The Association of Professional Political Consultants (APPC) has announced the membership of its first organisation from the charitable sector. Cardiff-based cancer charity Tenovus Cancer Care joins over 80 other organisations on the APPC’s register, as we near the introduction of the Government’s Statutory Register.
Established in 1994, the APPC is the self-regulatory and representative body for professional political practitioners, the basis of which lies in its Code of Conduct and its Register of members, their consultants and clients.
Darren Caplan, Deputy Chairman of APPC, said: "Association of Professional Political Consultants (APPC) is delighted to welcome Tenovus Cancer Care as an APPC member. There are more than 80 professional lobbying organisations who count themselves as APPC members, but our Code of Conduct and register have just as much relevance to those lobbying professionals working in an in-house and charitable capacity.
"With the imminent introduction of the Government's Statutory Register - which only includes third-party lobbyists - it's even more important now that in-house professionals demonstrate their commitment to transparency and ethical behaviour. This is why we would encourage in-house public affairs teams whether they are working at a charity, a private corporation or a trade association, like the Airport Operators Association, to get in touch to find out how APPC membership can benefit them and help to drive up transparency across the UK's lobbying industry."
Jon Antoniazzi, Policy Officer Tenovus Cancer Care, said: "We're really pleased to become the first charity member of the APPC. Tenovus Cancer Care’s membership means that any involvement with elected representatives, their staff and civil servants will be firmly rooted with the principles that we will be transparent and will uphold the highest standards of ethical practise in all our political engagement.
"As an organisation new to the public affairs and policy arena, we wanted to ensure that from the very start we have the professional ethos of the APPC code at our core."