The Role of FEDESSA A Structured Consultation to Define Our Common Direction
During the last General Council meeting some have raised questions about the role of FEDESSA — what it does, what value it delivers, and whether our current membership fee fairly reflects that. We believe these are exactly the right questions to ask, and this survey is our way of working through them together.
This survey is focused on the future direction and role of FEDESSA in serving its members. Before any decisions are taken on resource allocation or organisational structure, you will have a full and equal opportunity to define what FEDESSA should do, for whom, and how. Your responses will be compiled and shared with all participating boards before any conclusions are drawn.
Your responses are strictly confidential. Each association submits independently, and answers are not visible to other participants. Results will be anonymised at board level before being shared collectively.
Note on FEDESSA attendance at national conferences: This survey includes questions about FEDESSA's role at national conferences. This is an area where current practice has developed informally and may not be consistently understood across associations. Your input will help define a clear, shared policy going forward.
Please enter the name of your national association or board.
1
FEDESSA's Role & Mandate
1.1 — In your view, what should be FEDESSA's primary function?
Please rank the following (1 = most important, 5 = least important). You may assign the same rank to multiple items if equally important.
Setting and maintaining European industry standards (e.g. CEN standard)
Producing and publishing industry data and market intelligence
Organising the annual FEDESSA conference and networking events
Supporting national associations with operational and administrative services
Monitoring EU/political developments and representing the industry externally
Facilitating knowledge-sharing and best practice across national associations
Growing the European self storage market (awareness, demand generation)
1.2 — How clearly does your national board understand the current mandate of FEDESSA?
FEDESSA's current mandate covers: European industry standards (CEN), industry data and market intelligence, the annual conference, support to national associations, EU political monitoring, knowledge-sharing, and European market development.
Based on the current De Havilland Europe contract (€26,000/year — approximately €1,860/member/year), how do you assess the following?
Statement
1
2
3
4
5
Comments
Political monitoring content is relevant to the self storage industry
The current cost of €26,000/year represents good value for money
The monthly political monitoring newsletter reaches and is used by our board
FEDESSA should build direct EU political connections (beyond purchased intelligence)
AI tools could partially replace or reduce the cost of this service
2.3 — Communication & Member Visibility
Statement
1
2
3
4
5
Comments
The FEDESSA e-news provides clear value to our association and members
The Unlocked Magazine provides clear value to our association and members
FEDESSA's social media presence (LinkedIn) is effective and relevant
FEDESSA's website and CRM are up to date and useful
QuickGuides should be a higher priority than the magazine
2.4 — Webinars
Statement
1
2
3
4
5
Comments
Monthly FEDESSA webinars add value for our local members
A jointly planned webinar calendar across all associations would improve content
AI-assisted translation/subtitles would make webinars more accessible
2.5 — Overall Part I Prioritisation
For each activity, indicate your priority (1 = high → 5 = low) and whether it should be a Core Activity (funded by membership fees) or not.
Activity / Function
Priority (1=high, 5=low)
Core Activity?
Annual FEDESSA Industry Report
Market mapping (non-members + macroeconomic data)
CEN Standard maintenance
Political monitoring (De Havilland)
Political monitoring newsletter / e-news
FEDESSA CRM & website
Operative support — generic cross-border resources
Unlocked Magazine
QuickGuides
Monthly webinars
Awareness & social media
Back office — member queries
Direct membership & new association support
3
Part II: Association Support Services (funded individually)
FEDESSA's services have been divided into two categories: core association services — delivered collectively to all member associations through shared membership fees — and additional support services, designed primarily for newer and smaller associations that may require more hands-on operational assistance. This section asks you to help define where that boundary should sit.
3.1 — Part I vs. Part II boundary
Please indicate whether your association agrees that each activity below should be classified as association support (Part II) or not.
Statement
Yes
No
Partly
Comments
Coordination of specific national associations boards
Operational support to local associations (not admin)
Country-specific industry reports
Support for regional conferences
Managing local association CRMs and local websites
3.2 — Service agreements for Part II activities
Where FEDESSA provides services to individual associations under Part II, a formal service agreement should govern scope, deliverables and fees. Rate 1–5:
Statement
1
2
3
4
5
Comments
All Part II services should be governed by a written service agreement
Fees for Part II services should be based on actual time and cost
Part II services should be reviewed annually and renewed by mutual agreement
Associations receiving Part II support should have dedicated reporting separate from board meetings
3.3 — Current Part II arrangements
Does your association currently receive or provide any Part II services, formally or informally? If yes, please describe any informal arrangements, whether these should be formalised, and how they would be provided.
4
The FEDESSA Conference & Events Strategy
4.1 — Annual FEDESSA Conference
Statement
1
2
3
4
5
Comments
The annual FEDESSA conference is the flagship event for the European industry
The conference must be fully self-financing (ticket sales + sponsorship only)
Membership fees should not subsidise conference costs under any circumstances
The current conference format and scope are appropriate
We have confidence in the financial management and cost transparency of the conference
4.2 — Regional Conferences
Statement
1
2
3
4
5
Comments
Regional conferences add genuine value for local operators and associations
Each regional conference must be fully funded by its host association
FEDESSA's role should be operational support only (not financial co-funding)
Regional conferences should be formally scoped under Part II service agreements
4.3 — FEDESSA attendance at national conferences
Statement
1
2
3
4
5
Comments
FEDESSA attendance at national conferences adds value for the host association
Attendance should only occur when there is a clear FEDESSA agenda (speaking, moderation)
Costs associated with FEDESSA attendance should be borne by the host association
5
Governance & Structural Development
5.1 — Board decision-making and consultation
Statement
1
2
3
4
5
Comments
The current FEDESSA board structure allows for effective decision-making
National associations have a meaningful voice in FEDESSA's strategic direction
Major structural or financial decisions should require a formal board vote
The current consultation process (informal feedback + formal survey) is the right approach
Results of this survey should be shared with all national boards before any decisions are taken
5.2 — Transparency and reporting
Please rate your satisfaction with FEDESSA's current transparency on finances, activities and priorities.
Statement
1
2
3
4
5
Comments
FEDESSA provides sufficient financial transparency to member associations
The Part I / Part II framework makes cost allocation clear and fair
FEDESSA reports adequately on time spent per activity against the stated budget
We receive clear information on FEDESSA's plans and priorities for the year ahead
5.3 — Direct membership — boundary with national associations
Statement
Yes
No
Partly
Comments
Direct FEDESSA membership should only apply where no national association exists
FEDESSA should not engage directly with operators in markets where a national association is active
The primary goal of direct membership policy should be supporting creation of new national associations
There is currently clarity in your market about which operators are members of which body
5.4 — Priorities for structural development in the next 12 months
What are the 2–3 most important structural or governance changes your board would like to see FEDESSA implement in the next 12 months?
6
Resources, Costs & Team Capacity
6.1 — Current FEDESSA team and resources
Statement
1
2
3
4
5
Comments
The current FEDESSA team has sufficient capacity to deliver its mandate
Resources are appropriately allocated between different activity areas
External costs (De Havilland, CBRE, legal, IT) represent good value for money
The current membership fee structure is fair and sustainable
FEDESSA should actively explore AI tools to improve efficiency and reduce costs
6.2 — Cost areas to reduce, restructure or eliminate
Please identify any cost lines and explain your reasoning.
7
Open Feedback & Additional Comments
7.1 — What does your board consider the single most important thing FEDESSA could do in the next 12 months to increase its value to your association?
Please describe the single highest-impact change or initiative.
7.2 — Are there any topics where your board feels strongly but has not had sufficient opportunity to express its position?
Please add any additional feedback or positions not captured elsewhere in this survey.
7.3 — How would your board rate FEDESSA's current reporting and communication format?
1 = Very poor | 2 = Poor | 3 = Acceptable | 4 = Good | 5 = Excellent
Aspect
1 Very poor
2 Poor
3 Acceptable
4 Good
5 Excellent
Comments
Quality and relevance of FEDESSA's current reporting to member associations
Clarity and structure of FEDESSA's current communications format
Confidence that member feedback genuinely influences FEDESSA's decisions
Overall satisfaction with FEDESSA's openness to dialogue and structural change
Your responses will be stored confidentially and are not visible to other participants. All submissions are compiled and shared at board level only, before any decisions are taken.
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Thank you for completing the survey.
Your responses have been recorded. They will be compiled confidentially alongside input from other national boards and shared before any decisions are taken on FEDESSA's direction or fee structure.