THE BENEFITS OF ABPCO MEMBERSHIP

ABPCO recognised the need for an Association to not only regulate Conference Organisers, but also to provide a central platform for members of the industry to share knowledge and gain business experience from other members. In 2001 when the first ABPCO website was published the following key points were made

Recognition
- as a leading professional conference organiser – membership requires a high level of experience and proven competence. The status of ABPCO membership confers a clear commercial advantage when bidding for contracts or when applying for new positions within the industry

Networking and corporate events
- sharing ideas and problems with a peer group of event organisers. This ensures that discussions and networking are particularly relevant to people at the sharp end of conference organising. Professional interaction is facilitated by:

* Regular meetings in London and other regions of the British Isles where relevant hot topics are addressed by guest speakers
* Annual 'Think-Tank' weekends where full members are able to share their knowledge and discuss problems in a more relaxed environment
* Internet chat room which provides a confidential members-only on-line forum where members can ask for help with everyday problems or simply share up-to-date knowledge or experience

Business leads
-access to business leads and enquiries. The list of full ABPCO members is provided by the ABPCO Executive Office to individuals or associations wishing to employ a professional conference organiser, and member details are also shown on the ABPCO website (www.abpco.co.uk). There is also an ABPCO section in the BACD (see below) Directory distributed to 12,000 companies and associations.

Best-practice documentation
-access to confidential ABPCO-produced contracts and other documents which are recognised within the industry and which confer additional protection on ABPCO members in their dealings with clients, venues and other suppliers.

Training - Professional Accident Compensation and development opportunities
-at the regular ABPCO meetings, where members can be trained and updated on current issues and technology within the industry

Education – Teaching opportunities
-for ABPCO members at the HNC in Business (Conference and Event Management) course at the City of Westminster College in London, and at seminars run by ABPCO at industry exhibitions and similar national events

New Members for 2010

cheap laptops (UK Events only)
private jet charter
floor tile
polished tile
floor tiles
Granite tiles
Web Marketing (Internet based events in house)
Internet Marketing
umbrella company

General Members 2010
Servis
London News
new cars
Alicia Keys
Web Directories including blogdir and unearthed
Seo Agency
Builders
Euro Centres
Entrepreneurs
teaching jobs
SEO for solicitors
Sociology
Joe Cole
Judy Garland
Mel C

Collaboration with the British Association of Conference Destinations (BACD)
-ABPCO has established formal links with BACD, which represents the leading British conference destinations. This alliance, combining the destination expertise of the BACD membership with the event management expertise of the ABPCO membership, offers new opportunities for collaboration and effective partnership, and will include an ABPCO section in BACD's annual 'British Conference Destinations Directory'.