7th December 2021 | IN DESIGN ADVICE | BY SBID ShareTweetPinterestLinkedIn Interior design is a booming profession. But not too long ago, it was hard to regulate. Influencers and hobbyists who did not have the appropriate professional qualifications or experience could get away with misleading clients into working with them instead of trained professionals. That’s why in recent years it has become more and more important to regulate the interior design industry, and one way of doing that is to become an accredited member of an interior design institute. Read on to find out more about SBID Interior Design Accreditation, who can join and how to achieve it. Who are The Society of British & International Interior Design? The Society of British & International Interior Design (SBID) was founded in 2009 and helped to lead the way to create a benchmark for trading standards and best practice in the profession of interior design. Consumers could easily be misadvised so needed a way to identify and distinguish between a qualified interior designer and an untrained practitioner. This is why SBID’s founder, Dr Vanessa Brady OBE, accepted the challenge with her ambitious vision to professionalise the industry – serving, protecting and promoting interior design in the UK and abroad. In 2009 the SBID developed an accreditation scheme for designers that required minimum years’ experience and a BA Hons degree to define criteria for professional competence, and created course modules to prepare students for professional application. This helped establish rigorous conditions for training and knowledge to measure and maintain a standard of acumen for practicing professionals across the industry. All of our accredited members gain access to exclusive resources, events and join a network of experts, while having opportunities to nurture their professional development through CPD training and specialist advice. By being accredited, you or your business are shown to abide by a universally recognised code of practise and your clients will know you offer the highest assessed level of design service. Professional Society Membership SBID offers a selection of membership levels and categories depending on you or your business. Anyone can join from freelance designers, SME’s and large A&D (architecture & design) firms, to university students and recent graduates. All of our members have access to: Tailored business engagements with a network of professional industry experts Promote design services through our online directory and editorial blog articles 1 x free entry into the SBID International Design Awards Special offers and complimentary tickets to key trade shows Exclusive regional / online events and professional resources An SBID Accredited CPD (continued professional development) program Opportunities to feature with press and media partners But who can join our organisation? Here are the four types of membership we offer across the industry sectors. Interior Designers To qualify for SBID Design Professional accreditation you must have 3 years of education, 3 and a half years of practice, 24 annual CPD points and hold valid professional indemnity insurance. We provide individual accreditation, as well as business accreditation for design studios. By becoming an SBID Accredited Interior Designer you’ll have access to a range of benefits, such as: Public Listing in the official SBID Designer Directory – Our designer directory features over 600 pre-qualified and accredited design professionals. By having yourself listed in there, a client will know that you are an expert in the design industry with a commitment to professional standards, offering a quality design services and operating at the highest standards of practice. Clients can find interior designers by their design specialism or by searching for you via location or keywords. Access to SBIDPro – SBIDPro is our exclusive member-only portal to explore SBID approved trade suppliers with our network of industry partners and service providers. You can also access live and on demand CPD training and a variety of professional resources. Partner Exclusive Benefits – receive email updates on exclusive member offers, benefits and opportunities from trade discounts and event invites to national press and media requests. SBID Awards Entry – SBID further champion the importance of professional standards, excellence and innovation in interior design through its annual International Design Awards. Offering our community 1 x free entry (worth £275) for the opportunity to showcase their work and achievements on our globally respected stage. If you do not meet all the criteria to become an accredited designer, we also offer associate level memberships. In terms of pricing, becoming a UK Interior Design Associate or an International Design Associate costs £325 + VAT per annum. If you are becoming a fully Accredited UK Interior Design Professional or International Design Professional, the cost is £395 + VAT per year. We regard international as an individual who is not working in the UK. We also offer discounted rates for design studios that employ more than three interior designers. Apply to join SBID Interior Fit-Out Specialists By becoming an SBID Contract Partner, you can showcase that your business offers professionalism and specialist expertise, meaning your clientele are safe from the inevitable problems that arise when using unregulated providers. By using an approved specialist, a client knows that they are getting a professional and efficient service that can work well with an SBID interior designer to create a natural synergy during a project’s procurement through to final installation. For this form of membership, you must have 1-year of company accounts, appropriate business insurance and meet the SBID 5 points of compliance. These are: Training – SBID supports the development of our members through training and an Accredited CPD program. Our partners must show a commitment to developing and training to reflect us. Health & Safety- You must make sure you are adhering to the appropriate health and safety regulations and can demonstrate the skills, knowledge and experience to go with this. Green Practise – SBID promotes sustainability, so all our partners must be open to committing to sustainability and greener practices. Projects – Our partners must showcase their ability to deliver an interior concept that is up to SBID’s professional standards. Inclusiveness – We strive to nurture inclusivity so all partners must play by the same ethical rules. The price to become an accredited SBID Interior Fit-Out Specialist can vary depending on your specialism. The fee for interior and exterior/structure contractors begins at £1,000, while building experts and consultants starts from £800. Apply to join SBID Product Providers SBID Industry Partners are trusted businesses that demonstrate expertise in the products they supply. That means not just their design aesthetic should be considered, but performance, service, functionality, quality of materials and their impact on the planet. Our network of product providers for interior design solutions are reliable experts in providing exactly what a client needs. To become an SBID Industry Partner you need business insurance, 1 year of company accounts and must meet the SBID five points of compliance. These are: Intellectual Property – SBID does not tolerate piracy and copyright theft, working to combat IP theft and bad practice Corporate Social Responsibility – You should demonstrate how you agree with our support of ethical manufacturing processes to ensure people and the environment are not harmed in the production process. Service – You must supply after-sales care to your clients and long-term quality service Sustainability – The products you supply must be sustainable Value for Money – Your products and services must be a good value for money Annual fees begin at £600 + VAT for a Professional Industry Partner and at £3,200 + VAT to become a Premium Professional Partner. Apply to join SBID Students For students who are still studying but want to get a head start in their professional development, we offer an SBID Student Membership. SBID aims to nurture and support emerging design talent, so it is committed to helping the next generation of trained designers reach the next stage of their careers following graduation. SBID offer this membership free throughout the course and for one year after as a post-graduate at Associate level if studying at approved institutions. After completing a third year in practice, the designer will be eligible to secure full SBID Accreditation. By this time they would have gained the required level of knowledge, experience and practical training to be a great addition to the SBID professional network. You are eligible for the free membership if you are currently enrolled on an interior design degree course from a University that has either: University Recognition – SBID Recognised universities whose course module structures meet SBID’s standards for appropriate interior design training. Course Accreditation – This means that universities have had their course content measured and officially accredited to make sure it reaches SBID’s highest education standards and relates to the practising profession of interior design. Before SBID was founded, not a single university in the UK connected with a professional interior design organisation, meaning that university graduates didn’t possess the skills expected of them at this level. Centre of Excellence – These are educational centres that SBID has established to meet our values, vision and commitment to improving professionalism in the interior design industry. To become a Centre of Excellence, an establishment must’ve already received recognition and accreditation for its courses. There are currently four Centres of Excellence in the UK, based at Coventry University, Southampton Solent University, Arts University College Bournemouth and Teesside University. If your university does not belong to one of these institutions, there is still the option of a discounted student membership for £45 + VAT per annum. Apply now for a student membership, all you need is your name, university, course, year of study and tutor name to get started. How to Join You can become accredited and join SBID in three quick and easy steps: Category – First read through the accreditation requirements and membership fees to see if you meet them and are comfortable with the cost – you can pay annually or monthly by direct debit. Make sure you’re applying to the right category and then complete the enquiry form. This will ask for your details, name or company and qualifications. Checks – Your application will then be reviewed by our membership team. They will carry out the necessary checks to make sure you meet the requirements and are eligible for membership status. Due diligence checks will verify your credentials are accurate and that you are applying for the appropriate levels of accreditation. Acknowledgement – Once the application is processed you will receive acknowledgement of the review. If successful, you will be added to the relevant SBID members Directory and your membership certificate, any accreditation materials and access to the SBIDPro platform will be issued. SBID: The Leading Interior Design Body So visit the SBID website or get in touch now to start your accreditation process today. Alternatively, call us on 027 738 9383 to find out more about what being a member can do for you.