The International Parking Community (IPC)

What The International Parking Community (IPC) does

The International Parking Community (IPC) is a DVLA Accredited Trade Association for the UK private parking industry, operating as a trading name of United Trade and Industry Limited (company 08248531). Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Macclesfield, IPC is one of only two such ATAs alongside the British Parking Association (BPA), giving it statutory gatekeeper status that allows its Accredited Operator Scheme (AOS) members to access DVLA registered keeper data for enforcing parking charges. IPC administers the Independent Appeals Service (IAS), the UK's only parking industry appeals service overseen by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute under ADR Regulations 2015, and oversees member compliance with the sector's Single Code of Practice (co-developed with BPA, V1.1 effective February 2025).

IPC's core technology is its operator member portal (portal.theipc.info), which provides compliance management, sign validation (£2.50/sign), site validation (£2/site), document audits (£10), self-ticketer registration (£25), training record uploads, and automated appeals processing. The organisation also operates consumer-facing platforms including 247Advice (motorist guidance) and the Get Your Reg Right campaign, alongside sub-brands Park Assured (10,000+ accredited locations), Accredited Airport Parking Provider (AAPP), and the Training and Development Academy (TDA). IPC claims approximately 50% market share of the private parking industry with 170+ members across operators, service providers, universities, local authorities, airports, and corporate suppliers.

IPC monetises primarily through membership subscriptions (Corporate £600+VAT/yr, Corporate Plus £1,750+VAT/yr, Higher Education £1,200+VAT/yr, AOS/ASP turnover-linked), per-transaction validation and audit fees, and per-appeal IAS fees (averaging £12/appeal to AOS members). Go-to-market is direct sales with a 3-day enquiry turnaround, supported by industry events, monthly webinars, a newsletter, and an active LinkedIn presence (~9,500 engaged followers). IPC is ~14% cheaper than BPA on average across membership bandings and is privately held with no institutional investment, led by founder and CEO Will Hurley with a team of 8.

Name

The International Parking Community (IPC)

Legal name

United Trade and Industry Limited

Website

https://theipc.info

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The International Parking Community (IPC) is a UK DVLA Accredited Trade Association and statutory gatekeeper for the private parking industry, administering accreditation schemes, compliance auditing, and the only CTSI-overseen Independent Appeals Service for ~170 members representing ~50% of the sector.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Macclesfield

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. Membership Subscriptions: The IPC generates revenue primarily through membership subscriptions. Multiple membership tiers exist: Corporate membership at £600 + VAT per annum, Corporate Membership Plus at £1,750 + VAT per annum, Higher Education at £1,200 + VAT per annum. AOS and ASP membership costs are determined by parking-related turnover. On average, IPC membership is 14% cheaper across bandings than its main competitor BPA.
2. Validation and Audit Fees: The IPC charges for compulsory validations under the Private Parking Code of Practice: Sign Validation at £2.50, Site Validation at £2, Document Audit (NTD, NTK, NTH) at £10. Priority audits for rapid site onboarding are available at increased cost. Self-ticketer registration costs £25.
3. Appeals Processing Fees: Appeals through the Independent Appeals Service (IAS) cost AOS members an average of £12 per appeal. This is a per-transaction fee charged to members when a motorist appeals a parking charge.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The IPC is a DVLA Accredited Trade Association (ATA) for the UK private parking industry. It delivers accreditation and membership schemes (AOS, ASP, Corporate, Higher Education, Local Authority, Compliance) for parking operators and related organisations, administers the Independent Appeals Service (IAS) for adjudicating parking charge disputes, and provides compliance auditing (sign, site, and document audits) through its Operator Portal. It also operates the Park Assured national accreditation framework and the Accredited Airport Parking Provider (AAPP) scheme.

Product overview

The International Parking Community (IPC) is a DVLA Accredited Trade Association (ATA) for the UK private parking industry. Its portfolio consists primarily of accreditation and membership schemes, a dispute resolution service, and compliance management tools. The core offerings include: the Accredited Operator Scheme (AOS) and Accredited Service Provider (ASP) Scheme for parking operators and service providers; the Independent Appeals Service (IAS) for adjudication of parking charge appeals; Park Assured and Park Assured Plus accreditation schemes for parking locations; the Accredited Airport Parking Provider (AAPP) scheme; and the Training and Development Academy (TDA) for industry training. The IPC operates a members-only Operator's Portal for compliance management, sign/site validation, and document audits. Consumer-facing services include 247Advice for motorist guidance and Get Your Reg Right registration accuracy campaign. The IPC publishes the Sector Single Code of Practice (jointly with BPA) and hosts the Annual Conference & Charity Gala Dinner. Technology partners like Barbour Logic provide AI-powered parking charge query handling within the ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Park Assured: National accreditation scheme designed to raise standards across private parking in the UK, with over 10,000 locations aligned.
• Independent Appeals Service (IAS)
• Training and Development Academy (TDA)
• Accredited Airport Parking Provider (AAPP)
• Get Your Reg Right (GYRR)
• 247Advice

Products and services

• Accredited Operator Scheme (AOS) DVLA-accredited membership scheme for organisations issuing and enforcing parking charges on private land. Members gain conditional access to the DVLA registered keeper database and must comply with the IPC Code of Practice through site, sign, and document audits.
• Accredited Service Provider (ASP) Scheme Membership scheme for organisations involved in the recovery of parking charges (debt resolution companies, solicitors, enforcement agencies) but not in issuing charges. ASP members are audited so their processes do not place the operators they serve in breach of the Code.

Quantifiable outcome

• 54,000+ sites, 18,000+ signs, 2,000+ notices, 4,000+ self-ticketers audited through the IPC operator portal
• +5 more outcomes

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Training and Development Academy (TDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe IPC has partnered with the Training and Development Academy (TDA) to offer discounted rates on all TDA courses, which meet the requirements of the sector's single Code of Practice and other regulatory frameworks. These courses ensure staff performing various job roles are adequately trained. TDA provides Ofqual-regulated qualifications, online training courses, and scheduled training events to minimise cost and operational impact to businesses.
• Comprehensive Tax PlanningminorOthersComprehensive Tax Planning prepares Research & Development (R&D) claims across industries. Given advances in the car parking sector, the industry is identified as ripe for R&D claims. Claims can be backdated 2-3 years, resulting in tax rebates from HMRC.
• Gladstones SolicitorsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGladstones Solicitors are a law firm specialising in Corporate Debt Recovery. They represent a large number of companies throughout the UK within the Private Parking Industry in relation to enforcement of unpaid parking charges, including both IPC and BPA members. Their specialised litigation service and experienced team make enforcement of low-value debts a valuable part of debt-recovery strategy.
• Sioma Insurance ConsultantsminorOthersSioma Insurance Consultants provide expert technical insurance advice. Led by Chartered Insurance Broker Alexander Margolin, they offer end-to-end service from advice and product placement to claims handling and negotiation. Sioma specialises in the Car Parking Operation and Enforcement sector and has access to bespoke products that fit the niche risks and requirements of these businesses.
• Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)coreOthersThe DVLA grants Accredited Trade Association (ATA) status to the IPC, enabling IPC AOS members to access DVLA registered keeper data. The IPC has a strong working relationship with the DVLA, with regular meetings and attendance at biannual DVLA Operator Forum meetings.
• Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI)coreOthersThe Independent Appeals Service (IAS) administered by the IPC is the UK parking industry's only appeals service overseen by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute under The Alternative Dispute Resolution for Consumer Disputes (Competent Authorities and Information) Regulations 2015.
• Get Your Reg Right (GYRR)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerGet Your Reg Right is a consumer campaign launched by the IPC in 2019 to raise awareness about correctly entering registration numbers when registering or paying for parking. The IPC promotes GYRR through its website and communications.
• 247AdviceminorGTM or Marketing Partner247Advice.co.uk is a consumer-facing website launched by the IPC to help motorists understand parking charges on private land, what to do when receiving a charge, whether to appeal, and what evidence is needed. It provides step-by-step guides and a chatbot to help navigate the appeals process.
• Private Parking Scrutiny and Advice Panel (PPSAP)coreOthersThe Private Parking Scrutiny and Advice Panel (PPSAP) is an independent panel created in January 2025 to oversee the Sector Single Code of Practice. Its purpose is to create impartial oversight over the private parking Code of Practice, ensuring it raises standards for consumers.
• Accord Dispute Resolutions (IAS Administration)coreOthersThe IAS is administered by Accord Dispute Resolutions, which facilitates the processing of appeals. However, the online appeals system fully automates processing. Only the appellant, the operator, and the Adjudicator have any influence on the outcome.
• British Parking Association (BPA)coreOthersThe IPC and BPA are the two DVLA Accredited Trade Associations for the private parking industry. Together, they created the Sector Single Code of Practice launched on 27 June 2024. The IPC competes with BPA for members, noting that several large operators have transitioned from BPA to IPC AOS membership in the past 12-24 months.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• British Parking Association (BPA): The other of the two DVLA-Accredited Trade Associations for the UK private parking industry. BPA operates an identical trade-association model with its own Code of Practice, POPLA appeals service, and membership tiers, competing head-to-head with the IPC for members.

Regional players

• Australian Parking and Transport Association: Industry body representing parking operators and suppliers in Australia. Performs a comparable membership, training, and advocacy role to the IPC for the Australian market.
• National Parking Association (NPA): The primary trade association for the parking industry in the United States. Comparable trade-body role for parking operators, though geographically focused on North America.
• Canadian Parking Association: National trade association for the parking industry in Canada, performing an equivalent membership, accreditation, and advocacy function to the IPC within a different national market.

Broad incumbents

• European Parking Association (EPA): Umbrella federation of European national parking associations, providing a comparable industry-body role at a supranational level. Serves as an analogue to the IPC's role but across multiple European geographies.
• International Parking Institute (IPI): Global membership organization serving the parking industry with education, certification, and advocacy. Operates at a broader geographic and functional scope than the IPC, but is structurally analogous as a parking-industry membership and standards body.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-parking-community-ipc

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

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 The International Parking Community (IPC)