly accessed.