U.K.’s CII Hits 2003 Membership Target

The U.K.’s leading insurance association, the Chartered Insurance Institute, announced that it has surpassed its 2003 membership target of 68,000 individuals 6 weeks early. It currently has 68,209 members, compared to 66, 432 at the end of December 2002.

CII marketing director Steve Wellard said in a written statement that the Institute is delighted by the increase. “The regulation and the support we are giving members who need to be ‘fit for purpose’ has obviously had an impact,” he commented, “but equally as important the CII has worked hard to improve its membership services.”

The CII’s bulletin noted: “In addition to improvements at its customer service centre, during 2003 the CII launched its online Information Services facility, with an exclusive members-only area. A new general insurance qualifications framework unveiled in September, with new membership categories and designations that are set to become established throughout the industry, is already proving popular. The
CII has also simplified its membership application process, offering 12 months membership from the date of admission rather than a pro rata year with a fixed renewal date on 1st September.”

Plans are already in place to add significant value to membership in 2004. “We are currently recruiting a membership marketing manager” said Wellard, “that person will oversee the introduction of the first of our new faculties that will provide sector specific information, opinion and research. We are also going to provide easier access to our nationwide maintaining competence programme provided by CII local institutes.” The CII hopes to have 73,000 members by the end of 2004.