MEPRA has reported its largest surge in new memberships since the association was formed, recording a 200 per cent increase in new members and a 20 per cent increase in total members compared with 2020. MEPRA now represents more than 4,000 communication professionals, with 15 agency and corporate organisations joining since January as the association celebrates its 20th anniversary.
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The spike in memberships is primarily driven by in-house communications teams who seek to increase their industry networks and access MEPRA’s new free Virtual MEPRA Academy, which has trained more than 1,200 professionals to date. General Motors, Malaffi, Tristar Group and the Authority of Social Contribution – Ma’an have all signed up in the past six weeks. SME consultancies are also contributing to the surge, thanks to MEPRA’s newly formed Small and Medium Independents & Consultants Working Group, with Tales & Heads, Koukash Consultancy and BLJ Worldwide joining in recent months to take advantage of the new tailored support MEPRA is providing.
Taryam Al Subaihi, MEPRA chair and director of corporate communications at EWEC said he credits the surge in new memberships to MEPRA’s response following Covid-19:
“While we all faced unprecedented challenges through the pandemic, it allowed MEPRA to demonstrate its value and prove what we could do to benefit the wider industry. The transformation and challenges we all experienced also galvanized the communications industry and MEPRA became a platform for a new level of collaboration that we have never seen before.”
“Leaning into this newfound industry collaboration, together with a sharpened focus and a new strategic direction for MEPRA has been instrumental in driving the increase in membership we are seeing today,” he said.
Al Subaihi points to three factors that led to MEPRA’s surge in memberships:
- A clear strategy. The key was determining what gaps MEPRA could fill during such a tumultuous time for the profession together with our 50+ board members and develop a strategy that met the new needs of the wider industry.
- A focus on value. As budgets tightened across the industry, MEPRA had to ensure membership benefits were diversified and strengthened to retain its members. MEPRA expanded its free training academy, launched a wellness programme with free mental health support plus offered a platform for members to share challenges and learnings, and collaborate with one another.
- Leadership and guidance. With such uncertainty on the future of the industry, MEPRA continues to provide a steady flow of communications from its leaders through regular columns, surveys and virtual conferences to provide assurance and guidance on how to adapt to the ‘new normal’.
Margaret Flanagan, co-founder, Tales & Heads and recently signed member said: “Being a MEPRA member helps to create meaningful connections with our peers and partners in the industry – it’s a collaborative and constructive organisation that really supports and listens to its members. As a new and growing agency, training and development opportunities for our team are important to us, and we all benefit from MEPRA’s regular workshops and training.”
This year marks MEPRA’s 20th anniversary of supporting communication professionals in the Middle East. MEPRA members receive access to regular free training, market insights, a workplace wellness programme, talent directory, job advertisements, branding opportunities, discounts to major industry events plus much more.
To find out more about MEPRA membership, visit www.mepra.org or email [email protected]
