Why Join The Guild? Enjoy the Benefits - Join The Guild
When you join the Guild you become part of a community. Membership introduces you to others who share a common bond: a passion for excellence as a professional Guide. There are many advantages to joining the Guild. Here are just a few:
Public Liability Insurance
	As a Guild member you are covered while you work. The Guild’s Insurance Company will cover you whilst guiding for up to £5m in the event that your actions cause injury or death to a third party; it will also cover you in the event that you damage a third party’s property.
Working for the Industry
	Depend on The Guild to monitor all issues which are important to the industry, to tourist guiding and to your work. We have eight Guild committees who cover these issues in depth – look out for reports in Guide Post.
Experience
	Affiliation with the industry's oldest and most experienced tourist guide association.
Use of The Guild Logo
	Once you have joined the Guild, you have the right to display the Guild logo in promotional literature and advertisements.
Find a Guide
	Exclusive to full Guild members, you will have an entry in Find a Guide on the Guild website. This offers tour companies and consumers an online searchable database to identify the right guide for the job. Around 800 guides are listed on the database and the site receives about 7,000 hits a month from a wide range of people and organisations interested in booking guides.
The Guild Directory
	This comprehensive, must-have Guild membership directory includes details of every full member. It is a tour operator/coach company/conference organiser/Tourist Board/TIC resource, the top industry tool for planning, it advertises your services and it is free to Guild members.
A fully staffed office
	Monday to Friday 9.00 am to 5.30 pm.
Marketing initiatives
	The Guild's Marketing Committee promotes the use of professionally qualified tourist guides through articles, press releases, travel fair stands and networking with the tourist industry.
Guide Post and Diaries
	Full members stay current and up-to-date with The Guild’s monthly diaries and newsletter (“Guide Post”) featuring the latest news from around the country, briefing on important site developments, book/theatre reviews, guiding industry news and pertinent travel and tourism information.
e-mail Bulletin Service
	Essential information is sent via email when time does not permit using Guide Post.
Professional Development and ongoing training
	Education events run through the year focusing on Continuing Professional Development (CPD). The Guild’s Programme provides a broad range of activities: lectures, visits, tours and walks, which give you a chance to update/extend your knowledge. The CPD programme has something for everyone, from fossil hunting on the Dorset Jurassic coast to an evening coach tour of London’s hottest nightspots.
Member Support
	The Guild can help with everyday problems of our working lives, e.g. negotiations with tour operators, working conditions, complaints, debt collecting etc
Mentoring Scheme
	For newly qualified members we can provide mentors who understand the challenges faced by new guides and who can provide support and advice. Feedback shows that the participants in our mentor scheme are benefiting enormously and that it is playing a useful part in helping newly qualified guides settle into their new profession
Regional Associations
	The Guild is a national organisation, which represents tourist guides from different parts of the country. It maintains close ties with regional guiding associations through meetings and regular communications and is up-to-date on issues affecting members in the regions.
UK Committee
	Made up of representatives from the regional associations the UK Committee is the main conduit through which major issues of concern from all over the British Isles are brought to the Guild Executive Council’s attention.
Networking
	Membership of The Guild offers real opportunities for developing strong business and working relationships. All Guild events purposely have built-in time for networking (and socialising). The informality of the Guild meetings allows all members, including new members in particular, to feel at ease, to express opinions or ask questions. Your voice will be listened to in the Guild, and so you can influence the shape of our industry. There is a countrywide network of contacts for you to call on
Social Events
	This is an important part of being a member of the Guild. It is always good to meet up with fellow guides, to swap ideas, experiences (good and bad) and news. Every year, we arrange several events for new and old members to get together, in a friendly, pleasant atmosphere and socialise. Our social programme includes such events as the new guides' party, the summer barbeque and a Christmas party after our Annual General Meeting.
Library Access
	At the Guild’s London home members can now access more than 1,000 books, magazines and trade publications.
Benevolent Fund
	To provide financial grants and other welfare assistance to all Blue Badge guides in need (including for example home visits, hospital visits, flowers and get well cards). Any Blue Badge guide of at least one year's standing is entitled to apply in confidence.
International Connections
	The Guild recognises the importance of having a strong voice internationally. Through membership the World Federation of Tourist Guides Associations (WFTGA) and the European Federation of Tourist Guides Associations (FEG), the Guild has established strong links with professional tourist guides worldwide and is able to promote the Blue Badge as a standard of excellence internationally.
Affinity Programmes / Discounts and Offers
	Programmes aimed at helping Guild members save money are a key element of our member benefit package. By taking advantage of some of these, you could save an amount equal to the cost of your membership – and more! Our discount partners include Foyles, American Express, IPC Media, Cottages4You, APH Airport Parking, F Hinds and Old English Inns. (The Guild accepts no responsibility for the quality of goods supplied by these firms; neither does their appearance in the list imply a recommendation. Members should satisfy themselves as to the validity of discounts shown)
Join Us Today!
	For less than £17 a month, you can become a full Guild member, joining nearly 2,000 other people who share your interest in issues affecting guides.