Destined to help revolutionise professional standards across the global meetings and events industry, the Institute of Event Management will enjoy a pre-launch at The Meetings Show taking place at Olympia, London, from July 8 to 10.
The IEM’s Executive Board chair Susan Spibey is conducting “Meet the Expert” sessions on all three show days to present The Route to Professional Recognition for Event Managers.
The IEM has already gathered widespread support from all sectors of the UK industry including professional organisations across a number of subjects, dedicated conferences and exhibitions and other professional and educational organisations including medical associations.
It already features in the Britain for Events Manifesto, commands Legal Entity status at Companies House and has Government approval for revised National Occupational Standards.
Susan Spibey has some 30 years’ experience in the global meetings industry, in recent years as specialist adviser on professional standards with EFAPCO, the European Federation of the Association of PCOs.
“The Institute’s Executive Board already includes senior executives from the university sector, major conference and exhibition venues, professional organisations and leading PCO companies,” she said. “Our manifesto embraces new dimensions in professional recognition with the IEM Quality Mark featuring qualifications to demonstrate and benchmark competence thanks to accreditation, experiential and front-line learning helping employers and their staff, alike.
“Lifelong learning opportunities will prove key to assisting personal development and enhanced career pathways. We intend to open up an ambitious spectrum of information resources, signposting and knowledge sharing,” Susan Spibey added. “Longer-term aims include establishing a portfolio of awards and bursaries, creating a publications library, setting up recruitment and support services, plus research fellowships.”
The IEM is already working in partnership with influential organisations including: People1st, the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS), the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR).
Work is now being undertaken to develop the route to qualifications via accreditation, experience and on the job learning.
Plans have been drawn up to create 100 Founding Fellows to help fund the IEM’s set up, in tandem with industry support, which will all be crucial to the Institute’s early development – in turn providing solid foundations for expansion internationally.
Added Susan Spibey: “I was tremendously encouraged by the positive response received to my outline presentation to the Business Visits and Events Partnership (BVEP) during their meeting in Liverpool at the International Festival for Business .
“If all goes well with my “sneak preview” at the Meet the Expert sessions at the Meetings Show the official launch will take place later this year!”
