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Phillip takes the administration reins

FMS recently announced the appointment of Phillip Franks as the organisation's first-ever Charity Administrator. In his new position Phillip will be responsible for pulling together a fragmented membership database, looking after the financial admin, and will be the first point of contact for the organisation.

Ever since the charity was formed in the late seventies all administrative tasks have been done by willing volunteers and so the charity’s paperwork systems have grown organically, rather than being planned. However, providing medical cover at major events such as Glastonbury is serious business these days, requiring a volunteer force of almost 1,000, so the logistics need to be spot on.

Because of the considerable administrative burden placed on FMS volunteers, the organisation’s management decided that it was time to appoint a paid professional to help ease the workload on the time-starved co-ordinators, the majority of whom also have full-time day jobs and families to look after.

Relishing the challenge ahead Phillip said: “It was an easy decision to join FMS. It has an extremely good reputation, and offers a superb and polished professional medical service to festival organisers and goers alike. I’m happy to be able to help the organisation with their administration and hope to make life easier for all the volunteers and members.”

He added: “With the exception of myself, FMS is staffed entirely by volunteers and it is essential that everyone is kept informed of what is happening; I intend to ensure that happens.”

A veterinary wholesaler for 35 years, the last 12 in senior management positions, Phillip has a superb understanding of what it means to be customer-centric and will gladly tell you of the importance of customer service to organisations. As well as being an accomplished administrator, Phillip has also managed complex computer systems and is hot on the latest budgetary and financial control techniques.

Look for a more in-depth interview with Phillip as he settles into the role in the next few months and takes on his first Glastonbury Festival as FMS Charity Administrator.

Updated 07/05/08