The British Psychology Society
The BPS Member Journey
An ambitious design thinking journey across the 4 Nations of the UK. Together with The British Psychological Society and its members we co-produced the future vision, plan and roadmap. From Cyber to clinical psychologists - students to influencers.
The outcome: A vision, strategy and detailed roadmap with buy in for BPS together with its members to become the bold progressive voice of UK psychology and support the disciplines and professions on their journey in to and through the profession.
IN SUMMARY
THE AMBITION
Understand how the Society across the 4 Nations
Could nurture and support members
Foster the disciplines of psychology
Grow and protect its membership
Provide equality of opportunity and respect all aspects of diversity.
&
Understand what the Society’s value proposition for members should be
Understand, map and learn from members’ professional journeys in to and through the profession
Review the Society’s grade structure to reflect the evolving disciplines of psychology
Understand how best to support this diverse discipline.
PROJECT & OUTCOME
The transformational British Psychological Society ‘Member Journey’ Initiative has delivered a significant strategic opportunity for the Society. Creating the foundations for BPS together with its members to become the bold progressive voice of UK psychology and support the disciplines and professions on their journey in to and through the profession - from school to retirement. Enabling the profession to thrive, grow and successfully play their critical role in society. The BPS Member Journey was designed to provide the Society’s leadership and staff with insights into the needs of the organisation’s diverse membership. In the end, it provided much more than insights into the professional aspirations and expectations of the Society’s members – it has provided the evidence and resulted in the co-production of ideas and recommendations to transform the Society and the profession – together with the buy in and support to make them happen. Social Kinetic is proud and thankful to have partnered with BPS and its inspiring members to deliver this important work.
CONTEXT
This BPS Member Journey Initiative is the biggest review in the history of the Society. The BPS has 60,000 members but the Society knew little about the full diversity of its members, like many bodies of its kind, it typically engaged regularly with between 5-10% of its membership. It was a bold decision, therefore, when the Society agreed to engage the full breadth of its membership and undertake a member-led review of the membership. The trust the Society’s leadership placed in its members was repaid by members throwing themselves into the project, working together to design a future vision for the BPS and the profession. Their commitment and enthusiasm didn’t falter when the country went into lockdown in March 2020.
THE KEY TO SUCCESS
The people – the members, staff and leadership of BPS. Their commitment and passion to transform for the greater good of psychology and society. Together with the commitment of BPS to be ‘member- led’.
SK LEARNING
“We congratulate both the leadership of the BPS who did what many find so hard, to stand back, listen and then genuinely co-create a future designed by its people – members and staff. This really was ‘member led’. And the members – who went on this journey, who gave their valuable time, were honest, frank, creative and open minded. This trust has unlocked the collective wisdom of those involved and created a bold and ambitious plan for the future, created and owned by those involved. That’s brave and to be deeply respected.” - Claire Cater, Hacker-in-Chief, The Social Kinetic
“BPS now really feels so responsive, creative, inclusive and proactive that it’s starting to feel as if being a member is a necessity. And that’s the way it should be. It finally feels like this is really going to happen.”
- Graduate
“Einstein said ‘nothing happens until something moves.’ We are making an important ‘movement’, we are changing everything!”
- Dr Letizia De Mori
“Your creative and innovative approach to our digital Summit gave our stakeholders a voice when they thought they might not have one. What you have achieved is something that will remain with us for a long time.”
- Karen Beamish
Director of Membership and Professional Developmen
TO FIND OUT MORE If you would like to more about the detail of how we did this, do get in touch. We will be publishing a more detailed case study in September 2020.
WEBINAR Email us if you would like to join our webinar about the learning from the BPS Member Journey. Date and details to be confirmed shortly.
Email clairecater@thesocialkinetic.com