Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development: Approaching 100 years in business
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) is leading the global standards for best practice in HR. Our aim is to drive sustained organisation performance through HR, shaping thinking, leading practice and building HR capability.
We have over 135,000 members, including over 50,000 who are chartered, representing the most influential senior HR leaders from the world’s leading organisations and the next generation of HR professionals.
Founded in 1913 as the Welfare Workers’ Association (WWA), we went through several name changes and successful mergers as the nature of the profession changed. As a result, membership and our standing in the profession continued to grow exponentially, establishing us as the largest body of personnel and development specialists in the world.
On 1 July 2000 we were granted the Royal Charter recognising our pre-eminence, stability and permanence in the profession. We became the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).
The CIPD is the only HR professional institution in the world with ‘Chartered Members’. Being recognised as a Chartered Member of the CIPD means an HR professional has met the gold standards we set for the profession, representing the very best in HR.
Our membership continues to grow in significance, with representation across 120 countries, signalling the importance of professional recognition and showcasing individuals impacting change in organisations through HR.