IRMS Strategy 2023-2026

The IRMS Board reviewed the Society’s strategy in spring 2025 to ensure its ongoing relevance for the Society and the information profession.

Whilst acknowledging we will always have more ambitions than resources, we remain committed to the focus areas we want to pursue and have added a brief section to cover our financial management.

Each area is supported by a Board Director and the operations are led by Executive Directors, who are supported by Officers and Working Groups as relevant. We have prioritised some deliverables and will keep monitoring and reviewing these to ensure the strategy remains relevant to the membership.

We are also inviting Members to input into our work on a project or task basis, without having to commit themselves to joining the Executive Committee or Sub-Committees. This gives Members an opportunity to contribute to the strategy implementation and to use their skills and expertise in a focused way to make our society the best it can be for all Members. To find out more and to discuss joining our Working Groups, please contact the relevant Board Sponsor in the first instance.

Focus area: Internal governance development

Board Sponsor: Vice Chair Internal Governance

- Policy Working Group (volunteers welcome to assist)

Aims:

• Ensure the Society’s internal operations are fit for purpose;
• Ensure our digital technologies and platforms, workflows and tools are up to date, efficient and effective; and
• Maintain and complete the Society's policy framework and risk register to ensure sustainability, transparency and accountability of our operations for the membership.

Focus area: Membership development

Board Sponsor: Secretary

- Membership Working Group (volunteers welcome to assist)

Aims:

• Foster closer engagement with members, encouraging them to join the Society and its groups, remain active, and participate in the Society through avenues like accreditation and fellowship;
• Clearly define our identity, mission, and values, and to understand our diverse membership types and their respective needs;
• Evaluate our current membership sectors and, where appropriate, engage with new sectors and increase involvement with underrepresented groups, thereby broadening our reach within the profession;
• Establish connections through partnerships such as affiliation with other professional groups related to the information sector, thereby expanding our impact.

Focus area: External engagement and advocacy

Board Sponsor: Vice Chair External Engagement

- Working closely with Commercial Director and Marketing & Communications Director, and Member Content Working group (volunteers welcome to assist)

Aims:

• Develop and maintain relationships with vendors (including training providers) and sponsors ensuring collaborations are mutually beneficial and relevant to the Society and our members;
• Identify and lead new initiatives, bringing together stakeholders and members to discuss new areas impacting the modern information profession;
• Establish and consolidate relationships with other membership organisations in the information profession in order to deliver advocacy and professional development;
• Establish and maintain a dialogue with regulators, political and other decision-makers around the role and the impact of the profession within the wider society; and
• Explore creating a network for members based in other European countries.

Focus area: Marketing and commercial operations

Board Sponsor: Commercial Director

- Working closely with Marketing & Communications Director and relevant working groups (volunteers welcome to assist)

Aims:

• Develop consistent strategies for marketing and communications that result in growth and retention of membership;
• Review our existing communication tools and channels, and update and refresh them so they can be used effectively by all our volunteers in all parts of the Society;
• Engage with sponsor and supplier community to secure funding that supports new content, including webinars and white papers; and
• Manage external professional resources (including social media) to help us deliver marketing and communications messaging.

Focus area: Finance

Board Sponsor: Treasurer and Chair

- Working closely with the Finance Officer

Aims:

• Monitor and plan budgets; and
• Manage financial risks.

Cross-cutting initiatives

Supported by the Board and the Executive

• Provide professional development opportunities to the members, including accreditation, mentoring, skills and education;
• Maintain the integrity of the current content e.g. Schools Toolkit; and
• Identify and source new resources for the benefit of the members.