The CIA - a Catalyst for Progress

Representation at the highest levels

With long-established working relationships and a good reputation with government at a regional, national and international basis, CIA membership gives you a voice at the highest levels.

On your behalf, the CIA is able to engage with UK Ministers, their officials, government agencies, the EU (in all its constituent parts), trades unions, parliamentarians and other stakeholders in knowledgeable, authoritative and constructive dialogue. In presenting a respected expert case and exerting real influence in the corridors of power, we ensure that your point of view is heard, understood and addressed by politicians, policy-makers, opinion-formers and regulatory bodies.

Ensuring sustainable development

Sustainability is the key to long-term competitiveness and the CIA is committed to helping members achieve sustainable development in all areas of their business.

Our vision is for a sustainable chemical industry, adopting innovative business solutions that help satisfy society’s needs by ensuring that we have taken all reasonable steps to prevent harm to human health and the environment.

Indeed, by encouraging high standards, facilitating good practice and helping members optimise the use of all resources, CIA aims to help members industry-wide to achieve - and exceed - their goals. This approach has enabled us to become the first UK industrial sector to launch a set of guiding principles committing to sustainable development.

Providing all the information you need

Information is a valuable management resource - and the CIA provides the industry’s richest source of knowledge. We have an electronic library plus 30 experts on-hand to provide advice, assistance and answers relating to any operational, management or industry issue from technical and legislative matters right through to broader business issues such as energy policy.

We also provide the industry’s leading forum for the exchange of information. With exclusive access to the CIA extranet, members not only have access to relevant information, but also they will have direct contact and effective input into the ongoing development of their industry. Bringing influential industry players together, the extranet is being developed to encourage the exchange of ideas for strategic planning, to enable you to network with like-minded people and to provide real-time insight into issues affecting your business.

Improving performance standards

The safe production, management and use of chemicals - and products containing them - are our key priorities. Not only can we help members maintain the highest standards in health, safety and environmental performance, our Responsible Care programme helps us generate the continuous improvements that contribute to a reduction in accidents and environmental impact - which lead to real business benefits, such as reduced insurance premiums. In addition, by encouraging the adoption of voluntary codes of best practice, we can help to build confidence in this route as an alternative/complement to mandatory legislation.

Harnessing innovation for the future

The search for 'new and better' never stops, and as advocates of progress, the CIA places great value on supporting innovation at all levels and across all business functions. From helping to identify profitable new products, processes and patent opportunities to providing assistance with training, employment matters and research and development, the CIA can help ensure a sustainable stream of skills, greener processes and products that will help members satisfy their customers’ needs now and into the future.

Providing strong leadership

Our powerful voice speaks for all sectors of the UK’s chemical industry and we take a leading role in helping our members clarify, communicate and successfully manage issues across all areas of their business.

Recognised as the leading association for the industry, the CIA is where the UK Government comes when it seeks to consult with the industry. For help and input on shaping legislation, establishing understanding or presenting the UK’s case on a wider political platform; ministers, civil servants and many other senior officials choose to speak to the industry’s most influential representative body. We want to include your views within that influential feedback we provide.

A changing industry

Britain's world-class chemical industries operate in a constantly shifting market characterised by consolidation, specialisation, globalisation, technological change and health, safety and environmental pressures – changing needs and expectations.

Against such a challenging backdrop, the most successful companies are those with the clearest understanding of what’s required to compete and succeed in this changing world.

CIA has changed too. Experienced and flexible enough to be a valuable business partner to all companies in all sectors regardless of their size, we are a real catalyst for progress, helping you to meet those needs and expectations. We will continue to adapt in response to external business drivers and the needs of our members.

We recognise the need to anticipate, influence and communicate future regulatory, commercial and societal trends, their effect on the operating environment - and the impact that these changes will bring.

As commercial pressures, environmental issues and public perceptions all require managing effectively, the CIA helps you meet constantly changing needs in order to remain efficient, legal, competitive and truly sustainable. This is a philosophy epitomised by our core values of advocacy, authority and action.

The CIA’s membership brings together businesses of all sizes, across all sectors. It is the combined breadth and strength of this membership that enables the CIA to be not only the largest, but also more importantly, the most influential, supportive and progressive industry association to represent chemical and chemistry-using companies in the UK today.

And in a changing industry, that’s one constant you can rely on.

Call us today and speak to our Membership Department to find out how belonging to CIA can give you a real competitive advantage.

Membership Department: enquiries@cia.org.uk or telephone: 020 7834 3399