We offer free places to policymakers and the reporting media
This applies to people from organisations that decide on what policy should be put in place or how it should be implemented, including:
- UK, devolved nation and EU policymakers and their pass-holding staff; and
- Officials who work within UK and national government departments; European Commission officials; members of the Oireachtas and Government of Ireland officials; and some regulators who are able to decide policy.
The reporting press also receive complimentary places, as we want to have our proceedings widely reported on.
Anyone else?
- The other broad group that are offered free or reduced-fee places are those who cannot be expected to be able to afford to attend.
The reason for this is that if we didn't offer complimentary or concessionary-rate places to this group we wouldn't be fulfilling our main brand proposition of organising impartial seminars because some interested parties would be disadvantaged or even excluded from our discussions by our fees.
Usually this will apply to:
- Individual service users or carers;
- Full-time students;
- People between jobs or who are fully retired with no paid work; and
- Representatives of small charities - not businesses, individuals funded by an organisation, or larger charities/not-for-profit companies.
The criterion is ability to contribute so larger charities and not-for-profit organisations are expected to have the resources to pay the full delegate fee, as are commercial companies of any size.
Our aim is to fund our work in the fairest possible way, which is why we ask those who have the resources to pay their way so we can offer concessions and complimentary places to those who can't contribute.
If you're in doubt, fill in the online booking form and our customer services team will be in touch.