Established over 45 years ago to help our members succeed in business, we are a non-profit making and non-party political organisation that’s led by our members, for our members.

Members receive an exclusive package of great value business services including advice, financial products and support. The benefits include protection in the case of tax inspection, legal and HR advice, as well as local networking groups and business banking.

We don’t only provide fantastic membership benefits – FSB is also the UK’s leading business campaigner, focused on delivering change which supports smaller businesses to grow and succeed. Our policy and advocacy team in Westminster focuses on UK and English policy issues. Further to this, our expert teams in Glasgow, Cardiff and Belfast work with governments, elected members and decision-makers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

In January 1882, the rate collectors of Holborn invited their Metropolitan colleagues to a meeting to discuss the effect a projected reorganisation of London local government might have on their jobs and prospects. Some eighty officers attended and at a further meeting on the 25th February it was decided to form, with effect from the 1st April 1882, the Metropolitan Rate Collectors Association. As membership grew, the title was subsequently changed to the Association of Rate Collectors and Assistant Overseers in 1911.

Changes in legislation resulted in a further change in title and in 1927, the Incorporated Association of Rating and Valuation Officers was established. The association was more commonly known as the Rating & Valuation Association (RVA) and no further change to the title was made until January 1990 when, with the impending introduction of Community Charge and National Non-Domestic Rate, we became known as the Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation (IRRV).

A key aim of the Institute is to support its members’ professional and personal development and the sharing of best practice. We keep our members informed of current issues through our magazines, publications and a comprehensive website. Our conferences and meetings offer opportunities for networking with other professionals from the UK and overseas whilst the Forum Service continues to attract new organisations each year; the current membership now exceeding 200.

We seek to influence the course of legislative and professional matters through dialogue with government bodies and other professional organisations and through commissioning and conducting original research. This is led by the Institute’s three Faculty Boards; Local Taxation and Revenues, Benefits and Valuation.

The Institute has a membership of over 3,000 and offers a range of qualifications covering its professional fields. It is a nationally approved awarding body for its vocational and examination-based qualifications. Each year, in excess of 300 students sit our examinations and vocational assessments. Successful students join the thousands of IRRV qualified professionals currently working in both the public and private sector within the fields of revenues, benefits and valuation.

IRRV qualifications and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) scheme are designed to meet the needs of members at every stage of their careers. A thriving network of Associations is one of the IRRV’s main strengths. Our Associations organise programmes of professional and social activities that take place regionally and provide the opportunity for all members to become more involved in the work of the Institute.

We are the largest Chamber of Commerce in the UK with the best business advice, opinion, news and expertise in Greater Manchester and further afield.

The Chamber’s policy team represents members’ views on issues such as transport, environment, skills and the economy across all ten Greater Manchester local authority areas.

We use our influence with local and central government to lobby on behalf of our members as the voice of the Greater Manchester business community.

We are one of 52 Chambers of Commerce across the UK who are accredited by British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). It is a dynamic and independent business network and an authentic voice for British businesses.