ABPCO reinforces quality marque with new membership accreditation process

The Association of British Professional Conference Organisers (ABPCO) has put in place an accreditation committee to review applications in an effort to ensure a consistently high quality of membership.

Previously ABPCO had only asked potential members for references but the new system will now also pass every application onto the committee who will assess whether the member meets the criteria for skills and experience in association conference organising. The application form has also been updated to carry questions on areas of expertise such as financial probity.

“The ABPCO marque confirms that members are reliable, skilled professionals and this is very much what we are aiming to emphasise with these changes to the membership process,” comments Heather Lishman, association director of ABPCO. “Providing excellence in networking, knowledge sharing and support are just a few of the key services we provide. By maintaining a high standard of accreditation we can highlight that our members are best placed to support associations and their conferences.”

The accreditation process is already working and, since Christmas, the likes of the National Association of Pension Funds, Echo Events and the Royal College of General Practitioners have joined ABPCO.

“Being a member of ABPCO has really opened the door in terms of accessible information and industry expertise,” comments Kate Hadley, Head of Events at the National Association of Pension Funds. “I want to be able to network with other professionals at the forefront of their field and this is just one reason why I am very excited to be working with the association going forward.”

ABPCO is the UK’s leading organisation for professional conference and event organisers, industry associates and those studying for, or seeking a career in the conference and meetings industry. For more information about ABPCO visit www.abpco.org