Launched in 2020, our Sector Forums provide an opportunity for members to network, share best practice, discuss the challenges, trends, opportunities, and the latest news within the UK Legal, External Storage, Security, Technology & Innovation, and Women in Business sectors.
Meeting both in person and/or online around 2 or 3 times per year, each forum is led by a nominated chair who will oversee the group's activities and disseminate information gathered to the SSA UK and its members. Chairs are chosen based on their knowledge and expertise.
Access to the sector forums is complimentary to SSA UK and FEDESSA members.
The Legal Sector Forum aims to:
Keep members abreast of updated or new legislation relevant to the self storage sector
Help develop future changes to the MAP and standard agreements
Improve the legal knowledge base of SSA UK members
Share members’ experiences and outcomes of legal issues
Share best practices on managing legal issues within stores
The Security Sector Forum will serve as a platform for members to:
Discuss security due diligence
Raise awareness of Cyber Security
Provide opportunities to discuss and tackle issues/challenges
Consider risk and compliance
Evaluate new technology in security
Work with the police and other government bodies as appropriate to improve industry security and deal with potential threats to the industry
This Sector Forum connects external storage and container operator members who will work together to:
Promote external and container storage
Drive improvements and innovation
Share effective best practices
Provide opportunities to discuss and tackle challenges or issues
Encourage sector networking
Provide mutual support to new external storage and container operators
Suggest any changes to the industry standard for external storage and container operators
The Technology & Innovation Sector Forum will:
Evaluate and discuss new technologies in the industry
Provide a working group for suppliers to discuss and test new technology
Look outside the industry to technology that could impact self storage
Share experiences in adopting new technology in the industry
The Women in Business Sector Forum aims to:
Share members experience of women within the industry
Increase awareness of women leaders within the self storage industry
Improve workplace culture and wellness for women
Increase confidence and self-esteem of women within our businesses
Encourage and motivate more women to join our industry
Inspire career development of women within the self storage sector
Celebrate being women and increase our happiness
This Sector Forum is a place to discuss all things digital in self storage and we will be discussing a range of topics during the meetings including:
Trends in digital marketing
Artificial Intelligence
Data analysis
Pricing algorithms
Chatbots and more…
Just for Supplier members, these meetings will discuss:
Communications to/from suppliers and the SSA UK
Sponsorship and exhibiting opportunities
Operator Engagement at Members' Networking Events, and how to encourage more engagement from operators
The YSN and how to get involved
UNLOCKED advertising and articles
Supplier Summits and content
Feedback
Ideas for future promotion
Satisfaction levels
Please visit the Sector Forum pages under Events for upcoming dates for all our Sector Forums.
Chairs
Jack Raeburn
Security
Jack has spearheaded MYNET Security’s rapid growth into one of the industry's only end-to-end security systems and service providers. With a background as a technical leader in the telecommunications and IT industries, Jack oversees the continued development of what is already one of the industry's most sophisticated monitoring infrastructures. This has positioned MYNET right at the cutting edge of self storage security monitoring.
Ali Goodwin
External Storage
Ali is the manager of Clear Storage Limited, a family run single site container storage facility based in Hereford. They started the business 6 years ago and have grown to become Herefordshire's largest storage facility. Ali previously practiced as a solicitor for 20 years and became Partner in a top 100 law firm.
Frederic de Ryckman de Betz
Technology & Innovation
Frederic de Ryckman de Betz is the Chair of our immensely popular and engaging Technology and Innovation Sector Forum. Having founded his own self storage business in 2008, Fred has experience in every part of the business from financing, site finding & viability assessments, through construction to operations. Under Fred’s leadership, the business he founded won numerous awards including several industry awards for a variety of initiatives, including innovation.
A former director and Chairman of the SSA UK (and Vice President of FEDESSA), Fred has spoken at numerous conferences both at home and abroad on a variety of topics. The business he founded was the first in the UK to introduce online check-in & account management in 2016, and the first to introduce electronic locks throughout a store in 2020. Join our well-liked, well-regarded thought-leader and innovator as he continues to explore new opportunities for growth and innovation in the self storage space.
Sarah Manning
Women in Business
Sarah joined the container industry in 2007, working in sales for Mr Box. Sarah took over management of the business in the following years and grew the business to five times its original size. Self storage was a key market for Mr Box. Sarah was appointed as a Director in 2012, and in 2016, Mr Box was sold to Mobile Mini, the world’s largest container company. Sarah stayed with Mobile Mini for 3 years, running the Mr Box division and overseeing the integration of Mr Box in to the wider business. In 2021, Sarah launched Secure Stores Nationwide, a container sales and hire business specialising in the self storage industry. The business has already experienced rapid growth and has a strong emphasis on quality products and top-notch customer service.
Rennie Schafer
Digital
Rennie is the current CEO of FEDESSA and the Self Storage Association UK, having previously been the CEO of the Australasian Self Storage Association for over 9 years. Rennie has extensive knowledge of the self storage industry across the world, from the developing Asian markets through to the birthplace of self storage in the USA. He has over 27 years of association management experience, 21 at CEO level. Rennie has an MBA from Deakin University and completed the Oxford University High performance leadership programme.
Andy Marks
Suppliers
Andy joined the SSA UK Board in June 2023 as the supplier representative and is looking forward to helping to shape the lines of communication and opportunities available to all suppliers. Andy is a Director of Keepers Cottage Services, who have been supplying auction and clearance services in the self-storage sector for the past 7 years, and is a keen advocate of best practice.
If you are interested in sponsoring our Sector Forums, please email Helen Bourke at [email protected]
