Icon explores application for Royal Charter
Icon celebrates its 20th anniversary throughout 2025 and will use this milestone to explore the opportunity to petition for Royal Charter.
What is a Royal Charter?
A Royal Charter is issued by the monarch through the Privy Council Office (PCO) and is used to establish significant organisations such as universities and learned societies. Historic Charters include that granted to the University of Cambridge in 1231 and, before that, to the Worshipful Company of Weavers in 1150. Charters continue to be issued by the British Crown with many of Icon’s peer organisations (such as the Chartered Institute for Archaeology, CIfA, and the Royal Institute of British Architects, RIBA) holding a Charter. The list of existing Chartered Professions, and more information about the process, can be accessed here: Royal Charters - The Privy Council Office
What is the process?
The first step in this process will be to explore the opportunity with Icon’s membership. We have scheduled two informations sessions and would love you to join us and share your thoughts!
Tuesday 20th May 2025: 2pm-3pm
Monday 23rd June 2025: 2pm-3pm
These workshops will mark the beginning of a period of consultation with members and other heritage organisations, both those we work closely with and others operating within the wider sector. If there is strong support for the proposal, Icon will submit a Memorandum (or letter of intent) to the PCO. The Memorandum will make the case for the granting of a Royal Charter to Icon and will provide evidence of the high professional and ethical standards of conservators, the value of accreditation and the benefits that a Charter would provide both conservation and the wider heritage sector.
FAQs
How does a Royal Charter help Icon?
A Royal Charter will advance Icon's work championing conservation and conservators. Achieving this status from the Privy Council Office would confer both legal and reputational significance, demonstrating the importance of our profession to both the general public and the wider heritage sector.
Will a Royal Charter benefit me?
Who is involved in the process?
Icon's Board and Executive team will be leading the work towards our Charter application. This will be supported by the Chartership Working Group, formed of Trustees, Icon members and external bodies. The ultimate decision of whether to progress with the application sits with the wider membership following the consultation period.
Please note these FAQs will expand and develop throughout the consultation process. If you would like to discuss the application in the meantime please reach out to Emma Jhita or Isobelle White at [email protected]