Following a vote of the membership at an emergency general meeting of the Government Affairs Group in November 2008, it is now a requirement to be a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), our parent organisation, in order to be a full member of GAG. However, anyone who is not a CIPR member can still attend the Group’s events by becoming Friends of GAG (see below).
GAG members are communication and public affairs professionals, in-house, consultancy or freelance who interact with government at all levels, including Westminster, the European Union, the devolved Parliament and Assemblies, local authorities and so on. GAG members are not only lobbyists but includes people who work for government departments and agencies, who write about government and who provide services to government and the public affairs industry. The Group also includes communications professionals working for politicians outside government, including for political parties and individual MPs. The Group's programme includes regular speaker meetings and lunches and a free members’ handbook.
If you are already a CIPR member and you would like to join us you can do so by contacting the CIPR and nominating us as a sectoral group. Click here to do this.
If you are not a member of CIPR you can find out more about joining, how much it costs and what the benefits are, by clicking here. Benefits include substantial discounts on training, events and publications, access to lots of best practice information and skills guides and to the CIPR’s professional development scheme. It also, of course, demonstrates to clients and employers your personal commitment to professional development, best practice and industry excellence.
When you join the CIPR put a tick in the GAG box in section 7 of the membership form and you will automatically be made a member of GAG too. You get membership of one sectoral group free with your CIPR membership, but you can join additional groups for a small extra fee.
The CIPR offers a Group Membership scheme (for three or more new members joining at the same time). For full details of the offer please contact the CIPR membership team.
Download and print a Microsoft Word version of the form, by clicking on the icon below. Once completed, please return to the Membership Secretary as stated on the form.
Being a Friend of GAG runs either January to December or July to June. If you become a Friend now that runs until the end of June 2010.
Companies with four or more employees who are already Friends of the Group or who would like to become Friends of the Group can become Corporate Friends at £15 a head.
If you have any questions about membership of GAG or becoming a Friend of GAG please contact the Group’s membership secretary, George Crozier. If you have any enquiries about the process or benefits of joining the CIPR please contact the CIPR’s membership department.