Application Process

Who is eligible to join?

ABPCO Full and Associate Membership is only open to individual conference and event organisers working or born in the UK. ABPCO welcomes applications from individuals within conference and event organising agencies, and from in-house organisers working within public sector, corporate or non-for-profit organisations and associations.

Friend Membership is offered, at a cost of £150 + VAT per annum, at the discretion of the Executive Committee to those who are no longer actively working as conference or event organisers (eg retired professionals, those on career breaks) or to individuals working in other sectors of the meetings and event industry.

Entry Level Membership is open to students both under and post graduate, those wishing to move into the conference and events industry from another sector or individuals who have just embarked on their career.

Corporate Membership is open to conference and event industry supply organisations and is open to organisations rather than individuals.

Membership Categories

There are four categories of membership plus Friend Membership as detailed above and an Honorary category by invitation only. Company Membership is also available to those organisations who have multiple Full, Associate and Entry Level Members of ABPCO

  • Full Membership
  • Associate Membership
  • Entry Level Membership
  • Corporate Membership

Full Membership

Eligibility:

  • A minimum of 5 years' experience in the organisation of all services required in the preparation and running of conferences, seminars and/or other meetings
  • A minimum of 2 years as a proprietor, partner, director or senior manager of a conference organising business or as the director or senior manager of a conference organising unit attached to a professional or trade association, educational institution, official body, or corporation

Benefits:

  • Voting rights within ABPCO
  • Networking, relationship building and knowledge sharing opportunities through ABPCO member meetings, workshops and events, along with our social media presence on Linked In, Facebook and Twitter
  • Professional development opportunities available at the regular ABPCO events programme, with a focus on educational content and keynote sessions and workshops run by high-level speakers and industry professionals. Some of these events are free for ABPCO members to attend and others offer discounts to members and their colleagues. ABPCO Members are also offered special rates to attend events organised by our fellow industry associations and to attend other events which the Association supports.
  • Access to ABPCO confidential members-only mailing list
  • Inclusion on the list of full ABPCO members given to potential new clients and receipt of other business leads and enquiries
  • Authorisation to use the designation 'Full Member of ABPCO' when used in conjunction with the member's name ie on business cards and personal correspondence only, not on corporate communications of any kind
  • The opportunity for promotion through contributing to ABPCO's M&IT Venue Picker
  • Representation on the Business Visits and Events Partnership, a collective of all industry bodies involved in business tourism for the purpose of influencing change through the legislative process
  • Access to ABPCO's strategic alliances with other professional associations including MPI's UK and Ireland Chapter, ICCA's UK & Ireland Chapter, MIA and AIPCO (Association of Irish Professional Conference Organisers) offering discounts to ABPCO members to attend their events
  • Access to specialist services through our partnerships with VAT and insurance experts

Subscription - £325.00 + VAT per annum

Associate Membership

Eligibility:

A minimum of 2 years' experience in the organisation of all services required in the preparation and running of conferences, seminars and/or other meetings.

Benefits:

  • Voting rights within ABPCO
  • Networking, relationship building and knowledge sharing opportunities through ABPCO member meetings, workshops and events, along with our social media presence on Linked In, Facebook and Twitter
  • Professional development opportunities available at the regular ABPCO events programme, with a focus on educational content and keynote sessions and workshops run by high-level speakers and industry professionals. Some of these events are free for ABPCO members to attend and others offer discounts to members and their colleagues. ABPCO Members are also offered special rates to attend events organised by our fellow industry associations and to attend other events which the Association supports.
  • Access to Full ABPCO members for advice and consultation
  • Authorisation to use the designation 'Associate Member of ABPCO' when used in conjunction with the member's name ie. on business cards and personal correspondence only, not on corporate communications of any kind
  • Representation on the Business Visits and Events Partnership, a collective of all industry bodies involved in business tourism for the purpose of influencing change through the legislative process
  • Access to ABPCO's strategic alliances with other professional associations including MPI's UK and Ireland Chapter, ICCA's UK & Ireland Chapter, MIA and AIPCO (Association of Irish Professional Conference Organisers) offering discounts to ABPCO members to attend their events
  • Access to specialist services through our partnerships with VAT and insurance experts
  • Progression to Full Membership once satisfying the relevant criteria

Subscription - £215.00 + VAT per annum

Entry Level Membership

Eligibility:

Open to students both under and post graduate or those wishing to move into the conference and events industry from another sector or who have just embarked on their career path.

Benefits:

  • Opportunity to network with ABPCO conference and event organiser members and potential members through our events programme and social networking presence on Facebook and Linked-In
  • Professional development opportunities available at the regular ABPCO events programme, with a focus on educational content and keynote sessions and workshops run by high-level speakers and industry professionals. Some of these events are free for ABPCO members to attend and others offer discounts to members and their colleagues. ABPCO Members are also offered special rates to attend events organised by our fellow industry associations and to attend other events which the Association supports.
  • Access to ABPCO members for networking and career progression
  • Representation on the Business Visits and Events Partnership, a collective of all industry bodies involved in business tourism for the purpose of influencing change through the legislative process
  • Access to ABPCO's strategic alliances with other professional associations including MPI's UK and Ireland Chapter, ICCA's UK & Ireland Chapter, MIA and AIPCO (Association of Irish Professional Conference Organisers) offering discounts to ABPCO members to attend their events
  • Progression to Associate Membership after two years providing criteria is met

Subscription - £50.00 + VAT per annum

Company Membership

Eligibility:

If an organisation has multiple individual conference and event organiser members of ABPCO who have been accepted into the Association following approval of their application and peer assessment they are permitted to use the ABPCO logo to badge their organisation in recognition of the level of approved expertise.

Number of Members required:

  • 3 Full Members
  • 2 Associate Members
  • 3 Entry Level Members

Subscription - £1500.00 + VAT per annum

For further information on this new type of Membership launched in July 2011, please contact Executive Director Lesley Maltman on lesleymaltman@abpco.org

Corporate Membership

Eligibility:

Open to conference and event industry supplier organisations including:

National Tourist Organisations, Destination Marketing Organisations, Convention Bureaux, purpose-built Convention Centres, Hotels and other venues, Industry suppliers.

Benefits:

  • Listing in the membership section of the ABPCO website
  • Use of ABPCO Corporate Member logo on all marketing material
  • Opportunity to contribute towards articles in business and trade media on issues facing our industry thereby raising your profile as a thought-leader
  • Access to ABPCO's strategic alliances with other professional associations including MPI's UK and Ireland Chapter, ICCA's UK & Ireland Chapter, MIA and AIPCO (Association of Irish Professional Conference Organisers) offering discounts to ABPCO members to attend their events
  • Access to specialist services through our partnerships with VAT and insurance experts
  • Opportunity to host or contribute to ABPCO events and to create bespoke ABPCO showcases such as Fam Trips
  • Opportunity to network with ABPCO conference and event organiser members and potential members through our events programme and social networking presence on Facebook and Linked-In
  • Opportunity to offer ABPCO Members discounts on your products and/or services
  • Professional development opportunities available at the regular ABPCO events programme, with a focus on educational content and keynote sessions and workshops run by high-level speakers and industry professionals. Some of these events are free for ABPCO members to attend and others offer discounts to members and their colleagues. ABPCO Members are also offered special rates to attend events organised by our fellow industry associations and to attend other events which the Association supports.
  • Representation on the Business Visits and Events Partnership, a collective of all industry bodies involved in business tourism for the purpose of influencing change through the legislative process
  • Discounted Advertising, Sponsorship and Exhibition opportunities

Subscription - £1500.00 + VAT per annum

Friend of ABPCO

Eligibility:

Offered at the discretion of the Executive Committee to those who are no longer actively working as conference or event organisers (eg retired professionals, those on career breaks) or who work in other sectors of the meeting and event industry.

Benefits:

  • Opportunity to network with ABPCO conference and event organiser members and potential members through our events programme and social networking presence on Facebook and Linked-In
  • Representation on the Business Visits and Events Partnership, a collective of all industry bodies involved in business tourism for the purpose of influencing change through the legislative process
  • Access to ABPCO's strategic alliances with other professional associations including MPI's UK and Ireland Chapter, ICCA's UK & Ireland Chapter, MIA and AIPCO (Association of Irish Professional Conference Organisers) offering discounts to ABPCO members to attend their events
  • Professional development opportunities available at the regular ABPCO events programme, with a focus on educational content and keynote sessions and workshops run by high-level speakers and industry professionals. Some of these events are free for ABPCO members to attend and others offer discounts to members and their colleagues. ABPCO Members are also offered special rates to attend events organised by our fellow industry associations and to attend other events which the Association supports.
  • Access to specialist services through our partnerships with VAT and insurance experts
  • Progression to Full or Associate Membership where applicable once satisfying the relevant criteria

Subscription - £150.00 + VAT per annum

Application Process

Full and Associate applicants should complete the online membership application form.

On the membership application form, applicants should nominate two people who are familiar with their conference organising activities (one a client/committee chair and one a venue). Referees should be able to provide a fair assessment of the applicant's capabilities.

Upon submission, the form will be sent to ABPCO Association Manager, Nicola Kayes, who will acknowledge receipt immediately. Applications will be reviewed by the Executive Director and referees will be contacted. Applicants will normally be notified of the outcome of their application within 4 weeks of receipt.

Those wishing to apply for Corporate, Friend or Entry Level Membership should complete the Corporate, Friend or Entry Level Application Form.

Subscriptions

Subscriptions are invoiced annually by the ABPCO Executive Office. 

Membership Commitment

ABPCO's activities are governed by the Chairperson and Executive Committee.

All members are encouraged to participate actively in the running of the Association by attendance at meetings, by making a personal contribution wherever possible to activities such as research projects, seminars, etc and by generally promoting the name and work of the Association.