FAQ's | Legal Requirements

Become a Member

Join the elite network of over 200 Brands, Agencies and Service Agencies…

The IPM is the leading professional body for the promotional marketing industry, and we are here to serve you – our members. Why not join us and become a member too…

Why Join The IPM?

The IPM team are here to support you, the industry.

We will answer your questions, guide and help you develop your industry skills and knowledge, gain valuable qualifications, enable you to meet the right people (fellow members), keep you in the loop with industry news and developments, provide you with first-hand key (and speedy) legal advice, and encourage you to embrace the industry as a whole.

What Does Your Membership Include?

  • Exclusive Legal Member Services – competitive rates and delivery timelines for IPM Legal Advisory Service (LAS), offering legal advice from top promotional marketing legal team (via our official CAP partnership).
  • Training Discounts – SAVE £500 on the IPM Diploma and £450 on the Incentive & Motivation Diploma, including a graduation ceremony at the Houses of Parliament.
  • Awards Entry Discounts & Guidance – for the annual IPM Awards, The COGS Awards (service agencies).
  • Networking Opportunities – meet fellow IPM members and be part of the industry community via regular networking events (including sports activities, networking drinks, social events).
  • The IPM Badge – to showcase your company as a professional, quality, industry expert in the field and stand out amongst your peers (whilst boosting the calibre of your clients/employees, to encourage long-term benefits for your organisation).
  • Established – founded in 1933, the IPM has a wealth of industry experience and has built key relationships for over 80 years.
  • Only A Phone Call Away…whether you are new to the industry or simply want to keep abreast of industry updates, the IPM team are here to listen and look after you, and nurture your journey through the industry. So as a member, you can always give us a call and we will be happy to discuss.

To discuss how you and your organisation can benefit from an IPM membership, contact the membership team on: 020 3848 0444 or membership@theipm.org.uk.

IPM Membership £2,673 per annum +VAT.

Membership FAQ’s

Included below are a number of frequently asked questions that have been received by the IPM membership team from brand owners, agencies and service partners.

If there are any further questions that you have,
please call us on 020 3848 0444 or alternatively,
email us at membership@theipm.org.uk.

1. Is the annual membership calendar based or does membership commence on a specific month every year?

Membership is calendar based and commences on receipt of membership fees.

2. What are the restrictions to applying for corporate membership?

We will require two separate references from companies who you have worked with in the past or you have a current working relationship with. The IPM will contact these references.

3. How do I apply for corporate membership?

Contact us at membership@theipm.org.uk or call us on 020 3848 0444

4. How long does it take to become a member once we have completed an application form? 

Once references have been cleared satisfactorily and membership invoice fees have been received, membership commences immediately.

5. Do you offer any payment terms ?

Normally we expect membership fees to be paid annually in full within 30 days of receipt of the invoice.

We also offer payment terms in monthly and quarterly instalments. Please ask our Membership or Accounts Payable team for more details.

6. The application form requests a main contact. Why do you need this?    

The main contact is the name that we include on the member listing page. The main contact is also the person we will communicate with if there are any issues or questions about your membership.

7. Could you confirm that as a member we automatically receive free legal advice?

Every member receives either one FREE access to our Legal Advisory Service, valid for a single case (for reduced rate members) or two FREE Legal Advisory Service, valid for two cases (for full rate members) with their annual renewal. Please note that these cases can only be used for UK advice, covering England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

8. Are we able to use the IPM logo on all of our marketing collateral?

Yes – we really encourage you to feature the IPM logo which we will provide to you on all of your marketing collateral and on your wesbite. It demonstrates the member’s probity, its adherence to the CAP Code and UK law and its commitment to the highest levels of professionalism in promotional marketing. Talk to us when you join about how to use the IPM identity.

9. As a member, are we able to freely contact other IPM members?

Yes, this is an exclusive member benefit and we actively encourage members to business network with each other.

10. How does International membership differ from UK membership and what is the coverage of it in terms of countries?

Contact us at  membership@theipm.org.uk or call us on 020 3848 0444

11. What is the IPM membership cancellation policy?

We require written notice three months prior to the date of renewal of your annual Membership, as set out in the Terms & Conditions of Membership of the IPM.  We will be in touch in at least three months prior to your Membership expiring to renew your Membership for another year. Like many annual Memberships, we automatically renew your Membership if you don’t tell us not to. It is important to note that if you decide to cancel your Membership after the notice period, you will be required to pay three months notice, but of course we hope this won’t happen!

12. What if I have any other questions?

Please email the IPM’s membership team on membership@theipm.org.uk. or call us on: 020 3848 0444

Membership Terms

Any member of the IPM is expected to comply with the IPM Memorandum and Articles of Association.

There are also separate Terms & Conditions that must be followed, firstly when applying for membership and secondly while an organisation is an IPM member.

Terms & Conditions of Application 

1.      All applications for membership must be completed online.

2.      Membership of the IPM is available to brand owners, service providers or agencies.

3.      The IPM Board has sole discretion to determine whether an application for membership is accepted.

4.      Subject to the above requirements having been met, membership is effective upon acceptance of the application by the IPM Board and on payment of the Membership Fee.

5.      The IPM Board reserves the right to reject a Membership application for any reason it deems appropriate.

6.      The applicant will be notified of such a decision in writing and any Membership fee will be refunded within 28 days of the Board’s decision.

7.      Membership of the IPM is not open to individuals (other than Sole Traders).

8.       Applicants must ensure that all information provided is, to the best of their knowledge, complete and accurate at the date of application. Where false or misleading information is provided, the IPM reserves the right to terminate Membership without refund.

IPM Membership 

9.      All organisations applying for IPM membership must provide two business references from organisations that are either existing members of the IPM or are currently trading with the organisation applying for Membership.

10.  Details of any principals of the company applying for membership who have held a similar position in a company that has gone into insolvent liquidation in the last five years or who has been the subject of a Disqualification Order under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1985 should be clearly stated in your application and may, depending on the circumstances, affect acceptance of your membership application.

Terms & Conditions that apply to Members

1.      Members are required, as a condition of Membership, to undertake to:

a.       Conduct their promotional marketing activities at all times in accordance with the UK Non-Broadcast Code of Advertising, Sales Promotion and Direct Marketing and with the UK Broadcast Code of Advertising Practice (“the CAP Code”), and with any other codes of practice or conduct as laid down by the IPM Board from time to time;

b.      Conduct their promotional marketing activities in such a way as not to affect prejudicially the well-being or reputation of the IPM or the promotional marketing industry;

c.       Comply with any adjudication or conclusion reached by the IPM or Advertising Standards Authority (“the ASA”) and/or the related Appeals Commissioners;

d.      Pay the requisite IPM Annual Membership fee within 30 days of invoice.

2.      The IPM Board may suspend or expel any Member who is found to have ceased to meet the IPM’s Membership criteria, or who after a fair hearing, is found to have prejudiced the well-being or reputation of the IPM or promotional marketing industry.

3.      Members will be registered as either Agency, Brand Owner or Service Provider, depending on which sector is appropriate to their business.

4.      Members’ rights regarding the election of representatives to the IPM Board are exercised through these sectors.

5.      All Memberships are calendar based and renewal invoices are sent out automatically 3 months in advance of either the commencement of the new Membership or renewal date of existing Membership. Rights and benefits of Membership commence or are renewed once payment has been received.

6.      Companies who require or who operate a purchase order system must let our Accounts Department know at least two months in advance of renewal or new Membership date. Details of these requirements should be sent to membership@theipm.org.uk.

7.      For the avoidance of doubt, following the first year of membership, membership will automatically renew for the preceding years unless notice is given as per clause 8 below.

8.    The IPM 3 months’ written notice of the cessation of membership. Membership will be automatically renewed if we do not receive the appropriate notice. If appropriate notice is received, membership will cease on expiration date. 

9.      Where a company/organisation ceases to be a Member, it must remove all references to the IPM from its stationery, promotional material and website within a suitable period.

10.  After this date, use of the logo will be deemed an infringement of the IPM’s Intellectual Property Rights.

11.  The IPM reserves the right to withdraw, amend or replace any of the Member benefits provided.

12.  Any changes or amendments will be posted on the IPM’s website and details will be sent to each registered Member on the IPM’s email database.

Details of these requirements should be sent to membership@theipm.org.uk.

The IPM reserves the right to withdraw, amend or replace any of the Member benefits provided.

Any changes or amendments will be posted on the Institute’s website and details will be sent to each registered Member on the Institute’s email database.