What makes PM Forum different?
How do you help make life easier for your members?
We distill the knowledge, ideas and insights that members need to help them perform their role and develop their skills, status, career and network.
What are your main member services?
Our world class monthly magazine, Professional Marketing, since 1993; 20 articles being added monthly to the 4,000 in our online knowledge hub; over 100 core events and training courses annually; a well-attended national conference; regular global surveys with up to 800 respondents; a monthly newsletter distributed to over 5,000 marketers; active LinkedIn groups with 6,000 members around the world.
Do you charge for your events?
All our core events are free. Firms tell us that this approach helps when budgeting for total membership costs as well as enabling their people to benefit more widely from Forum membership. We do charge for training courses, web seminars and the annual conference.
How is your membership structured?
We provide corporate membership to allow more people to enjoy free magazines, events and access to the knowledge hub - without having to make an individual business case. Our corporate membership is based on the size of firm.
If your membership is inclusive of core event attendance, are not those who attend your core events being subsidised by other members?
Free core events save money for both firms and PM Forum. The true cost to a firm of its people attending an event costing say £50 per head is doubled up - given that the average cost of processing an invoice manually with a paper based system is over £50 (Source: RBS) - plus the time spent on approvals.
How do you select topics and speakers for your core events?
We believe that local marketers are best placed to decide on local topics. Regional committees suggest a long list. Members are canvassed through online surveys. Popular items are debated and an annual programme agreed by regional committees. Individual committee members take ownership of specific core events and work with the Regional Director and HQ to identify and brief speakers. In-house speakers are used whenever possible.
What is the role of your Regional Directors?
Directors, who are typically specialist consultants, are ambassadors for the PM Forum – a point of contact for members and non-members. Each regional committee appoints a locally-based Director to ensure that there is consistent professional support for our high profile communities as volunteer activists often find that other commitments have to take priority.
Why are your core events and training courses restricted to members?
Member-only leads to a unified community with greater participation and knowledge exchange. Few miss out given almost every major professional firm is in membership. It also reduces the number of marketing consultants at core events. Guests are welcome at core events on one occasion at no cost.
How independent are you?
We are proud of our independence. We publish an open list of our member firms. Consultants/vendors are always in the minority. We report annually to the PMI Foundation - an independent not-for-profit body with elected trustees. PMI Foundation pre-approval is legally required for any material change to PM Forum ownership.
How do you respect the confidentiality of responses to your member surveys?
We report formally to the PMI Foundation on our management of confidential member data. Industry leading software is used for all online surveys to increase security. Only aggregated data is published, with all individual responses kept confidential.
How strong are you outside London?
Although London is our largest region with some 1,500 members, we have a further 1,500 members based elsewhere in the UK and Ireland. Our regional committees of recognised in-house leaders have been delivering an outstanding programme of well-attended core events in Bristol, Birmingham, Nottingham, Leeds, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dublin for many years. Training courses are also provided when there is sufficient local demand.
How do you represent the marketing community?
PM Forum and Managing Partners’ Forum (MPF), a group of 350 CEOs and management team members, are both owned by Practice Management International LLP. MPF has a Marketing Leaders’ Group of senior marketers which organises its own events and surveys and represents the marketing community to MPF and other audiences. The PM Forum’s annual summer reception in London is shared with MPF to allow marketers and MPs to mix socially. PM Forum also helps with the criteria for the marketing categories at the prestigious MPF Awards for Management Excellence.
Who can join the MPF Marketing Leaders’ Group?
Membership of the MPF Marketing Leaders’ Group is for those that can demonstrate significant influence over management issues at their firms, whether as a member of the management committee or a regular participant.
Can you help us fill a vacancy?
Definitely! Our Job Board covers marketing roles in professional firms worldwide. We will be moving to a new moderated Job Board from 1 January 2013.
How can I join a regional committee?
Over 75 marketers have already taken the plunge. Approach your local chair or regional director and let them know of your interest. We are normally heavily oversubscribed so please be patient as it may take some time before there is a vacancy.
How can we make the most of membership?
Send us an Excel of those at your firm who would benefit from membership so we can send them a sample copy of the magazine. Encourage them to sign up for our LinkedIn group and on our website for regional mailing lists and newsletters. Let us know when a new person joins so we can formally welcome them to membership. Call us anytime for a chat on +44 (0)20 7786 9786.
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