ILM announces free membership for students

Everyone who signs up for an ILM course from October onwards will receive free ILM membership for one year at the newly created membership grade of 'studying member'.

All studying members will receive access to a complimentary range of membership benefits, including:

• The ILM on-line resource centre - skills files on key management topics such as delegation, time management and motivation supplemented by suggestions for further reading, useful websites and journals. Also e-journals, e-books and physical book loans, reading lists and study guides are available

• e-Edge, the electronic version of ILM's award winning magazine, delivered to the studying member's email inbox 9 times a year

• Career development services - free support at whichever career stage the studying member is at, such as advice on preparing CVs, interview techniques, job hunting, redundancy and retirement plus an on-line CV check

• Team leader competence - online assessment of key team leader competencies to help identify team leading styles, strengths and weaknesses with further suggestions for developing team leading skills. This on-line tool is also mapped to ILM's qualifications in Team Leading and First Line Management

• Professional image audit - free advice on maximising personal impact in the workplace

• ILM website - www.i-l-m.com includes an exclusive 'members only' area

Hilary Bayliss, ILM's Membership Director welcomed the new free membership opportunity for students saying:
'ILM is delighted to support the thousands of leaders and managers who take an ILM qualification with free membership of ILM for their first year. In a workplace where there is ever greater competition for the top jobs, more and more managers are finding that joining ILM gives them the competitive edge required to succeed.

'Having access to ILM's expertise, resources and the professional recognition that goes with membership can make a real difference to those looking for faster progression and promotion within their companies. ILM membership demonstrates to employers that individuals are serious about their careers with access to topical information and good practice which is not available to non members.'

At any point during or after the free year of studying membership, it is possible to upgrade to become a full ILM member from an Affiliate or Associate Member, through to Member or Fellow. Full members pay membership subscriptions dependent on their grade and therefore enjoy an extended range of membership services over and above those offered to studying members.