Membership Grade Changes
Our previous membership grades stood us in good stead. As part of the organisation’s strategic review, we received feedback from some members that our previous grade structure, naming conventions and routes to access and progression could be clearer.
Rolling out the changes
At our 2024 AGM, members voted to accept the proposal to change our membership grades. These changes are gradually rolling out as each member renews in 2025.
The new structure took effect starting in January 2025 for renewing members. For new members, the changes also apply from January 2025.
You can help inform this process by updating your employer and length of employment information in your member profile.
Membership Grade Changes FAQs
We’re here to support your understanding of these membership grade changes, so we’ve answered some FAQs below. When you receive your renewal information, if you still have questions about the membership grade you are renewing at, please contact us at membership@instituteofwater.org.uk or phone 0191 422 0088.
Our membership grades have stood us in good stead. As part of the organisation’s strategic review, we had feedback from some members that our grade structure, naming conventions and routes to access and progression could be clearer.
A working group of IWater members and volunteers looked at our grade structure and fees in comparison to other organisations, our Professional Registration routes and our values to co-create the new structure.
The working group members were involved at every stage. We asked all members to give their views on the proposals back in May 2024. We also asked for the feedback of employer organisations. Both the draft and final versions were also shared with our Professional Standards Committee, the Finance Committee and our Board.
Your grade will change when you next renew. All IWater members renew their membership on the anniversary of when they joined.
We are currently working on it taking affect for people renewing from January 2025 onwards. Those members will start to receive their renewal notices 60 days beforehand, from November 2024. It will take affect for anyone joining our IWater family as a new member from January 2025.
For renewing members, the IWater Central Team will use ‘best guess’ to assign your new grade. Where the grade to move you to is clear, such as Student to Emerging Professional (Student), Fellow and Honorary this will be a ‘like for like’ move. Where you could move to one or two grades, we will make a ‘best guess’ based on things like your membership profile.
We hope members will see the value and benefit of their new grade as a means of demonstrating the level of experience they hold as a water professional. But if you believe you should be moved either up or down a grade, we will honour that request. Please contact the Central Team at membership@instituteofwater.org.uk or phone 0191 422 0088.
We have always had multiple levels of grades. We believe moving through the grades should be about demonstrating professionalism and experience to support members’ career development.
Yes, you will. This is changing from a flat rate across all grades of £50 to a 50% discount. It was felt to be unfair that a member on a higher paying grade would effectively get a higher percentage of discount compared to those on a lower paying grade.
We will be offering all our members who are currently paying the retiree reduced rate the opportunity to transfer over to the Retired Life Member rate. This will only apply to members renewing during the transition period of 2024/2025
Yes, we are keeping these.