PRCA introduces new gold standard for in-house communications teams

London, 11 June 2012 –Today the PRCA opened the Communications Management Standard (CMS) to in-house PR and communications departments, with VISA Europe becoming the first team to pass the independent audit successfully.

The in-house CMS reviews performance over seven key business areas, including: leadership and communication, business planning, business improvement, budgetary management systems, project management, monitoring satisfaction, and people management.

The CMS accreditation is an internationally ISO 9001 recognised mark of quality, showcasing professionalism across the board. More than eighty in-house PRCA members will now be invited to undertake the CMS standard.

Francis Ingham, Chief Executive of the PRCA, said “In-house communications teams can be isolated from industry information. The CMS provides a level against which in-house teams can measure performance –providing reassurance to staff within PR and communications teams, and to boards."

“This is a unique opportunity to share best practice in communications between organisations”

Fiona Wilkinson, Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications at Visa Europe said, "It's important to continually challenge ourselves and benchmark best practice in the industry.  Achieving the PRCA CMS standard allows us to demonstrate the expertise we hold in-house and provides an objective measure of our success. 

“We've shown exactly how the skills and processes held in our department enable results to be delivered to the business as a whole."

                                                                                                                    -ENDS-

Notes to editors

For media enquiries please contact

Aeneas Tole, Communications Executive
T: 020 7233 6026 ¦ E: aeneas.tole@prca.org.uk

For membership, CMS, and ICMS enquiries please contact

Katie Packham, New Business Manager
T: 020 7233 6026 ¦ E: katie.packham@prca.org.uk

About the PRCA

Who we are: Founded in 1969, the PRCA is the professional body that represents UK PR consultancies, in-house communications teams, PR 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 over 80 in-house communications teams from multinationals, UK charities and leading UK public sector organisations.

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