CHANGING OF THE GUARD AT THE GTA

After seven years at the helm of the Gun Trade Association, Simon West signs off with a reflection on the GTA’s enduring role in defending and supporting the industry. In this final column, he passes the baton to incoming Executive Director Stephen Jolly – and shares his thanks, optimism, and encouragement for the Trade’s future.

As I sign off from the GTA, I would like to pass my thanks to all the members of the Association for all the support and guidance over the last seven years. It has been quite some ride.

We are an industry that is strong on defence; we must be. The GTA was established as The Armourers’ Club in 1891 by a group of London gunmakers to be able to represent the Trade’s collective interests. Early topics included representation to the Home Office on the licensing of pistols and working with ammunition manufacturers on the standardisation of cartridge sizes. For over 130 years we have been fighting constrictive legislation and setting trade standards.

That representative activity is so important. Every time there is a negative story in the news about guns, there are plenty of people demanding tighter controls. Working closely with the Government, Home Office and police allows us to give considered advice and scrutinise the evidence. We have achieved much over the years, ensuring proportionality of response.

Looking back into the minute books through our history, there are regular forecasts that the gun trade will soon have to wrap up. No chance! We face all sorts of challenges but the fortitude of the Trade and the activities of the Association have shown we can survive. The industry has continuously changed in shape and size but the numbers speak for themselves.

Shooting in UK is worth £3.3Bn to the economy; it employs the equivalent of 67,000 full time jobs. There are over half a million people with certificates and we estimate there are 8 million airguns in 4 million families. We have Olympic medal winners, make a huge contribution to conservation and provide accessible, constructive activities to swathes of the population.

As well as being strong defenders of our sports and businesses, I commend you too for the outreach activities you provide. Sponsorship, encouragement, customer service and your excellent social media influence. It all matters. There are certainly challenges ahead but we must have strength in numbers. Keep recruiting customers and please keep supporting the GTA – protecting, promoting and representing you all.

I’m not going far and look forward to seeing you all again soon.

From Gun Trade Insider:

Gun Trade Insider would like to thank Simon for all of his hard work with the GTA and wish Stephen the best of luck in his new role.

Simon’s contribution to the association over the last seven years has been significant. Under his leadership, the GTA has built and maintained vital relationships with government, law enforcement and regulatory bodies - often in difficult and uncertain times. His steady hand during Brexit, the pandemic and multiple waves of legislative change ensured the trade had a consistent and respected voice at the table.

As Stephen Jolly takes over the executive director role, he brings a wealth of experience in public affairs and a clear-eyed view of the trade’s current challenges. In our interview with him on page 26, Stephen lays out his initial priorities: ensuring the GTA is fit for purpose, reasserting its focus as a trade body, and expanding support for members.

He also makes no secret of the regulatory concerns that lie ahead - notably the Government’s ongoing discussion about harmonising shotgun and firearm certificate rules. That, he warns, could have profound implications for the trade if mishandled. His intention is to engage constructively with policy-makers and make the case for proportionate, practical regulation.

Beyond lobbying, Stephen is also keen to strengthen the GTA’s role in business development. Whether through better member services, wider recruitment of new RFDs or supporting exporters and suppliers with links to defence and law enforcement, he sees commercial resilience as a key part of the organisation’s future.

Crucially, he is passionate about widening access to the shooting sports. From attracting younger participants to proposing a UK National Shooting Week, Stephen recognises that the long-term health of the industry depends on growing the community of responsible, engaged shooters.

We look forward to seeing how his plans take shape in the months ahead.