50 Years of the BDA From First Meeting to Industry Leadership

January 20, 2026

The Beginning

In 2026, the British Drilling Association (BDA) marks fifty years since its first meeting in 1976. Over the past five decades, the BDA has grown from a small circle of specialists into a nationally recognised trade association, championing standards, safety, competence and professionalism across the UK land drilling and ground investigation sector. This anniversary offers an opportunity to reflect on how far the industry has travelled, while also reaffirming the BDA’s role in shaping its future.

The circumstances of the Association’s formation tell their own story. Land drilling and ground investigation were expanding rapidly in scope, but the industry lacked consistent practice, recognised qualifications or a unified voice. The founding ambition was clear: to bring contractors, consultants, suppliers and manufacturers together to raise quality, improve safety and provide a collective platform for the sector.

Subscriptions for the inaugural meeting on 22 October 1976 were set at £25 per company. Within a year, against a backdrop of 18% national inflation, fees had risen to £250 for smaller companies and £1,500 for the largest.

An Industry Taking Shape

Early committee membership reflected the breadth of the sector at the time, with representatives from organisations such as Hands England, Christensen Diamond Products, Ground Engineering magazine, Boyles Bros, Landay Drilling Supplies, Drilling and Prospecting International, Ellis Jones Consultants, the National Coal Board and Atlas Copco – few of which operate in the same form today.

By January 1977, membership had grown to 34 companies and 27 individuals, representing a register of 201. Yet even then, familiar challenges were evident. A safety seminar planned for April 1977 attracted only 28 of 42 confirmed attendees, while the first AGM in January 1978 saw just 46 people present – early reminders of the realities of voluntary association life.

Building Professional Identity and Culture

Despite these challenges, the drive to establish professionalism and identity was strong. In 1979, the Committee agreed to purchase BDA ties with a gold motif and to formalise the Dinner Dance, complete with dinner jackets, flowers on every table and a red rose for each female guest.

Meeting minutes from the period reveal industry conditions that still resonate. In May 1982, Vice Chair F. Potts noted that while water well and mineral drilling were busy, site investigation work was suffering from low rates – a sentiment that could easily appear in BDA records today.

Raising Standards and Developing Competence

From these foundations, the BDA’s influence expanded steadily. Through the late twentieth century and into the early 2000s, the Association became central to the professionalisation of land drilling. Guidance, codes of practice and training initiatives helped strengthen industry capability and consistency.

The development of vocational qualifications, driller accreditation schemes and structured competence pathways gave operatives recognised skills, while providing clients and employers with confidence in those undertaking critical ground investigation work. The BDA also played a significant role in standards development, contributing to BS 5930, rig safety standards including EN 791 and later EN 16228, and Eurocode-related work. As noted in the Association’s December 2011 newsletter, this ensured the BDA represented all drilling disciplines, countering perceptions of narrow focus.

The BDA Audit: Independent Assurance

One of the most significant milestones during this period was the creation and evolution of the BDA Audit. Replacing earlier accreditation schemes, the Audit introduced independent, structured assurance of operational standards and competence.

Over time, the Audit has expanded to reflect changes in legislation, client expectations and drilling technology. Importantly, it has always been designed as a constructive process rather than a punitive one. As emphasised in 2011, auditors play a key role in supporting improvement, enhancing safety and strengthening dialogue between operatives and the wider industry.

Accreditation and Industry Recognition

Between 2008 and 2010, the BDA explored the development of a formal accreditation scheme for ground investigation organisations, responding to client demand for clearer differentiation of capability. Early concepts were influenced by major contractors and FPS models, and discussions with UKAS addressed certification requirements, governance and cost implications.

By 2010, £30,500 in grant funding had been secured, and a large technical committee was convened, involving organisations such as the Highways Agency, Environment Agency, Crossrail, Thames Water, Arup, Buro Happold, Coffey, Mott MacDonald, UKAS and LRQA. While technical progress was rapid, the Association chose to proceed cautiously, ensuring long-term credibility and control. This period is best understood as the culmination of several years of intensive development rather than a single initiative.

Guidance, Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing

As the industry became more regulated and visible, the BDA responded with guidance on hazardous gases, contaminated land, drilling near coal workings, dynamic sampling, core handling and cable percussion operations. Much of this work was delivered collaboratively with bodies such as the Coal Authority (Mining Remediation Authority), HSE, AGS and FPS.

Knowledge sharing has remained central to the Association’s mission. Conferences, seminars and webinars have addressed quality, digitalisation, wellbeing and innovation, while training has evolved from early open learning courses to NVQs, apprenticeships, new entrant programmes and specialist training films. Grant funding has enabled members to upskill operatives in ways that would often be difficult to achieve individually.

The BDA Today

Today, the BDA is a modern, diverse and highly engaged trade association, built on fifty years of collaboration. Its non-profit, member-owned structure remains fundamental, with all income and grant funding reinvested into improving standards and supporting the industry through volunteer-led committees and working groups.

Record membership and audit participation demonstrate the Association’s continued relevance, while sustainability, digitalisation and competence shape current priorities. Events such as the BDA Gala & Awards and the annual conference are now established fixtures in the sector calendar, alongside charitable fundraising that has made a meaningful impact beyond drilling itself.

Looking Ahead

As the BDA marks its fiftieth anniversary, the story continues. Throughout 2026, the Association will share archival material, interviews with past and present Chairs, and reflections from long-standing members, capturing not only milestones but the people and character behind them.

From its first meeting in 1976 to its position today as a respected industry voice, the British Drilling Association remains committed to its founding principles: improving safety, raising standards and supporting a competent, professional and trusted drilling industry. As the anniversary year unfolds, the BDA looks forward to celebrating its first fifty years – and shaping the next fifty.