Origins

In the United Kingdom, factory inspectors were appointed for the first time in 1893. In 1896 to look after its women and child workers Rowntree's appointed their first inspector - a Mrs E M Wood. Edward Cadbury of Cadbury Brothers in 1909 called together employers to discuss industrial welfare work and as a result 25 employers formed an association with Mrs Wood of Rowntree's as Secretary. The work of 'welfare workers' came to public attention during a trade show in 1912 at Olympia in London.^[3]

The forerunner of the CIPD, the Welfare Workers' Association (WWA) was formed at an employers' conference in York on 6 June 1913. The meeting was chaired by Seebohm Rowntree. Alongside his company, Rowntree's around fifty other companies were present including; Boots, Cadbury and Chivers and Sons.^[4] Thirty-four of the employers present^[5] decided that the WWA be founded as...an association of employers interested in industrial betterment and of welfare workers engaged by them. The outbreak of World War I in 1914 led to many women and children taking up the work of men, particularly in the larger munition factories where the appointment of welfare officers was made compulsory by legislation and was monitored by the Health of Munition Workers Committee. This led to the rapid expansion of female welfare workers. There were concerns about the training of welfare staff, and in 1917, at a gathering in Leeds of the seven welfare associations formed during the period it was agreed that they merge by forming the Central Association of Welfare Workers which to accommodate the regional associations established the beginnings of a local branch structure. The Association's position was also enhanced during the war years by nationally driven encouragement of workers to join trade unions to reduce the occurrence of industrial strife. Another development which increased the numbers of company staff dealing with labour and welfare matters occurred with the inclusion of managers, mainly men, from the North-western Area Industrial Association to assist with discipline, dismissal and industrial relations in increasingly unionised organisations.^[5] In 1918, to avoid confusion as to its purpose the Association changed its name to the Central Association of Welfare Workers (Industrial) (CAWWI).^[3][6]

Another important event which had a recurring impact on the activities of the CAWWI occurred in 1918 when the Rev. Robert Hyde founded the Boys’ Welfare Association soon after renamed the Industrial Welfare Society (IWS) with six employers who were concerned with the welfare of boys employed or apprenticed in the shipbuilding industry. From the outset there was a strained relationship between the two bodies which continued right through the inter-war period until resolved in 1946. Though both organisations were concerned with 'welfare at work' the CAWWI developed as an institution for practitioners and the IWS was established as a membership body for employers and there was strong disagreement on how best to bring about improvements in workplace conditions and workers' welfare. The IWS later became the Industrial Society and is now known as the Work Foundation.^[7]

The post-World War I period

In November 1919, following merger with welfare associations for men the Central Association of Welfare Workers (Industrial) was renamed the Welfare Workers' Institute and now had a membership of 700.^[5] However, the next five years saw a reduction in membership to 250 coinciding with the rapid collapse in industrial output as the government sought to reduce the national debt. Again in 1924 on incorporation the organisation changed its name to the Institute of Industrial Welfare Workers (IIWW). Minnie Louise Haskins, the author of the famous poem The Gate of the Year and a lecturer at LSE, was closely involved with the IIWW and edited its monthly bulletin. As a consequence of the activities of welfare workers during the General Strike of 1926 distrust in the welfare movement grew amongst trade unions which saw a new breed of 'labour managers' part of 'management' which was reflected in 1931 when the IIWW became the Institute of Labour Management and its magazine, rebranded Labour Management. Members of the institute experienced new demands during the 1930s. Firstly, economic growth resulted in a shortfall in skilled labour as companies competed to recruit workers. Secondly, this was followed by lay-offs and industrial action as a worldwide depression took hold, particularly in the industrially-focussed north of England. This influence also had the effect of increasing the number of male members of the institute which significantly shifted the gender balance of the membership.^[5] Thirdly, new human relations practices developed in the US were finding their way into more enlightened business which invested in their employees through training and provision of such things as salary benefits, pensions and paid holidays. In 1938 the first of the institute branches opened in the Republic of Ireland. In 1939 membership stood at 760.^[5] Mirroring the First World War during World War II, the government insisted on personnel officers to be deployed in factories engaged in war-related production.^[3][6]

The latter part of 20th century

Directly after the Second World War the incoming Labour government instigated a policy of industry nationalization and launched the National Health Service, further increasing the role of personnel professions in handling public sector recruitment, retention, payroll, training, and industrial relations issues. The enlightened practices of large American corporations, some of which had adopted the ideas of human relations thinkers, such as Elton Mayo, and the Civil Service in the field of personnel management were being taken up by the larger UK companies. Both influences were reflected in a further change of name in 1946 to the Institute of Personnel Management (IPM).^[3]

The 1950s were marked by government efforts to improve productivity both through introducing more modern management practices and increase labor supply through encouraging migration of people from the British Commonwealth also known as the Windrush generation. In 1955, responding to these changes, the IPM sought to increase the professional standards and standing of its members by introducing an externally moderated examination scheme, and restricting entry to full membership to fully qualified or practising personnel officers over age 35 with several years' experience. Membership in 1956 stood at 3,979.^[5]

During the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s influences on the UK workplace ranged from a series of technological revolutions, economic pressures from entry into the Common Market and impact of globalization, deregulation of the financial services industry (the Big Bang). Government intervention in industrial relations and the growth of health and safety, equality, collective and recruitment and employment legislation encouraged new specialisms to develop in the function.^[5] In some companies a shift was seen from reactive personnel management processes towards what became known as strategic human resource management practices, or in shorthand HRM. All these factors also influenced a steady increase in membership, which in 1987 was 31,400.^[5] The IPM underwent a period of contemplation during which it considered whether; to shift towards an HRM approach as its counterpart in the US the Society for Human Resource Management had already done, or to maintain its focus on the more traditional personnel management practices where the majority of its members still operated, or find a third way reflecting a more UK-focused approach. In 1994, a merger took place between the IPM and the Institute of Training and Development (ITD). The new organisation which had 70,000 members^[5] was named the Institute of Personnel and Development (IPD), sought to represent the range of professionals engaged in one or more elements of people management.^[6]

Chartered status

Chartered status was achieved in 2000 and the IPD was incorporated under Royal Charter from 1 July of that year to become known as the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and reported it had a membership of 120,000 practitioners.^[5][8] In June 2013 the CIPD commemorated its centenary year.^[6]

Professional memberships

Chartered grades

• Chartered Companion (CCIPD) By invitation only, awarded in recognition of contributions to the profession or the institute.

• Chartered Fellow (FCIPD) An upgrade from Chartered MCIPD, applicants must have at least 10 years' relevant experience. To achieve Chartered Fellow status, you'll need to demonstrate at least three years’ current experience working consistently at a senior level. The scope of your role will be strategic in nature, with an impact across many functions; you'll rarely work operationally.

• Chartered Member (MCIPD) Awarded on request to graduate members who have three years' relevant managerial experience. Or a non-graduate member assessed against the professional standards after five years' relevant experience (though experience assessment). To achieve Chartered Member status, you'll need to demonstrate at least three years’ current experience working consistently at this level. Your role may include elements of developing people strategy, but you'll also be operational, planning and managing HR activity.

Non-chartered grades

• Associate (Assoc CIPD) This Associate grade was introduced in 2010 and has since replaced the Licentiate grade in 2010 and Graduate level which was phased out in 2014. If you're currently a Student member you'll be awarded Associate membership when you successfully complete your Level 3 Foundation Certificate or Associate Membership. Associate membership^[15] is the first level of HR certification and professionalism in the HR/L&D field.^[16]
• Affiliate: a basic level of membership, not assessed against professional standards but relevant qualification and work experience is mandatory.
• Student Membership You're normally undertaking a CIPD-approved Certificate or Diploma and have not had a higher membership level prior to that.

Academic memberships

To be eligible for Academic Membership of the CIPD you need to be an individual working in the field of teaching or research in HRM or an HRM related area.

Chartered grades

• Academic Member (Academic MCIPD) Typically an experienced lecturer, senior researcher, recognized in the UK or internationally as an expert in more than one relevant HR or L&D subject area.
• Academic Fellow (Academic FCIPD) Typically a senior academic or research leader, recognized in the UK or internationally as an expert in at least two areas of HR or L&D.

Non-chartered grades

• Academic Associate (Academic Assoc CIPD) Typically an experienced lecturer, tutor or researcher in an HR or L&D subject area.