IHBC Yearbook 2022

10 Y E A R B O O K 2 0 2 2 MEMBERSHIP OF THE IHBC T HE INSTITUTE offers membership opportunities and linked benefits to all those who care for the built and historic environment. Our members are drawn from many disciplines, including architects, town planners, building surveyors, estate and asset managers, structural engineers, landscape architects, curators, buildings and project managers, archaeologists, architectural historians, local authority conservation officers, officers from national conservation organisations, academics and private practitioners. Membership of the institute is aimed at being inclusive rather than exclusive, though all assessed categories of membership require the observance of our code of conduct (see page 12) in line with our charitable objects. There are three categories of assessed membership: Full membership (accredited) represents conservation accreditation open to all active in the conservation of the built and historic environment. Full members have demonstrated to the IHBC their skills, knowledge and experience as interdisciplinary conservation specialists able to offer services and advice in line with national and international standards and models in conservation and its management. As such, full members are required to demonstrate skills and experience in line with and across the institute’s four areas of competence (see page 12), while significant skills in one or more areas may be seen to outweigh weaknesses in one of the other areas. Anybody who satisfies these requirements and has at least five years’ relevant experience would normally be considered eligible to apply for full membership. For those who have gained a qualification from a conservation course that has full recognition from the institute (see page 91), the period of relevant experience required is reduced from five years to two years. Associate membership (accredited) represents conservation accreditation awarded to practitioners who have demonstrated to the IHBC their capability in specialist skills, knowledge and experience in conservation in a single area of practice or ‘competence’ as recognised by the IHBC, typically one that corresponds to their primary skills or discipline. Affiliate membership (assessed but not accredited) is available for those who have demonstrated an holistic ‘awareness’ of all aspects of conservation practice as described by the IHBC. They may later seek accreditation from the IHBC. The historic environment is constantly changing and evolving. To manage that process without losing what makes it special requires heritage professionals from many disciplines, and the IHBC is the professional body that brings them all together.