The new Family Entertainment centre (FEC) subgroup at BALPPA reached the fifty (50) member milestone inside its first month, after the former exec team of the Play Providers Association (PPA) resigned on mass at the end of 2012.

The executive team at the PPA had fruitful discussions with the BALPPA management team and decided that a move across would be a better fit for their indoor play and kids activity businesses, which range in size from between 3,000 and 30,000 sq ft, typically attracting circa 85,000 visits per year per site as well as generating income from F+B spend and parties.

The indoor play sector is highly fragmented (and very much driven by weather!) and hence the role of a trade association is vital in providing cost saving benefits, educational support and lobbying on key issues on behalf of the membership which is where there is great synergy with the issues that BALPPA is currently engaged in. It is also planned for the longer term that the FEC subgroup will be able to grow to also include laser, high ropes, bowling and karting centres; all of which provide great localised, community focused attractions.

To date over 50 new member companies have been recruited to join the handful of existing BALPPA members who already operated FEC’s. Combined this totals over 75 sites nationwide and this figure is increasing weekly with partner suppliers also coming on board at BALPPA including the likes of TL Dallas Insurance, Booker and Zone EU.

Former PPA chairperson Janice Dunphy explained her hopes from her team’s move away from the PPA/FSPA: “BALPPA has the strengths to breathe life into the new Family Entertainment Centre subgroup. Furthermore, the visual recognition of BALPPA throughout the world-wide leisure industry, and their awareness by and of UK governmental bodies, provides an exceptional solid foundation for us to propel further forward our collective interests, passion and beliefs hereby creating a stronger and more influential body for indoor play operators.”

Networking events feature highly on the steering groups objectives with member events planned at Alton Towers in May, Chessington World of Adventures as part of the BALPPA Summer Conference in June and LIW at the NEC in September.

For more information about joining the Family Entertainment Subgroup please contact Kate Costin on [email protected] or download the FEC FAQ document detailing the background, membership benefits and plans for future events.