Institute of Tourist Guiding - Tourist Guide, Guiding Qualifications

ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE INSTITUTE OF TOURIST GUIDING AND THE GUILD OF REGISTERED TOURIST GUIDES

PROPOSALS FOR A NEW STRUCTURE

The consultation conducted in February 2007 showed that the great majority of respondents from both the Institute of Tourist Guiding and the Guild of Registered Tourist Guides favoured the formation of a Single Professional Body, subject to certain conditions. APTG/Unite has stated that it is unable to participate in such an initiative. Nevertheless the Trustees of the Institute and the Executive Council of the Guild have decided to form a Working Group to examine, as a matter of urgency, proposals for a new structure, embracing the regulatory and standard-setting functions of the Institute and the membership services provided by the Guild.

Since the Institute is a government recognised body the new structure would necessarily take its name but it is foreseen that the resultant body would involve substantial reorganisation and would preserve the best elements of the two organisations. It would make better use of resources, reduce duplication and result in improved services to Members. More importantly the new structure would facilitate much better promotion of the national brand of tourist guiding qualifications and be more effective in securing funding and other support from public bodies in the tourism sector, which are essential if an adequate supply of qualified guides is to be maintained.

There is more information in the following Q&A section:

1. How is the project structured?

The Joint Working Group is divided into small teams looking at specific aspects: Legal structures; Organisation; Finance; Categories of membership; Membership services; Communication with members.

Concurrently with this initiative the Institute is undertaking a wide-ranging study of the qualifications structure in guiding and is reviewing the application of area qualifications.

2. Who's in the Joint Working Group?

The group is chaired jointly by Alan Cross and Tony Anderson and includes members of the Board of Trustees of the Institute and the Executive Council of the Guild. It includes guides of many years' experience and some much newer guides, who work as guides in different parts of England and in Wales and Northern Ireland. There is also representation from VisitBritain.

Alan Cross and Jackie Parry are the President and Deputy President of the Institute. Tony Anderson and Eileen Cox are the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Guild. Brian Jenkins is the Treasurer of the Institute. Ray Hoerty, Eve Milner and Isabel Moore are recently elected Trustees of the Institute. Derek Roberts is former Chairman of WOTGA and Hugh Rice is Chairman of NITGA. Geoffrey Warr is a founder member of the Guild's Way Forward Committee and was a member of the 2005/6 Joint Working Party on Further Co-operation. Joanne Bramley, Fiona Grant, Tom Hooper and Elizabeth Keatinge are all Past Presidents and Fellows of the Institute and were members of the 2006/7 Joint Working Party on Further Co-operation. Fiona Grant is also an ex Chair of APTG, while Tom Hooper is an ex Chair of the Guild. Jeremy Brinkworth is General Manager, Quality, for VisitBritain.

3. Can I have an input into the discussions?

Yes. Your input is vital and is welcome both individually and/or via your regional guide association. Please send any comments or questions you have to feedback@itg.org.uk or
accounts@blue-badge.org.uk clearly headed 'New structure'.

Consultation of the UK Committee of the Guild has already begun.

4. How will you keep me up-to-date?

We will send out regular updates to members by email and in Guide Post and Institute bulletins, inviting your input. These updates will also be posted on the Institute and Guild websites and will be available from your regional association.

5. What will the categories of membership be and how much will membership cost me? What changes will I see to my membership services and benefits?

All aspects of membership will be a fundamental focus of the Joint Working Group. Detailed information regarding membership services and costs will be included in the proposals you will be asked to consider at the end of the summer.

6. When will I have to make a decision?

You will be sent details of the proposed new structure at the end of August. Ballot papers will follow in mid September.

7. What's the project timetable?

Spring and summer 2008: Consultation process.
End August 2008: Final report to be sent to members.
September/October 2008 Ballot.
End October 2008: Results of ballot announced to members.
31 October 2008: Institute AGM.
4 December 2008: Guild AGM.

The following part of the timetable is subject to approval of the proposals by members:

November 2008-January 2009 - Preparation of documents regarding constitutional change.
February 2009 - Extraordinary General Meetings of Institute and Guild.
Spring 2009 - Launch of new structure.

8. What are the terms of reference for the project?

The Terms of Reference are listed below. These can also be viewed on the Guild website.

Joint Working Group
25 February 2008
Ref JWG 2

Click here for the pdf version of this document

JOINT WORKING GROUP ON A NEW STRUCTURE

TERMS OF REFERENCE

1. Introduction

The Joint Working Group on a new structure (JWG) has been established by the Institute of Tourist Guiding and the Guild following the questionnaire sent to members in February 2007, the replies to which indicated support for the drafting of detailed proposals for the establishment of a new structure for the Institute, embracing the regulatory and standard setting functions of the Institute and the membership services provided by the Guild.

2. Aim

The aim of the JWG is to formulate proposals for the setting up of a new structure for the Institute of Tourist Guiding for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, including a membership services arm. The JWG will use as its baseline the interim and final reports of the Joint Working party on Further Co-operation in the Tourist Guiding Profession.

The proposal will include an outline implementation plan and contain sufficient information to enable both memberships to understand the proposal, consider it and, in due course, vote on it.

3. Scope

The JWG will ensure that it gives consideration to the interests of guides at all levels from across England, Wales and Northern Ireland i.e. it should avoid being London/Blue Badge-centric. It should also give consideration to wider stakeholders such as:

The tourism industry, including tour operators and key sites
Government departments and agencies, including RDAs
The Scottish Tourist Guides Association
Students

4. Reporting

The proposals shall be based on making decisions by consensus. The proceedings of the JWG meetings shall be confidential. Agreed notes of meetings shall be produced for circulation only to the JWG. There shall be regular reports to the memberships.

5. Method of working

The JWG will be chaired jointly by the President of the Institute and the Chairman of the Guild. It will divide from the outset into small teams looking at specific aspects. Each team will appoint its own chair and will make recommendations to the JWG. The main aspects will include: Legal structures; Organisation; Finance; Categories of membership; Membership services; Communication with memberships.

6. Membership

The JWG will initially comprise:

The President and Deputy President of the Institute.
The Chair and Deputy Chair of the Guild.
4 trustees of the Institute recently elected to take forward this project.
Wales, Northern Ireland and English regional members.
Guild and Institute members of the Joint Working Party on Further Co-operation.
The General Manager, Quality, for VisitBritain.

The JWG shall have power to co-opt.

7. Finance

£10,000 will be pooled from allocations from the Institute (£8000) and Guild (£2000) to support the JWG. A member of the group will be appointed to manage its expenditure within these limits and to report regularly to the JWG about commitments. All proposed financial commitments shall first be approved by the nominated individual.

8. Timetable

The following part of the timetable is subject to approval of the proposals by members:

November 2008-January 2009 Preparation of documents regarding constitutional change.
February 2009 Extraordinary General Meetings of Institute and Guild.
Spring 2009 Launch of new structure.

Joint Working Group
23.02.08
Ref JWG1

Click here for the pdf version of this document.