Connect
London, 4 October 2011
The PRCA Board today announced the creation of a new category of membership, open to all individuals working within the PR industry. Running in parallel with the PRCA's existing corporate and sole-trader membership routes, individuals will now be able to join the PRCA direct.
Individual members will receive a wide-range of benefits, including access to market intelligence and best practice; discounted access to member services such as training and qualifications, conferences and awards; and free access to at least one thought leadership or networking event a month. All individual members will be required to sign up to the PRCA's Code of Conduct, and where appropriate to be registered on its and the UK Public Affairs Council's public affairs register.
The move is in response to demand from the industry, and builds on the Association's successful launch of in-house membership in 2009. The very high level of interest in PRCA freelancer membership shown over the summer has convinced the PRCA Board that there is clear demand for individual membership.
PRCA Chairman Sally Costerton MPRCA said:
"This is our latest step in delivering the strategic plan we announced in 2010 -to continue resolutely to grow our reach and relevance, and in so doing to make the PRCA the industry's undisputed voice."
PRCA Chief Executive Francis Ingham said:
"This latest extension of our reach builds on the success of our in-house membership model. Over the past four years, the PRCA has trebled in size, and become a powerful representative voice of consultancies, in-house teams and sole traders alike. This next logical step will complete our mission of representing the whole industry."
-ENDS-
Notes to Editors
For media enquiries please contact Francis Ingham – francis.ingham@prca.org.uk / 020 7233 6026
Video courtesy of Markettiers4dc http://www.markettiers4dc.com
The PRCA Board of Management consists of:
Board officers
Chairman – Sally Costerton –Chairman & CEO Europe and AMEASCA, H&K
Vice-Chairman – David Gallagher – Senior Partner & CEO, KetchumPleon
Treasurer – Matt Neale – International President, GolinHarris
PRCA Chief Executive – Francis Ingham
Board members
Rachel Bell – Founder, Shine Communications
Alison Clarke – Group Business Development Director, Huntsworth PLC
Richard Houghton – MD London, Aspect Consulting (NB also President, of ICCO)
Crispin Manners – CEO, Onva Consulting (and founder of Kaizo)
Robert Phillips – President and CEO, Edelman EMEA
Alex Sandberg – Chairman, College Group
Claire Walker – CEO, Firefly communications
Steffan Williams – MD, Capital MS&L
Guy Woodcock – CEO, Montpellier Marketing Communications
Colin Byrne – CEO, Weber Shandwick UK & Europe
About the PRCA
Who we are: Founded in 1969, the PRCA is the professional body that represents UK PR consultancies, in-house communications teams, freelancers and individuals. The PRCA promotes all aspects of public relations and internal communications work, helping teams and individuals maximise the value they deliver to clients and organisations.
What we do: The Association exists to raise standards in PR and communications, providing members with industry data, facilitating the sharing of communications best practice and creating networking opportunities.
How we do it and make a difference: All PRCA members are bound by a professional charter and codes of conduct, and benefit from exceptional training. The Association also works for the greater benefit of the industry, sharing best practice and lobbying on the industry's behalf e.g. fighting the NLA's digital licence.
Who we represent: The PRCA represents many of the major consultancies in the UK, and currently has more than 250 agency members from around the world including the majority of the top 100 UK consultancies. We also represent around 70 in-house communications teams from multinationals, UK charities and leading UK public sector organisations.
