New era for professionalism in public relations as nine practitioners #getChartered
The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) has welcomed nine new Chartered Public Relations Practitioners (Chart.PR) after the first cohort of candidates successfully completed the Chartership Assessment Day held at CIPR HQ, London, on Monday 23 November.
In September 2015 the CIPR amended the regulations governing Chart.PR status to open up the eligibility for CIPR members to #getChartered with the goal of increasing the number of Chartered professionals in public relations from approximately 50 (since its introduction in 2008) to more than 250 over the next 24 months.
Candidates on Monday’s pilot assessment day were rigorously assessed on their skills, knowledge and competencies in ethics, strategy and leadership by a team of eight expert assessors, led by Paul Noble Found.Chart.PR FCIPR, Partner at Noble Ink, and deputy lead assessor, Emma Leech Found.Chart.PR FCIPR, Director of Marketing & Advancement at Loughborough University.
The nine new Chartered Public Relations Practitioners are:
- Annette Spencer Chart.PR FCIPR, Interim Communications Lead at Zurich Insurance
- Donna Castle Chart.PR MCIPR, Director of Public Affairs and Communications at the Proprietary Association of Great Britain
- John Wilkinson Chart.PR FCIPR, Owner and Managing Director at Wilkinson PR & Communications
- Laura Sutherland Chart.PR FCIPR, Managing Director at Aura PR
- Philip Morgan Chart.PR MCIPR, Deputy Chief Executive at the CIPR
- Rachel Picken Chart.PR MCIPR, Director at MPAD
- Sarah Hall Chart.PR FCIPR, Managing Director at Sarah Hall Consulting
- Stephen Falla Chart.PR FCIPR, Founder and Managing Director at Orchard PR
- Tim Borrett Chart.PR MCIPR, Service Manager – Public Relations at Bristol City Council
We had a great group of energetic and knowledgeable applicants being grilled by eight firm but fair assessors. The pilot demonstrated that the new approach is robust while also generating useful feedback to fine-tune future assessments.
We have set ourselves the objective of making public relations a chartered profession. The nine members who have become Chartered Practitioners today represent an important step forward towards that goal. We have assessment days planned for 2016 in London, Glasgow and Manchester, and nearly 100 people on the waiting list to go forward.
Members (MCIPR), Fellows (FCIPR) and Honorary Fellows (Hon FCIPR) of the CIPR are eligible to attend a Chartership Assessment Day if they have completed on of the following:
- three consecutive (or five non-consecutive years) of CIPR CPD
- two years (or four non-consecutive) of CIPR CPD and hold a Masters degree or the CIPR Diploma.
Members can declare their interest in attending a Chartership Assessment Day in 2016 by emailing CIPR Director of Professional Development & Membership, Sukhjit Singh Grewal.
Notes to editors
About the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR)Founded in 1948, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) is the Royal Chartered professional body for public relations practitioners in the UK and overseas. The CIPR is the largest membership organisation for PR practitioners outside of North America. By size of turnover and number of individually registered members, we are the leading representative body for the PR profession and industry in Europe.
The CIPR advances professionalism in public relations by making its members accountable to their employers and the public through a code of conduct and searchable public register, setting standards through training, qualifications, awards and the production of best practice and skills guidance, facilitating Continuing Professional Development (CPD), and awarding Chartered Public Relations Practitioner status (Chart.PR).