6th February 2026: The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) has joined forces with leading UK professional and membership bodies to call for a stronger, more strategic partnership between Government and the professional sector – helping to drive skills development, productivity, and public service reform.

Representing more than one million professionals
The coalition has written to Baroness Smith of Malvern, Minister for Skills, urging closer collaboration with Government to boost economic growth and build a workforce fit for the future.

Coordinated by Memcom, the alliance brings together senior leaders from across the professional landscape, including CIM, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), the Institute of Leadership (IoL), the Institute of Directors (IoD), The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland (CGIUKI), the Association of Anaesthetists (Great Britain and Ireland), the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT), and the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).

Together, these organisations highlight the vital role that professional bodies play in setting and maintaining high standards, accrediting essential skills, and supporting employers to develop the talent needed to deliver growth and innovation across the UK economy.

Discussing the request, Maggie Jones, Director of Qualifications and Partnerships at CIM, said: "Professional bodies offer the expertise and connections needed to support the government’s priorities on skills and economic growth. CIM acts as a bridge between educators, employers and the marketing profession, ensuring that learning and development translates into practical capability and economic impact. This coalition strengthens our collective voice in national skills discussions and reinforces the vital role that marketing capability plays across UK organisations."

Why this matters for marketers
Marketing is increasingly recognised as a key driver of growth and innovation across all sectors, with C-suite executives placing growing reliance on marketing professionals to enhance organisational performance. As businesses adapt to technological change, sustainability challenges, and shifting customer expectations, the demand for trusted, accredited marketing professionals continues to grow.

What’s next
CIM and coalition partners are calling for structured engagement with Government, including:

• A cross-sector working group to align professional bodies with key policy priorities.
• Collaboration on skills initiatives to strengthen the UK workforce and enhance international competitiveness.
• Formal recognition of professional accreditation in public sector reform and national industrial strategies. 

James Delves, Head of PR and External Affairs at CIM, concluded: "This initiative, part of CIM’s wider Public Affairs work, ensures our members have a strong voice in Government and reinforces marketing’s role as a driving force in the UK economy.

"By working with Government and other professional bodies, CIM is shaping future skills programmes that recognise marketing capability as vital to national competitiveness. We will continue to champion marketing’s strategic contribution to productivity and keep members updated as discussions progress. To read our coalition letter to Government, click here or to have your voice heard contact: publicaffairs@cim.co.uk."

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For CIM media enquiries
James Delves
Head of PR and External Affairs, CIM
James.delves@cim.co.uk

Adam Jones
PR Executive, CIM
Adam.jones@cim.co.uk 

About CIM 
For over 100 years, CIM has been the universal voice of marketing, championing our industry and its positive impact on organisations, economies, and the wider society. Today, we play a more significant role than ever in supporting, developing, and representing our members and the profession around the world. Always on top of the latest developments, we offer inspiring insights and thought leadership to generate transformative discussion and ideas. 

On an individual level, marketers at every stage of their career find us a trusted and people-centred provider of clear guidance, training, and professional qualifications – especially on their path to being accredited as a Chartered Marketer. If it carries a CIM stamp, it’s taken seriously: proof of the essential skills that boost long-term success for any business. 

We’re at the forefront of all that’s exciting about marketing. Our services build careers and boost businesses. We continue to speak out for our industry, working alongside like-minded organisations to bring on the latest generations of talent and set professional standards for the entire marketing ecosystem. Find out more about CIM by visiting www.cim.co.uk.