In these challenging times of inflation and a relentless cost-of-living crisis, we, as an organisation, find it necessary to make adjustments to our membership fees. We understand that the financial burden on individuals and families is growing, and we want to ensure that our community can continue to access our services and benefits. As a result, we have carefully considered our options and are announcing changes to our membership pricing structure.
To mitigate the impact of rising costs and uphold our commitment to inclusivity, we have made the decision to freeze all non-professional membership fees and to only increase Associate fees by 3%, in recognition that the cost-of-living crisis often hits the younger demographic harder. IAQM membership fees and IES and IAQM membership application fees have also been frozen.
However, in order to maintain the high-quality services and resources we provide to our professional members as our own costs rise, we must make a modest adjustment. From 1st September membership fees for Fellows, Full Members and Retired members will increase by 5%. To mitigate the impact of this increase on our members with lower incomes, we have raised the income threshold (under which members pay just 25% of the normal fees) from £17,100 to £20,250. Those members not paid in British Pounds should convert their salary to GBP to see if they qualify.
Table of new membership fees from 1st September
Renewal fees and/or application fees for our CEnv, CSci, REnvP, REnvTech fees have also been increased to reflect price increases from their respective Registration Authorities (SocEnv and the Science Council). We have no control over these cost increases. Workshop fees have been frozen.
The decision to increase professional membership fees is not taken lightly, and we have carefully considered the impact on our members. In previous years we have increased fees inline with inflation and we are pleased that the strong growth of the membership numbers and our efforts to diversify our income streams means that we can keep increases well under the rate of inflation. We remain committed to offering exceptional value to our professional members, and this price adjustment will enable us to continue providing top-tier services, resources, and support. IES Membership remains markedly lower than similar professional bodies in the environmental field.
It's important to note that the cost-of-living crisis and inflationary pressures have affected organisations worldwide, and we are no exception. We are dedicated to maintaining our financial stability and preserving the integrity of our services, even in the face of these economic challenges.
As we navigate these trying times together, we remain committed to supporting our members and ensuring that the IES remains a valuable resource and community for all. Thank you for your continued trust and membership in our organisation as we adapt to these challenging economic circumstances.
