education , and the associated future skills gap in our profession . Pete reminded us of our objectives on this issue in last year ' s review :
• Objective 1 - Encourage students to study STEM subjects through school and further education / vocational training .
• Objective 2 - Encourage students and non-RP professionals into Radiation Protection or its allied fields as a profession .
• Objective 3 - Professional development of those working in the RP field throughout their career and retention within the field .
Despite the impact of Covid , SRP has continued to look for opportunities to achieve Objective 1 and 2 by engaging with schools and colleges through outreach and careers events . It is pleasing to see that events such as Big Bang Fair are now being scheduled to be run again in 2022 and onwards , and we will be involved in as many of these as possible .
In terms of the Sustainability of SRP , it is pleasing to note that we have come through the Covid pandemic in a very stable financial position . This has been achieved whilst continuing to run the business of the Society through holding events and committees virtually . As we now emerge from the pandemic , we will continue to embrace the new ways of working , running events face to face , virtually or as a hybrid , to maximise the attendance of members and non-members .
However , moving forward we must continue to consider the Sustainability of the Society in terms of membership numbers , and it is still the case that around 55 % of our members are over 50 years old , and about a third of these are retired . We do need to address this , chiefly by encouraging more young RP professionals as they start their careers to become members . We must encourage members to also apply for Professional Registration – TechRadP , IRadP and CRadP . In that way we can better achieve Objective 3 by recognising them for the competencies they have attained thus far , supporting them in their professional development at all stages of their careers , whilst at the same time developing and sustaining the Society . Please note that there is an article in Issue 3 of Radiation Protection Today magazine on the benefits of professional registration . As members , we should all act as champions for the Society , encouraging our non-member colleagues to join , and then to apply for professional registration .
I made it clear at the Conference last year that I wanted Diversity and Inclusion to be a key theme of my Presidency and beyond . Last year we updated our Equality & Diversity Policy , and now have a new Equality , Diversity and Inclusion ( EDI ) Lead for a group that reports directly to our Governance Committee . We must continue to strive to ensure that SRP reflects the diversity of the whole RP workforce , regardless of role , gender , age , or sexual orientation . It is also essential that we get the views of the membership so that we understand and can respond to their key priorities and concerns . You will have seen that we recently advertised the second membership questionnaire through the weekly newsletter . The response so far has been good , and we will take full account of the views they contain .
It is also especially important to get members involved and included at this time as we turn our attention to the drafting of the next 5-year Strategic Plan for the Society for implementation from the beginning of 2023 . As part of the process there will be a consultation through a short questionnaire to ask members for those key priorities and concerns , and to direct us in what you consider important to deliver over the next 5 years .
Finally , I would like to again remind members of opportunities to get involved – volunteering on committees and working groups , submitting articles to Radiation Protection Today , and in consultations on revisions to national and international legislation and guidance . And I would personally like to thank all our current volunteers for their ongoing commitment and support to SRP in what has been some very challenging times . Through all their efforts we have continued to support our members and the wider RP profession , and to engage with our stakeholders , including Government , regulators and the public .
Jim Thurston
Jim Thurston CRadP FSRP president @ srp-uk . org
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