CorpComms Magazine

The Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA) has created a new category of membership, open to all individuals working in the PR industry.

The organisation says the move is in response to demand from the industry, and builds on its in-house membership package launched in 2009. The PRCA launched a membership package for freelancers in July and there are now 300 such members.  

Francis Ingham, chief executive of the PRCA, says that the move is not a huge departure for the PRCA. 'We had mechanisms that enabled the PRCA to have individuals as members for the first 30 years of the organisation so it's not such a big change.

'The main difference is that previously when we had individual members we didn't market it to any great extent, this time we will market the individual membership very heavily.'

Ingham denies that the association is going head-to-head with the CIPR. 'I've been a member of the CIPR for over 10 years and I would never advise anyone to leave it but we do offer competitive pricing.'

UK individuals paying for themselves can become a member for £100, employer-sponsored individual memberships are £120 and student memberships are available for £12.50.

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.

Individual members will have access to market intelligence, discounted access to member services such as training, conferences and awards, and free access to at least one event every month.

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