How to Join the SEC
If you are interested in joining the Society please complete our online application form and submit it as directed. Please note a hard copy is not required and on its own will not be accepted. Our Honorary Secretary, Barbara Roberts can provide further information if required.
Upon receipt of your application form, we will email you an invoice and details of how to pay. Once we have both your application form and the correct subscription payment we will seek references from your referees. This can occasionally delay the progress of your application so we recommend that you keep your referees informed about the progress of your application.
Whilst waiting for those references to be returned your details will be prepared for entry in our on-line searchable web database of member consultants. You may also wish to prepare your own web space for linking to your directory entry.
As soon as we receive satisfactory replies from your referees, your application will be ratified. At that point you will be a member of the Society. You will be reminded that you must work within the Society's Code of Practice, and that you are bound by the SEC Constitution. From here on you will be able to participate in all aspects of the Society's affairs; your entry will be added to the on-line directory of consultants and you will be included in circulation of work opportunities.
In the unlikely event of your references proving unsatisfactory, your subscription payment will be refunded minus an administration charge of £45.00.
Subscriptions
Membership is for 12 months and you will receive notice when your subscription becomes due for renewal.
Individual Membership:
This is the most common and is suitable for all types of education consultants. It is particularly applicable to freelance consultants and sole traders. The annual membership fee is currently £120. Members opting to pay by direct debit will pay a reduced annual subscription, currently £108.
Retired Membership:
This is for those who have been members for a number of years but have either stopped practising or are winding down their businesses but still wish to keep in contact with fellow consultants. Importantly this membership will allow them to maintain their professional indemnity insurance at the SEC discount rate for the six or so years they will need after they finish working for their last client. The annual membership fee is currently £25. To move to this class of membership you simply need to tell our Administrator and your next subscription will be altered accordingly and your details removed from the searchable database. People cannot join the Society via this class of membership.
Small Business Corporate Membership:
This is suitable for businesses of up to 10 employees that are either education consultancies or have education consultancy links. The annual membership fee is currently £300 paid by cheque or DD. In addition to corporate membership, your colleagues may still apply separately for individual membership.
Large Corporate Membership:
This is for businesses with more than 10 employees that are either education consultancies or have education consultancy links. The annual membership fee is currently £750 paid by cheque or DD. Subscription in the year of joining is open to negotiation. In addition to corporate membership, your colleagues may still apply separately for individual membership.
Overseas Applications
If you are applying from overseas, you can make payment by a sterling cheque, Visa or MasterCard or ask our Administrator for our bank details to make a direct payment from your bank. Please note, you are responsible for all fees associated with such a transfer and we will not commence processing your application until we receive your full subscription payment in sterling.
Subscription Rates
- Individual membership - £120
- Small Business Membership - £300
- Large Business Membership - £750
- Retired Membership - £25
Please note: when paid by Direct Debit, Individual Membership is only £108.