For almost thirty years, Butlers Building Societies Guide has been widely recognised as the definitive "must-have" reference handbook devoted entirely to the mutual sector. Published each year, and usually launched at the annual Building Societies' Association (BSA) Conference in May, the Guide presents a "Statistical Analysis of the Building Society Movement" in a purposely compact and regular format, designed to provide quick and easy reference to key data. The status of the Guide within mutual societies has grown over the years, to the point where very few building society executives would not keep a copy readily to hand, or leave the BSA Conference without at least one copy for the office.
It had seemed that Butlers Guide, as such an invaluable institution of the mutual sector, would be around forever. In March 2011, however, its future was thrown into doubt, when ICAP - who had previously compiled and published the Guide - advised that they would no longer be taking this role, reflecting changes in their own professional interests and involvement. With so little time before the BSA Conference, it looked like the Guide had reached the end of the road.
But events were soon to take another turn - precisely because of close professional involvement in the mutual sector! Mutual Vision Technologies Ltd. have for many years taken a major role in software systems development and support for building societies and mutual organisations. With encouragement and assistance from ICAP, MVT decided to embark on the seemingly impossible task of producing the Guide in one month, as distinct from the usual four, and to aim for its customary launch at the BSA Conference in early May.
Against the odds, the newly-titled “MVT Building Societies Guide”, extended to include additional, quick-reference tables, appeared on schedule at the 2011 BSA Conference. The result speaks volumes for the merits of mutuality, showing what can be achieved when many different parties with mutual interests effectively pull together.
For future years, and true to the basic principles of mutual benefit, it is intended that all societies will be encouraged to suggest ways of further enhancing the usefulness of the Guide for all who work within and with the Building Society Movement.
