A decision to waive Institute of Export and International Trade membership fees for three months has been given an unqualified thumbs up from members.

In an email to members yesterday, the IOE&IT announced it was extending membership for a three-month period free of charge to help businesses access Institute services during the COVID-19 crisis.

One member commented: “[The waiver] is extraordinarily generous of the Institute. So many entities are struggling for any income they can get at the moment.”

Another described the decision as “a wonderful gesture by the Institute”.

‘Support the community’

Marco Forgione, director general of the IOE&IT, said the decision to extend membership free of charge “at this time of unprecedented challenges” was because the Institute believes its role was “to support our community”.

As well as enhanced service provision such as a Covid-19 information hub, online masterclasses, virtual classrooms and extending the Institute’s expert helpline, Forgione said the Institute wanted to provide “real financial support” through the three-month free extension.

At the same time, the Institute was “working hard to ensure that government understands the essential role international trade will play in helping the economy recover from Covid-19 and implementing the UK's new trade arrangements both with Europe and beyond.

‘Upskill at home’

“Now, when so many are at home, is the ideal time to upskill and grow careers. We have a wide suite of education and training programmes which can be fully funded by government training grants,” Forgione added.

Membership manager Kelly Rawles said the positive feedback had been “a huge boost to the IOE&IT team at a time of great change. We want to re-iterate to our members that we are here, listening and ready to help.”

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