Sustainability Matters. Environmentally, economically and socially.
The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) is undertaking a rebranding process in preparation for changing its name to The Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals. ISEP members will continue to set the standard for sustainability and environmental professionals globally – transforming the world today for a sustainable tomorrow.
The change from IEMA to ISEP is more than just a name change. We have carried out a detailed review of our future purpose and mission, and are developing a fresh new look and feel to our brand – including our logo. This will bring a new clarity to the organisations strategic direction and help to equip members and the profession with the recognition and credibility they deserve.
Taken together, these measures provide an excellent opportunity for the Institute to reach out globally and attract new members. Sustainability and environmental professionals who want to join an organisation that sets the standard for anyone wanting to deliver change within business and society around the world.
Changing our name and brand from IEMA to to The Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP) is a gradual process almost three years in the making, following extensive research, consultation and development.
On Monday 9 December 2024, at an Extraordinary General Meeting, members voted by Special Resolution in favour of changing the name of the organisation from IEMA to ISEP.
In January 2025, after approval by Companies House (UK Government), we formally changed our legal name.
Later that same month, we began the next stage of member engagement, focused on the rebranding process. This included finalising our purpose and brand positioning in order to bring clarity to the organisations strategic direction and to helping to equip members and the profession with the recognition, standards and credibility they deserve.
We also consulted with members on six options for a fresh new look and feel to our visual brand, which reflected our new identity.
Since January, after a steer from members, we have carried out a thorough rebranding process to reflect our new identity and purpose. This has involved an audit of everywhere the IEMA brand is used (eg. websites, reports, guides, certificates, social media, etc..) and the creative development of the new branding materials to be rolled-out across all aspects of the organisation and in locations where it is used by members, partners and other stakeholders.
We are aiming to launch the new ISEP brand in mid-July 2025.
Following the launch there will be a period of time, perhaps up to one year, when we need to use both names, as people get used to our new identity ad we work through all the touchpoints where our brand is used.
All members will automatically be emailed an updated PDF of their membership certificate under the new ISEP brand (alongside a new LinkedIn badge that they can use on the social networking site) in the week following the rebrand launch on 17 July 2025.
If learners completed a training course on or after 8 January 2025 when IEMA legally changed its name to ISEP (registered at UK Government Companies House), learners will be automatically issued a PDF of their qualification certificate with the new ISEP brand.
If learners completed a training course on or after 8 January 2025 and they want a paper certificate with the new ISEP brand, they will be able to purchase a paper version of their qualification by placing an order after Thursday 17 July (link will be provided here).
If learners completed a training course before 8 January 2025, unfortunately we cannot reissue qualification certificates under the new ISEP name because ISEP was not a legal entity before 8 January 2025.
The change from IEMA to ISEP will NOT change the training courses currently available or the content of training courses.
However, the work that out members do is broadening all the time and IEMA courses already do embody sustainability at the heart.
How we structure the content of our training courses into the future will be really important. This may include different training routes, with courses offering a broad base on sustainability and then a more specialised focus on specific areas of training, such as environment or social or impact assessment, etc.. dependent on what a member needs for their work.
There is already a review of the Sustainability Skills Map underway to make sure our membership standards, professional development, training and support is fit for the future of people working in 2030 and beyond.
There will not be any changes to the process or criteria when applying to become an ISEP member or to advance up the grades.
We already regularly review our membership standards to reflect any changing competencies that are emerging at different membership levels and that will continue. Those changes always have a transition period and all members are notified long in advance.
But there will not be any specific changes driven by changing our name to ISEP or the rebrand.
The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) is undertaking a rebranding process in preparation for changing its name to The Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals. ISEP members will continue to set the standard for sustainability and environmental professionals globally – transforming the world today for a sustainable tomorrow.
Changing our name and brand from IEMA to ISEP will be a gradual process, with plenty of time given to the transition between the old brand and the new.
In the short-term, day-to-day we will continue to call ourselves IEMA until we complete the rebranding process and launch our new identity. Even then there will be a period of time (perhaps up to a year) when we use both names, as we continue on the journey of evolving our brand.
The immediate next steps in the Future Purpose of IEMA project will include making legal and compliance changes to our new name. Followed in the medium term by strategic changes focused on our future purpose and mission, and branding changes as we undertake a thorough creative rebranding process. Members will have a number of opportunities to engage and feedback, beginning early this year and continuing throughout 2025.
Since IEMA was founded 25 years ago, the environment and sustainability professions have been transformed, moving from the fringes of the global economy – right to the centre.
The Future Purpose of IEMA project explored whether IEMA’s purpose and identity was “fit-for-the-future” of a professional membership organisation with over 22,000 members across 125 countries.
We have been running an open, inclusive and consultative approach with the aim of involving thousands of members in a range of workshops, research, surveys and interviews to ensure as many members as possible can get their voice heard.
Beginning in 2023, the Future Purpose of IEMA project has been a comprehensive two-year review of IEMA’s purpose and brand identity – including our name.
In 2023, we carried out consultative research with members and the wider sector to better understand IEMA’s current and future purpose and place within the sustainability and environmental space.
In 2024, we reviewed our brand identity to align with these research outcomes.
In the 2nd half of 2024, we carried out a members survey focused on our name and brand identity, supported by three webinars, focus groups and interviews to refine options available.
Based on the preferred choice of members, IEMA’s Board made the recommendation that our name should evolve from The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) to Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP).
The membership voted by Special Resolution in favour of changing the name of the organisation from IEMA to The Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP), which occurred at an Extraordinary General Meeting on Monday 9th December.
81.19% of members who participated in the vote supported the Special Resolution, which exceeds the 75% voting threshold under the Institute’s Articles of Association.
The Board and Senior Leadership took forward the decision made by members and applied to Companies House (UK Government) to formally change our name.
Following approval from Companies House, the next steps in the Future Purpose of IEMA project will include legal changes for our new name, strategic changes focused on our future purpose and mission, and branding changes as we undertake a thorough creative rebranding process.
The aim of the Future Purpose of IEMA project has always been to bring clarity to our brand, our future purpose and our strategic direction, in order to equip members and the profession with the recognition, standards and credibility they deserve.
Ultimately the consensus feedback is that this new name better reflects the broader scope of roles and responsibilities that our growing membership inhabit.
A fresh new name, brand and strategic purpose will help to grow awareness and strengthen recognition of the vitally important sustainability and environmental work that our members do every day in businesses and societies around the world.
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