Posted By Ruth Doyle
Dear Neville,
Becoming an IOSH member will give you access to a range of services. Here is a current list:
• free technical information service... find the facts and figures that you need quickly, +44 (0)116 257 3199
• free health and safety lawline - help with interpreting legislation and case law, +44 (0)161 242 2771
• free best practice guides... +44 (0)116 257 3116
• free Safety and Health Practitioner the profession's leading monthly magazine
• discounted subscription to our biannual academic journal, Policy and Practice in Health and Safety, +44 (0)116 257 3189
• cutting-edge online Continuing Professional Development programme... free to members, +44 (0)116 257 3239
• more than 80 professional development courses... at discounted rates, +44 (0)116 257 3197
• over 300 free or low cost events... every year, +44 (0)116 257 3195
• member consultation... the chance to have your say on proposed new regulations and legislation
• online discussion forums... for professional issues, careers and study support
• networking active local branches... plus sector-specific groups...
• funding to support research and development...
• free career counselling and performance coaching service, +44 (0)116 257 3198
The money that supports these member benefits comes from two sources: members’ subscriptions, and income from commercial activity. Last year, the split was roughly 35/65, with any surplus from commercial work being reinvested into new member services (such as the R&D or benevolent funds) or services for the general public (wiseup2work is a good example). In fact, for every £100 members paid in subscriptions, IOSH commercial income (including the profitshare we get from the job advertising in SHP) subsidised each member’s fee by £67. If commercial income falls, it directly threatens the level of subsidy IOSH is able to give towards each member’s subscription rate – hence the decision to remove employers advertising from the careers forum.
Members views are included in all IOSH decisions. Through our Council of Management (elected members), Board of Trustees and standing committees (recruited members), and Branches and Specialist Groups (volunteer members), everything we do is checked, approved and driven by members for members and, in line with our charitable status, for the general public. However, Sometimes they, and staff, have to make decisions that are unpopular in the short term, but which ultimately benefit the widest group of members.
In response to the concerns about allowing employers to advertise on this forum for free – IOSH and SHP are working on a new jobs site, with much improved services for members. It will link up all the areas of both sites that relate to jobs and career development, and we hope to have it ready by the end of the year. In the meantime, I encourage you to continue to use the SHP website, and wish you all the very best with your job search.
If you would like to talk to somebody directly about becoming a member, and whether it would help you in your career, please give our membership team a call on 0116 257 3198. They’ll be happy to answer your questions, and address any concerns you might have. Or feel free to contact me directly.
Yours sincerely,
Ruth Doyle
IOSH Director of communications