29 April 2021 -- The Association for Geographic Information (AGI) has launched a series of initiatives to support the growth of the UK geospatial community.

To extend the reach and influence of the sector, the organisation has simplified its membership structure to include a free individual ‘Network’ category and has also unveiled a members-only portal containing a wealth of career development content.

“Simplifying our membership structure means we can do more for our existing members whilst also attracting new faces into our community,” says AGI Chair, Denise McKenzie.

“Growing our network is essential for achieving our mission of being a thriving UK Geospatial Community, actively supporting a sustainable future, and the introduction of two new membership categories, as well as discounts for start-ups, is a key part of this.”

“Whilst free Network membership does not offer the full range of benefits, it is an excellent introduction to the AGI and is great for keeping up with industry developments, making it particularly suitable for students. We have also launched an Affiliate membership which is available to any umbrella body representing a group of organisations and we are promoting this into new sectors to reflect the widespread use of geospatial data across the UK.”

Under the new structure, the Professional category is equivalent to the AGI’s existing Individual paid membership and will include unemployed members.

Associate membership applies to individual organisations, regardless of size and whether public, private or academic. Associate members can offer the benefits of Professional membership to their employees at no extra cost and with easy self-service subscription.

Partner membership is equivalent to the current Partner organisation level.

Denise continued: “To support members’ professional aspirations, we have launched a new portal for Professional, Associate and Partner members on our new-look website. This includes exclusive online services and content, as well as career and continuous professional development (CPD) opportunities. By opting in to the Members Directory and joining our groups, members can extend their personal network by adding a profile with a biography, social media accounts and a photo.”

“If you have a passion for GI or Geospatial, this is where you belong; whether you are just starting your career or have many years of experience. By coming together and bringing knowledge, ideas, and opportunities to collaborate, our members gain the power to be part of the bigger picture and we are proud to represent them.”

“By investing in geospatial skills and a strong, thriving geospatial community, the AGI – with its members – has a key part to play in supporting the future development of the UK’s geospatial capability.”

“This is a particularly exciting period for geospatial in the UK. The increased focus on digital and data across all industries is driving transformation and innovation with location data providing new insights, automating workflows and improving decision making. As we look to the future, with climate change, net zero carbon management and an impetus behind environmental and social governance, location data will be ever more critical.”

The AGI is an independently-funded and impartial organisation with over 1000 individual and organisation level members. It works professionally and collaboratively with partners, members and wider industry to provide thought leadership and to maximise the benefits delivered by geospatial and geographic information, as well as to promote further awareness of its potential.

To find out more, visit www.agi.org.uk