Professional Speaking Association

What Professional Speaking Association does

The Professional Speaking Association (PSA) is a UK and Ireland trade body for professional speakers, founded in 1999 and headquartered in Eastbourne, East Sussex. It is structured as a company limited by guarantee (The Professional Speaking Association Ltd, Company No. 03823126) and operates without institutional ownership, governed by a volunteer Board of Directors under a rotating National President. The association serves keynote speakers, trainers, MCs, after-dinner speakers, coaches, and consultants who speak professionally, with a horizontal segmentation approach that addresses professional isolation, business development, credibility-building, and continuous professional development.

The PSA's core product is a three-tier annual membership: Associate (£180/year, for aspirational speakers), Professional (£275/year, for paid speakers meeting 10+ engagements and other criteria), and Fellow (£325/year, for experienced speakers earning £50,000+ net from speaking in two of four years). Members gain access to monthly regional events across 12+ UK and Ireland regions, the Speakers' Hub video library (50+ learning resources), speaking competitions (Speaker Factor, Emerging and Professional Speaker of the Year), the eSpeakers-powered PSA Speaker Directory, CPD accreditation via CPD Standards Office, the PSA Foundation welfare fund, and Global Speakers Federation affiliation. Two flagship annual conventions anchor the calendar: the Impact! Spring Conference (April) and the Speaking Business Summit (October). Revenue is generated from annual subscriptions, regional and national event tickets, and a £100 one-time Fellow application fee.

The underlying technology stack is deliberately lean and outsourced: membership management runs on Sport80, ticketing on Eventbrite, the directory on eSpeakers, donations on PayPal, and the public site on WordPress. GTM is community-led and event-driven, relying on word-of-mouth referrals, regional event attendance as a guest-to-member conversion path, the Ambassador of the Year referral programme, and a multi-channel digital presence (Podium newsletter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram). The company employs 82 people (likely including part-time regional roles) and has no venture or private equity backing.

Name

Professional Speaking Association

Legal name

The Professional Speaking Association Ltd

Website

https://thepsa.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Professional Speaking Association (PSA) is a UK and Ireland trade body, founded 1999, serving keynote speakers, trainers, MCs, coaches and consultants through tiered annual membership, monthly regional events across 12+ regions, and national conventions. It operates as a company limited by guarantee with no institutional ownership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate/Professional Public Speaking Training (Presentation Skills) (EDAMAOAJ), Conferences & Conventions Operations Services (Registration, AV, Logistics) (MPAGAGAM)

Keywords

• Professional speaking association
• Speaker community membership
• Speaker training events
• Speaker directory platform
• Speaking industry trade body

Headquarters

HQ city

Eastbourne

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees at three tiers: Associate (£180/year), Professional (£275/year), and Fellow (£325/year). Revenue is recurring on an annual basis with pro-rata adjustments for mid-year upgrades.
2. Event Tickets: Revenue from regional event tickets (ranging from £22-60 for members and non-members), plus attendance at flagship conferences including Impact! and Speaking Business Summit.
3. Fellow Application Fees: Non-refundable £100 application fee for upgrading to Fellow membership level, covering administrative processing of the upgrade application.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Professional Speaking Association is a UK & Ireland trade body that sells annual memberships to professional speakers (keynote speakers, trainers, MCs, after-dinner speakers, coaches, and consultants) at three tiers — Associate (£180/year), Professional (£275/year), and Fellow (£325/year). Members gain access to a network of 12+ regional chapters that host monthly in-person events, two flagship annual conferences (Impact! in April and the Speaking Business Summit in October), speaking competitions (Emerging Speaker of the Year and Professional Speaker of the Year), a members-only Speakers' Hub video library with 50+ learning resources, a searchable speaker directory powered by eSpeakers for booking leads, a CPD accreditation partnership, mentoring, and the PSA Foundation for members in need.

Product overview

The Professional Speaking Association is a membership organization offering a tiered membership structure with three levels: Associate Member (£180/year), Professional Member (£275/year), and Fellow (£325/year). The core product is membership access to a professional speaking community supporting speakers since 1999. Key products include: regional events across 12 UK and Ireland regions, the annual Speaking Business Summit (October) and Impact! Spring Conference (April), speaking competitions (Emerging Speaker of the Year for Associates and Professional Speaker of the Year for Professionals), the Speakers' Hub video library with 50+ learning videos, PSA Foundation financial support, Global Speakers Federation connection, PSA Speaker Directory (powered by eSpeakers), and CPD accreditation partnership with CPD Standards Office. Learning products include various courses (Sales & Marketing, Build A Speaker Business, GO-PRO, Business Builder series) and mentoring programs. The organization is structured as a company limited by guarantee governed by Articles of Association and Bye-Laws.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PSA Membership Annual membership for professional and aspiring speakers (keynote speakers, trainers, MCs, after-dinner speakers, coaches, consultants) at three tiers — Associate (£180/year), Professional (£275/year), and Fellow (£325/year). Members receive access to regional events, the Speakers' Hub video library, mentoring, networking, CPD accreditation discounts, eligibility for speaking competitions, and (for Professional and Fellow) the MPSA / FPSA designations.
• Regional Events Network Monthly in-person regional events held across 12+ regions throughout the UK and Ireland (South East, South West, East Midlands, Ireland, North East, Yorkshire, Thames Valley, Staffordshire, Birmingham, London, North West, Scotland East, Scotland West, plus Virtual and Fellows regions). Each meeting brings members together for professional development through keynotes and masterclasses delivered by experienced members and Fellows. Tickets range from £22-60 with early bird and member pricing.
• Speaking Business Summit Annual two-day flagship convention held in October (next edition 16 & 17 October) at the Oxford Belfry Hotel & Spa, focused on helping professional speakers build trust, create impact, and grow through authentic connection. Features inspiring keynotes, practical insights, and powerful networking, plus the Professional Speaker of the Year semi-finals and finals.
• Impact! Spring Conference Annual one-day spring conference held in April featuring the Emerging Speaker of the Year competition semi-finals and finals, workshops, and networking opportunities for the professional speaking community.
• Emerging Speaker of the Year Competition Annual speaking competition open only to Associate Members, with regional heats from January to March and semi-finals and finals at the Impact! Spring Conference in April. Contestants deliver a 5-minute speech judged on engagement, originality, stagecraft, script, delivery, and commercial bookability.
• Professional Speaker of the Year Competition Annual speaking competition open only to Professional Members, with regional heats from June to July and semi-finals and finals at the Speaking Business Summit in October. Contestants deliver an 8-minute speech.
• Speakers' Hub Members-only video library at hub.thepsa.co.uk containing more than 50 learning videos created specifically by speakers for speakers, providing guidance, resources, and tips for developing speaking skills, growing business, and polishing existing skills.
• PSA Foundation Financial assistance fund providing confidential support to PSA Fellows, Professional Members, and Associates in need. Covers listening ear and connections, event tickets, assistance with annual membership fees, and access to professional advice. The Foundation accepts donations via PayPal — including cash, gifted regional or conference places, and auction items.
• PSA Speaker Directory Searchable database of Professional Members and Fellows powered by eSpeakers at espeakers.com/s/psuk. Allows event organisers to find speakers by expertise, topics, speaking types (keynotes, workshops, compering), qualifications, certifications, awards, languages, and video testimonials. Profiles are administered by members themselves; the PSA office does not make introductions or referrals.
• CPD Accreditation Partnership Partnership with CPD Standards Office allowing Professional and Fellow members to have training courses, workshops, and keynote speeches CPD accredited at discounted rates. Members receive the CPD accreditation logo, access to the members area, free webinars, online resources, the ability to issue CPD-accredited certificates, and a listing in the CPD directory.
• Global Speakers Federation Connection PSA UK & Ireland membership includes connection to the Global Speakers Federation (GSF), a worldwide network of professional speaking associations providing global visibility, fresh ideas, learning from speaker communities worldwide, international collaboration opportunities, access to the GSF newsletter and resources, and international credibility.
• Learning and Development Courses Range of member courses including Sales & Marketing Course, Build A Speaker Business Course, GO-PRO Course, Business Builder 1/2/3 Courses, and CAPS Academy Member's Rates. Also includes mentoring programs (1-2-1 and topic-specific groups) and New Member Days.

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Global Speakers Federation (GSF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe PSA UK & Ireland is part of the Global Speakers Federation, a worldwide network of professional speaking associations. Through GSF, PSA members gain global visibility, international collaboration opportunities, access to GSF newsletter and resources, and connection to speaker communities across borders. Mike Pagan serves as PSA's GSF Liaison.
• CPD Standards OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial CPD partnership allowing Professional and Fellow members to have training courses, workshops, and keynote speeches CPD accredited at discounted fees exclusive to PSAUK&I. Members gain access to CPD accreditation logo, members area, free webinars, online resources, ability to issue CPD certificates, and CPD directory listing.
• eSpeakerscoreTechnology or IntegrationeSpeakers powers the PSA Speaker Directory, a searchable database of Professional Members and Fellows allowing event bookers to search speakers by expertise, speaking type, qualifications, certifications, awards, and languages. Profiles are administered by members themselves.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• SpeakerHub: Online marketplace connecting event organisers with professional speakers. Functionally overlaps with PSA's eSpeakers-powered directory but targets speakers globally and operates as a software-as-a-service platform rather than a membership association.
• Toastmasters International: Global non-profit focused on public speaking skill development through local club meetings. Targets emerging rather than paid professional speakers, so a partial-overlap peer; competes for the same attention from aspiring speakers that PSA's Associate tier courts.

Broad incumbents

• Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR): UK professional body for PR practitioners offering tiered membership, regional branches, CPD accreditation, and an annual conference. Useful comparable on operating model (volunteer-led UK professional body with regional structure and CPD partnership) even though the profession differs.
• Vistage: Large peer-advisory and executive coaching organisation running group meetings and events for CEOs and senior leaders. Comparable business model (membership + regional/local chapters + flagship events) but serves executives rather than speakers; useful proxy for member-driven community economics.
• Global Speakers Federation (GSF): The worldwide umbrella network that PSA UK & Ireland belongs to. GSF aggregates national speaking associations globally; relevant as PSA's international partner and as a broader incumbent shaping the same professional speaking standards.

Direct peers

• National Speakers Association (NSA): The leading US trade association for professional speakers, with a comparable tiered membership model, regional chapters, annual conventions, and CSP/CSA designations. Most direct international mirror of PSA's business model.
• Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS): Canada's national professional speaking association, part of the Global Speakers Federation alongside PSA. Operates similar membership tiers, a speakers bureau directory, and annual conferences serving the same member persona.
• Professional Speakers Australia: Australia's counterpart professional speaking association, also a GSF member. Provides similar member services (events, accreditation, professional development) to a comparable member base of paid speakers in the Australian market.

Others

• eSpeakers: Technology vendor and speaker-booking marketplace that powers PSA's directory. Adjacent ecosystem participant; also operates independently as a marketplace for event bookers and speakers, making it both a partner and an adjacent platform.

Regional players

• Professional Speaking Association of Ireland: Distinct Irish speaking association referenced via Patrick Mercie's 2024 presidency. Operates as a separate national body in adjacent geography, indicating the speaking profession supports multiple association models even in small markets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/voiceofgsf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/professional-speaking-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/voiceofgsf

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Professional Speaking Association