Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management

What Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management does

The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) is the leading Royal Chartered professional body dedicated to the sustainable management of the environment, operating as a registered charity (No. 1043409 in England & Wales; No. SCo38212 in Scotland) and company limited by guarantee (No. 3166701). Founded in 1895 and headquartered at 106-109 Saffron Hill, London, CIWEM maintains a Trustee Board of up to 15 volunteer trustees led by a Presidential Team of three. It has 11–50 employees and operates through a wholly-owned subsidiary, CIWEM Professional Services Ltd (CPSL), collectively forming the CIWEM Group. CIWEM is not a technology company; its core products are professional chartership pathways (Student, Graduate, Technician, Member MCIWEM, Chartered Member C.WEM, Fellow FCIWEM, plus Retired grades), accredited courses, conferences and events, publications (including The Environment magazine), the CIWEMJobs recruitment board, and the BeFloodReady community of practice. Designatory letters C.WEM, MCIWEM, and FCIWEM function as industry-recognised credentials, and CIWEM also routes registrations for Chartered Scientist (Science Council), Chartered Environmentalist and Registered Environmental Practitioner (Society for the Environment), and CEng/IEng/EngTech (Engineering Council).

Revenue is generated through annual membership subscriptions (eight tiers from £0 to £375 per year, plus application and Professional Review fees), events and conferences (including the flagship A Fresh Water Future Conference), CIWEMJobs employer posting fees, magazine and publication subscriptions, and a Business Partnership programme with corporate sponsors that includes AECOM, Arcadis, Arup, AtkinsRealis, Binnies, Jacobs, JBA Consulting, Mott MacDonald, Stantec, WSP UK, and Tetra Tech. Distribution is predominantly self-serve through the MyCIWEM online portal (payments via Stripe and GoCardless), supplemented by 12+ UK regional branches and international branches in Hong Kong and India. The go-to-market motion is community-led: CIWEM acquires and retains members through special interest groups, policy and advocacy work, events, publications, training, the CIWEMJobs board, and a network of specialist panels covering water supply, wastewater and biosolids, contaminated land, natural capital, climate change, urban drainage, rivers and coastal, and flood and coastal erosion risk management. CIWEM provides impartial advice to UK government, regulators, media, practitioners, and the public on water and environmental issues.

Name

Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management

Legal name

CIWEM (The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management)

Website

https://ciwem.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1895

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CIWEM is the UK's leading Royal Chartered professional body for water and environmental management, founded in 1895. It provides professional chartership (C.WEM, MCIWEM, FCIWEM), accredited training, events, publications, the CIWEMJobs board, and policy advocacy to a global community of water and environmental professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Membership Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Continuing Education (CE/CPD) & Provider Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

International/Transnational Accreditation & Recognition Bodies (EDADACAG), Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB), Accreditation & Metrology Cooperation (Calibration, Measurement Standards) (BPADANAE)

Keywords

• Professional membership body
• Chartered institution services
• Environmental policy advocacy
• Professional chartership programmes
• Industry events and training

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Professional Membership Subscriptions: CIWEM generates the majority of its revenue through annual membership subscriptions across multiple grades (Student, Graduate, Environmental Partner, Technician Member, Member MCIWEM, Chartered Member C.WEM, Fellow FCIWEM, Retired). Additional fees include application fees, transfer fees, Professional Review Interview fees, and external body registration fees (Science Council, Society for the Environment, Engineering Council, IWA Joint Membership).
2. Events and Conferences: CIWEM organises and hosts a wide portfolio of UK and international events including conferences (A Fresh Water Future), seminars, workshops, training sessions, webinars, branch events, and awards ceremonies. Revenue is generated through delegate fees, event sponsorship (via Syon Media), and exhibition income.
3. Publications and Content: The Environment magazine (print and digital), policy reports, guidance documents, and The Environment digital newsletter generate subscription and content revenue. The magazine is available to members and non-members as a separate subscription.
4. CIWEMJobs Board: The CIWEMJobs platform serves as the UK's leading job board for water and environmental professionals. Revenue is generated through job posting fees charged to employers.
5. Business Partnership and Corporate Membership: Corporate organisations (AECOM, Arcadis, Arup, AtkinsRealis, Binnies, Jacobs, JBA Consulting, Mott Macdonald, Stantec, WSP UK, and others) engage with CIWEM as Business Partners, providing sponsorship, collaboration, and strategic alignment opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

CIWEM is a royal chartered professional body and registered charity that sells professional membership subscriptions across multiple grades (Student, Graduate, Environmental Partner, Technician, Member, Chartered Member C.WEM, Fellow FCIWEM, Retired). It also offers events, conferences, training and CPD programmes, The Environment magazine, the CIWEMJobs board, BeFloodReady community of practice, policy position statements, and corporate business partnership packages.

Product overview

CIWEM operates as a professional membership body rather than a traditional product company. Its offering is a unified portfolio of membership services, publications, events, training, policy resources, and professional networks. The core offerings include: professional membership grades (Student through Fellow) with chartership pathways; The Environment Magazine as the flagship publication; CIWEMJobs as a dedicated job board; BeFloodReady as a community of practice for property flood resilience; policy reports and position statements; accredited courses; training and events including awards; and specialized networks (Wastewater and Biosolids Network, Urban Drainage Group, Contaminated Land Network, Climate Change Network, Natural Capital Specialist Panel). The annual A Fresh Water Future Conference serves as the flagship industry event. These services work together to advance standards and competency in environmental professions and promote best practice in water and environmental management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Environment: The Environment magazine covers all aspects of water and environmental management. A platform for thought leadership for professionals working in these fields, and for consultants, academics, students and apprentices.
• CIWEMJobs
• BeFloodReady

Products and services

• CIWEM Membership
• The Environment Magazine

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Syon MediacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSyon Media manages event sponsorship for CIWEM. Event partnership enquiries are directed to Alex Powell at Syon Media.
• International Water Association (IWA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIWEM offers joint membership with the International Water Association (IWA), combining professional membership in both institutions. IWA Joint Membership fees are published alongside standard CIWEM membership fees.
• SiLC (Specialist in Land Condition) RegistercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIWEM is a founding body of SiLC, which brings together professionals from a broad range of backgrounds who advise on land condition matters. CIWEM Representatives sit on the SiLC Professional and Technical Panel.
• Environment AgencycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThe Environment Agency works with CIWEM on various initiatives. CIWEM's Urban Drainage Group partnered with the Environment Agency to prepare the Integrated Urban Drainage Modelling Guide (2021). The Environment Agency has an FCERM Panel representative on the Urban Drainage Group committee.
• WSPcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCIWEM is working with WSP and CIRIA on behalf of Defra to review the skills and training needed for SuDS delivery, following the recommendation to make SuDS mandatory in new developments and implement Schedule 3.
• CIRIAcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCIWEM is working with WSP and CIRIA on behalf of Defra to review the skills and training needed for SuDS delivery.
• DEFRAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIWEM responds to DEFRA consultations on water, environment, flooding, and climate policy. CIWEM is working with WSP and CIRIA on behalf of Defra on SuDS skills assessment.
• Science CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIWEM facilitates registration for Chartered Scientist (CSci) designation through the Science Council, with annual fees managed as part of CIWEM membership.
• Society for the EnvironmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIWEM facilitates registration for Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) and Registered Environmental Practitioner (REnvP) designations through the Society for the Environment, with annual fees managed as part of CIWEM membership.
• Engineering CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIWEM facilitates registration for Chartered Engineer (CEng), Incorporated Engineer (IEng), and Engineering Technician (EngTech) designations through the Engineering Council, with annual fees managed as part of CIWEM membership.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE): Larger UK chartered institution covering building services engineering with significant overlap in water, sustainability, and environmental practice areas. Comparable as a chartered body offering chartership, training, events, and policy engagement, though broader in scope.
• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS): A much larger UK chartered body with a member base that overlaps with environmental and infrastructure professionals. Comparable in operating a chartered membership and qualification model, plus training, publications, and policy engagement, though covering a much broader professional remit.
• CIRIA: UK construction industry research and information association, which CIWEM works with on DEFRA SuDS skills assessment. Comparable as a sector body producing technical guidance, training, and convening industry stakeholders around water, infrastructure, and environment topics.

Direct peers

• International Water Association (IWA): CIWEM's existing strategic joint-membership partner and the leading global membership organisation for water professionals. Directly comparable as a membership body serving the same water sector professionals, with overlapping events, publications, and policy work.
• Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM): UK-based chartered professional body for ecologists and environmental managers. Directly comparable as a chartered membership body offering chartership (CEcol, MCIEEM, FCIEEM), CPD, publications, and events to a closely overlapping environmental professional audience.
• British Water: UK trade association for the water industry supply chain, representing water companies and their suppliers. Comparable as a sector-specific membership body serving overlapping water industry stakeholders and offering events, training, and policy representation.
• Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE): The UK's broader chartered professional body for civil engineers, of which many water and environmental engineers are also members. Directly comparable in offering professional chartership (CEng, MICE, FICE), CPD, policy advocacy, training, and events to overlapping member segments.
• Society for the Environment (SocEnv): The UK body that registers Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) and Registered Environmental Practitioner (REnvP) — designations that CIWEM facilitates for its members. Directly comparable as a UK-anchored professional registration body in the same environmental domain.
• Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES): UK-based professional body for environmental scientists with overlapping membership, chartership pathways, and policy advocacy focus. Closely comparable to CIWEM in mission (environmental professionalism), member base, and offering structure.

Regional players

• Water UK: The UK water industry's policy and lobbying association representing major water companies. Comparable as a sector body focused on water policy and industry representation, though organised around corporate water company members rather than individual professionals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PL5q42sAxfDgXZJ6Tf1Relz4UBN2s78sTQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chartered-institution-of-water-and-environmental-management
• Xx.com/ciwem
• Facebookfacebook.com/ciwem

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management