Supporting the SSA UK in recruiting the right Membership IT Officer during a particularly busy and challenging time of year, strengthening their membership systems, data management,  and digital capability. 

 

Our Client - The SELF STORAGE ASSOCIATION UK (ssa UK)

SSA UK is the trade association representing the self-storage industry across the UK, working closely with operators, suppliers and partners to support the growth and development of the sector.

The association also works closely with its European counterpart FEDESSA, supporting collaboration across the wider European self-storage industry.

Based in Nantwich, Cheshire, SSA UK operates with a small, highly collaborative team, delivering a wide range of services including industry research, events, member engagement and sector advocacy.

Under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Simon Forrester, who joined the organisation in 2025, the association is continuing to strengthen its digital infrastructure and member services as it supports the future growth of the industry.

Technology and digital systems play a central role in SSA UK’s operations, underpinning everything from membership management and communications to events and industry data.

The Brief 

SSA UK partnered with us to recruit a Membership IT Officer, following the departure of a colleague who had previously managed both membership systems and internal IT.

This was a critical hire for the association. The role would act as the super-user and administrator of SSA UK’s CRM and CMS systems, ensuring the smooth running of membership processes, data management, and digital platforms.

The successful candidate would support:

    • Administration and optimisation of the Ready Membership CRM platform
    • Management of membership data, applications and renewals
    • Website content management and digital systems integration
    • Reporting and data insights to support membership strategy
    • Technical support for staff and members

The role also supported the wider digital infrastructure across both SSA UK and the European Federation FEDESSA, meaning the successful candidate would play an important role in supporting collaboration across European partners.

The position was part time (30 hours per week) and required someone able to work locally within the Cheshire / South Staffordshire region, with a hybrid model including time in the Nantwich office.

Alongside strong technical capability, cultural fit was a key priority. SSA UK operates as a close-knit team, meaning the organisation needed someone who could work collaboratively, communicate effectively with colleagues and members, and contribute positively to the team environment.

Our Solution  

Recruiting for the role presented several unique challenges.

Firstly, the role required a rare combination of skills, blending IT capability, CRM management, data confidence and membership operations knowledge.

Secondly, the search required identifying candidates within a specific local geography, given the need for regular office presence in Nantwich.

Finally, the role was launched during the Christmas period, which can often slow recruitment activity and candidate availability.

We addressed these challenges through targeted regional advertising and outreach, alongside proactive engagement with candidates from relevant digital and IT backgrounds.

In addition to technical capability, we worked closely with SSA UK to ensure candidates were assessed for their ability to thrive within a small and collaborative team environment, where communication skills and adaptability are essential.

Within three weeks, we delivered a strong shortlist of candidates aligned with both the technical requirements of the role and the organisation’s culture.

Our Results 

SSA UK conducted a streamlined interview process led directly by CEO Simon Forrester.

While several candidates brought significant experience, the successful candidate stood out for their technical capability, strong potential for development and excellent cultural fit.

A Computer Science graduate with strong digital systems knowledge, the candidate demonstrated the ability to quickly develop into a key technical resource for the organisation.

They have since joined SSA UK as Membership IT Officer, supporting the optimisation of the association’s CRM and digital systems, while also contributing to wider projects involving European collaboration and the organisation’s evolving digital roadmap.

The role will play an important part in SSA UKs continued work to strengthen its data capabilities, digital platforms and member experience, including exploring new opportunities around AI and digital innovation within its systems.

CLIENT FEEDBACK

Simon Forrester
Chief Executive Officer, at SSA UK

"This was a very important hire for SSA UK. Our membership systems and IT infrastructure underpin much of the work we do as an association, so finding the right person was critical.

Membership Bespoke understood exactly what we were looking for, someone with the technical capability to manage our systems but also someone who could work well within our small, close-knit team. They delivered a strong shortlist and helped us appoint someone with excellent potential who we’re excited to develop within the organisation."