The Motorsport Industry Association (MIA) is the world’s leading trade association for the motorsport, performance engineering, services and tuning sectors. The MIA represents the specialised needs of this highly successful global industry as it undergoes continuing rapid development throughout the world.
In April 1994, leading personalities in British motorsport joined forces to form their own trade association – the MIA – with the aim of promoting one of the UK’s most successful industries – motorsport. The original concept was proposed by Founder and original CEO, Brian Sims, with the first Executive Committee comprising Rob Baldock (Accenture); Dick Scammel (Cosworth);Tony Schulp (Haymarket); John Kirkpatrick (Jim Russell Racing Drivers School); Tony Panaro (Euro Northern Travel) and Tony Fletcher (Premier Fuels).
Rob Baldock became Chairman – a post he held for many years, whilst John Kirkpatrick has successfully remained on the annually elected committee since inception, thereby helping to maintain an element of continuity in the MIA’s governance. Lord Astor of Hever DL accepted the invitation to become Honorary President in 1996. To read the original papers announcing the launch of the MIA please click here. Lord Astor stepped down from the role upon his appointment as a Defence Minister in the new UK Government in 2010, following 14 years of outstanding leadership and diplomacy on behalf of the motorsport industry.
Right Honourable The Lord Drayson of Kensington accepted the invitation from members to become the new Honorary President in January 2011. Lord Drayson brings a unique range of business, motorsport and Parliamentary experience to the MIA, having been a working peer in the UK Parliament since 2004, and managing partner of Drayson Racing. To read the press release on the announcement of Lord Drayson as Honorary President, click here. The MIA has embraced an ever-expanding international network of business contacts, the result being that today it boasts nearly 400 Global members, whose companies transact more than £5 billion of motorsport business worldwide.
The MIA:
- Helps its members to grow their businesses and increase their profitability
- Raises and maintains a positive profile for the motorsport industry and, when necessary, speaks for the sector as a whole
- Works with the British and European Parliaments to secure support which ensures the sector has a sound, long-term role within the economy
- Maintains a close, well-informed dialogue with UK politicians via the All Party Motor Group of which the MIA is joint secretary
- Works with UK Regional Development Authorities to promote their regions and their motorsport industry development
- Offers specific services of direct relevance to the Motorsport and Performance Engineering Industry
- Organises networking dinners with key speakers from the Sport and the Industry
- Offers motorsport career advice and assistance – visit www.motorsportcareers.co.uk
- Supports a variety of educational initiatives including Formula Schools and Formula Student
- Hosts specialist motorsport education groups – the Motorsport Educators Forum (MEF) and the International Motorsport Education Forum (IMEF).
- Organises Technology Transfer conferences and events – aiding cross-sector interaction between Motorsport and the Defence, Marine and Aerospace industries
- Organises relevant, cost effective, events to improve knowledge of critical issues
- Provides sources of research for industry to discover new markets and develop fresh opportunities
- Promotes and encourages energy efficient technologies in motorsport through the MIA’s ‘Cleaner Racing’ initiative, first conceived in 2001
- Works with government agencies in the UK and around the world to develop international trade and motorsport investment
- As the Accredited Trade Organisation for motorsport with UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), the MIA delivers international trade activities in every continent
The MIA represents its members from motorsport, high performance engineering and tuning companies; race and rally teams; governing bodies; motorsport services; research organisations; race circuits; Universities and colleges – amongst many others. The MIA enjoys membership of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), in turn providing members access to the UK’s “Voice of Industry”.