Special offer to new members

If you apply for Associate membership of IMC by 15 November 1996, we will not only pay your subscription for the rest of 1996 but also 50 per cent of your admission fee (normally #65). This will allow you to take advantage of all member benefits immediately, eg Special Interest Group and Regional Meetings, publications, legal helpline etc.

To qualify for Associate membership you need to have spent one year in full-time management consultancy and have a recognised degree or professional qualification. The 1997 subscription for associate membership is #85.

Once you have taken advantage of this special offer you can consider upgrading to full membership at a later stage.

Ethical helpline

IMC’s Ethical Helpline is now available to all members. Callers will receive prompt, non-judgemental counselling on professional dilemmas affecting them personally. IMC’s Code of Conduct and Ethical Guidelines form the basis of the counselling (copies of both available from IMC). The helpline is completely confidential and staffed by experienced, trained consultant-counsellors. The service may help members avoid time-consuming and costly disciplinary or legal proceedings. Members wishing to use the helpline should call Jean Garner at IMC.

National Vocational Qualifications in management consultancy

The project to develop NVQs in management consultancy is now underway at the host lead body, the Management Charter Initiative. The project will develop a set of national standards for management consultants which will enable them to develop the skills and knowledge to meet the needs of client organisations. IMC is represented on both the project working group and the advisory group and is already considering the potential for the delivery of NVQs. A survey and a small number of field tests will be undertaken with representative practitioners to ensure the suitability of the framework. Practising management consultants are invited to register their interest in participating in the consultative and field-testing exercises by contacting Liz Wilson on 01476 585 737.

Post-graduate qualifications in management consultancy

IMC is working with the MCA, Kogan Page Publishers and the Management Consultancy Business School to develop academic qualifications for management consultants. The Business School has on its staff Professor Peter Jarvis and Dr Paul Barber from the University of Surrey. The courses include a post-graduate certificate, diploma, and masters degree based on a combination of distance learning and residential seminars which the University of Surrey is being approached to validate. Contact Elisabeth Gluck for further information on 0171 586 7879.

Selectassure interviews

As a result of continuing talks on consultant selection with Business Links and TECs, IMC is now working with Performance Audit to facilitate the delivery of their Selectassure consultant accreditation system. Registration under this new scheme qualifies consultants to access government-subsidised consultancy work. IMC will be undertaking the situational assessment interviews in the South East using a panel of 75 members who have been specially trained, as well as monitoring compliance to continuing professional development (CPD) requirements. IMC members wishing to register with Selectassure will benefit in a number of ways: Full Members and Fellows will be exempt from the interview stage and will receive a #125 discount on the #275 Selectassure registration fee. Anyone interested in registering with Selectassure should call Performance Audit on 0181 309 6242.

IMC 96/97 yearbook

All individual members and Registered Practices are listed in the IMC 96/97 Yearbook which is being published this month. The book also contains useful guidelines for consultants and clients as well as information about the IMC. Non-members and clients may purchase the Yearbook from IMC at a price of #35.

Diary of a change agent

Tony Page is a 40-something management consultant and IMC member, wrestling with the conflicting demands of a growing business and a growing family.

For three years he kept a diary to which he confided his hopes and fears, his triumphs and setbacks. This honest account will have immediate appeal for anyone serious about business performance improvement, change and learning. The book is available to IMC members at a special price of #29.25 plus #2.50 p&p from Gower Publishing Customer Services Department on 01252 317700.