Where is the value in FPM membership?

“Everything in writing begins with language. Language begins with listening.”

These are words penned by the English writer Jeanette Winterton, who came to public attention with her first book, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit.

We want to know more about our members’ relationship with FPM and their views on the value of what we do. Like any credible member-led organisation, this process starts with a listening exercise.

At the end of March, we will distribute a short survey exploring the views of FPM members on the value of their membership and seeking ideas for future improvement. The survey participants have been randomly selected from our membership database to build a stratified sample that is statistically representative of the FPM community. The questions set investigate members’ perceptions of the benefits of FPM, the strength of their relationship with their faculty and overall levels of satisfaction with our current membership offer.

The electronic surveys will drop into inboxes from Thursday 31 March. Members selected from our database have around ten days to fill out the survey, typically taking around five to ten minutes.

We are in listening mode, and we want to know what our members think. The survey is anonymous, and an external research company will analyse the findings; it’s the first step in a programme of engagement with members, lapsed members and non-members. The findings will shape FPM’s direction of travel.

As an additional incentive to participate in the survey, FPM will donate £5 to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) for every completed questionnaire returned before 10 April. The money raised will support medical and humanitarian aid in conflict zones worldwide.

Jeanette Winterton also wrote, “Although where you are going is always in front of you, there is no such thing as straight ahead.”

Here at FPM, we are committed to arriving at the right destination. With our members’ help, we’ll decide on the right direction for a trustworthy profession that helps people from all walks of life in all parts of the world survive and thrive.

Look out for a link to the survey in your inboxes in the week ahead.

Sarah Davis

Head of Membership