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Meet The Maker: Exclusive Presentation with Gabriel Scott’s Scott Richler

Luxury lighting and furniture studio Gabriel Scott invites you to an exclusive lunch and presentation with Founder and Creative Director Scott Richler in their Mayfair showroom.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2022, Gabriel Scott was established in an effort to blend Scott’s design experience developed over many years working in architecture, fashion and bespoke furniture.

When working as an architect, Scott was often tasked with specifying high-end custom furniture for clients. He realised there was a market for bespoke, contemporary and customisable furniture and lighting fixtures crafted using a holistic approach that would be specifically aimed at designers and architects who need control over every detail of a building’s design.

Ten years on, Gabriel Scott’s furniture and lighting fixtures are specified by leading architects and designers for some of the world's most renowned hospitality and commercial projects, as well as throughout high-end residential properties.

Join Scott who will introduce the brand, detail his career journey and showcase some of the brand’s latest products including Welles Textured Glass and the Luna Kaleido series.

Email events@sbid.org to enquire about attending!

Interior design is a booming profession. But not too long ago, it was hard to regulate. Influencers and hobbyists who did not have the appropriate professional qualifications or experience could get away with misleading clients into working with them instead of trained professionals. That’s why in recent years it has become more and more important to regulate the interior design industry, and one way of doing that is to become an accredited member of an interior design institute.

Read on to find out more about SBID Interior Design Accreditation, who can join and how to achieve it.

Who are The Society of British & International Interior Design?

The Society of British & International Interior Design (SBID) was founded in 2009 and helped to lead the way to create a benchmark for trading standards and best practice in the profession of interior design. Consumers could easily be misadvised so needed a way to identify and distinguish between a qualified interior designer and an untrained practitioner. This is why SBID’s founder, Dr Vanessa Brady OBE, accepted the challenge with her ambitious vision to professionalise the industry - serving, protecting and promoting interior design in the UK and abroad.

In 2009 the SBID developed an accreditation scheme for designers that required minimum years’ experience and a BA Hons degree to define criteria for professional competence, and created course modules to prepare students for professional application. This helped establish rigorous conditions for training and knowledge to measure and maintain a standard of acumen for practicing professionals across the industry. All of our accredited members gain access to exclusive resources, events and join a network of experts, while having opportunities to nurture their professional development through CPD training and specialist advice. By being accredited, you or your business are shown to abide by a universally recognised code of practise and your clients will know you offer the highest assessed level of design service.

Professional Society Membership

SBID offers a selection of membership levels and categories depending on you or your business. Anyone can join from freelance designers, SME’s and large A&D (architecture & design) firms, to university students and recent graduates. All of our members have access to:

  • Tailored business engagements with a network of professional industry experts
  • Promote design services through our online directory and editorial blog articles
  • 1 x free entry into the SBID International Design Awards
  • Special offers and complimentary tickets to key trade shows
  • Exclusive regional / online events and professional resources
  • An SBID Accredited CPD (continued professional development) program
  • Opportunities to feature with press and media partners

But who can join our organisation? Here are the four types of membership we offer across the industry sectors.

Interior Designers

To qualify for SBID Design Professional accreditation you must have 3 years of education, 3 and a half years of practice, 24 annual CPD points and hold valid professional indemnity insurance. We provide individual accreditation, as well as business accreditation for design studios. By becoming an SBID Accredited Interior Designer you’ll have access to a range of benefits, such as:

  • Public Listing in the official SBID Designer Directory - Our designer directory features over 600 pre-qualified and accredited design professionals. By having yourself listed in there, a client will know that you are an expert in the design industry with a commitment to professional standards, offering a quality design services and operating at the highest standards of practice. Clients can find interior designers by their design specialism or by searching for you via location or keywords.
  • Access to SBIDPro - SBIDPro is our exclusive member-only portal to explore SBID approved trade suppliers with our network of industry partners and service providers. You can also access live and on demand CPD training and a variety of professional resources.
  • Partner Exclusive Benefits – receive email updates on exclusive member offers, benefits and opportunities from trade discounts and event invites to national press and media requests.
  • SBID Awards Entry – SBID further champion the importance of professional standards, excellence and innovation in interior design through its annual International Design Awards. Offering our community 1 x free entry (worth £275) for the opportunity to showcase their work and achievements on our globally respected stage.

If you do not meet all the criteria to become an accredited designer, we also offer associate level memberships.

In terms of pricing, becoming a UK Interior Design Associate or an International Design Associate costs £325 + VAT per annum. If you are becoming a fully Accredited UK Interior Design Professional or International Design Professional, the cost is £395 + VAT per year. We regard international as an individual who is not working in the UK. We also offer discounted rates for design studios that employ more than three interior designers.

Apply to join SBID

Interior Fit-Out Specialists

By becoming an SBID Contract Partner, you can showcase that your business offers professionalism and specialist expertise, meaning your clientele are safe from the inevitable problems that arise when using unregulated providers. By using an approved specialist, a client knows that they are getting a professional and efficient service that can work well with an SBID interior designer to create a natural synergy during a project’s procurement through to final installation.

For this form of membership, you must have 1-year of company accounts, appropriate business insurance and meet the SBID 5 points of compliance. These are:

  • Training - SBID supports the development of our members through training and an Accredited CPD program. Our partners must show a commitment to developing and training to reflect us.
  • Health & Safety- You must make sure you are adhering to the appropriate health and safety regulations and can demonstrate the skills, knowledge and experience to go with this.
  • Green Practise - SBID promotes sustainability, so all our partners must be open to committing to sustainability and greener practices.
  • Projects - Our partners must showcase their ability to deliver an interior concept that is up to SBID’s professional standards.
  • Inclusiveness - We strive to nurture inclusivity so all partners must play by the same ethical rules.

The price to become an accredited SBID Interior Fit-Out Specialist can vary depending on your specialism. The fee for interior and exterior/structure contractors begins at £1,000, while building experts and consultants starts from £800.

Apply to join SBID

    Product Providers

    SBID Industry Partners are trusted businesses that demonstrate expertise in the products they supply. That means not just their design aesthetic should be considered, but performance, service, functionality, quality of materials and their impact on the planet. Our network of product providers for interior design solutions are reliable experts in providing exactly what a client needs.

    To become an SBID Industry Partner you need business insurance, 1 year of company accounts and must meet the SBID five points of compliance. These are:

    • Intellectual Property - SBID does not tolerate piracy and copyright theft, working to combat IP theft and bad practice
    • Corporate Social Responsibility - You should demonstrate how you agree with our support of ethical manufacturing processes to ensure people and the environment are not harmed in the production process.
    • Service - You must supply after-sales care to your clients and long-term quality service
    • Sustainability - The products you supply must be sustainable
    • Value for Money - Your products and services must be a good value for money

    Annual fees begin at £600 + VAT for a Professional Industry Partner and at £3,200 + VAT to become a Premium Professional Partner.

    Apply to join SBID

    Students

      For students who are still studying but want to get a head start in their professional development, we offer an SBID Student Membership. SBID aims to nurture and support emerging design talent, so it is committed to helping the next generation of trained designers reach the next stage of their careers following graduation.

      SBID offer this membership free throughout the course and for one year after as a post-graduate at Associate level if studying at approved institutions. After completing a third year in practice, the designer will be eligible to secure full SBID Accreditation. By this time they would have gained the required level of knowledge, experience and practical training to be a great addition to the SBID professional network.

      You are eligible for the free membership if you are currently enrolled on an interior design degree course from a University that has either:

      • University Recognition - SBID Recognised universities whose course module structures meet SBID’s standards for appropriate interior design training.
      • Course Accreditation - This means that universities have had their course content measured and officially accredited to make sure it reaches SBID’s highest education standards and relates to the practising profession of interior design. Before SBID was founded, not a single university in the UK connected with a professional interior design organisation, meaning that university graduates didn’t possess the skills expected of them at this level.
      • Centre of Excellence - These are educational centres that SBID has established to meet our values, vision and commitment to improving professionalism in the interior design industry. To become a Centre of Excellence, an establishment must’ve already received recognition and accreditation for its courses. There are currently four Centres of Excellence in the UK, based at Coventry University, Southampton Solent University, Arts University College Bournemouth and Teesside University.

      If your university does not belong to one of these institutions, there is still the option of a discounted student membership for £45 + VAT per annum. Apply now for a student membership, all you need is your name, university, course, year of study and tutor name to get started.

      How to Join

      You can become accredited and join SBID in three quick and easy steps:

      1. Category - First read through the accreditation requirements and membership fees to see if you meet them and are comfortable with the cost – you can pay annually or monthly by direct debit. Make sure you’re applying to the right category and then complete the enquiry form. This will ask for your details, name or company and qualifications.
      2. Checks - Your application will then be reviewed by our membership team. They will carry out the necessary checks to make sure you meet the requirements and are eligible for membership status. Due diligence checks will verify your credentials are accurate and that you are applying for the appropriate levels of accreditation.
      3. Acknowledgement - Once the application is processed you will receive acknowledgement of the review. If successful, you will be added to the relevant SBID members Directory and your membership certificate, any accreditation materials and access to the SBIDPro platform will be issued.

      SBID: The Leading Interior Design Body

      So visit the SBID website or get in touch now to start your accreditation process today. Alternatively, call us on 027 738 9383 to find out more about what being a member can do for you.

      Professional accreditation provides impartial third-party certification or endorsement of an individual's level of knowledge, skill, experience and proficiency to practice within a specific industry or profession. Granted by authorities in the field, accreditation for professional competence is often affiliated with the industry’s trade or professional association (also referred to as a body, organisation or society), interested in raising the industry’s standards.

      Why do interior designers need it?

      Professional bodies help to define and set standards for professional practice. Unlike chartered professions, due to the lack of official title recognition for an interior designer, there is no universally accepted definition recognised by government for qualifying an interior design professional or distinguishing a proven, professionally trained interior designer against an interior decorator, stylist or untrained hobbyist.

      Why does the interior design industry need regulation?

      Architects and engineers are often the professionals credited for the creation of safe internal environments – while the role of an interior designer is overlooked in terms of its impact on public health and safety. Much more than mere aesthetics of dressing a space, an interior designers choices and advice can have significant implications on our health and wellbeing. Inaccurate advice or inappropriate specification may breach laws or compliance regulations, incur additional cost, generate delays or increase risks to those who invest in and ultimately use the space.

      What does SBID Accreditation do?

      For over a decade, the Society of British & International Interior Design (SBID) has represented, promoted and protected the interests of practicing interior designers in industry, government and trade, creating a widely recognised benchmark for professional standards with its first-to-market Accreditation criteria – defined by an interior designer’s level of education, experience and competence.

      To ensure the welfare and safety of clients and end-users – from adhering to building regulations and ethical business practices, to making compliant material specification and space planning, SBID Accredited Designers must comply with its Code of Conduct and Ethics which set out the expectations for design professionals operating in a safe, compliant and ethical manor.

      What does this mean for the public?

      Achieving SBID's Interior Design Accreditation provides clients with reassurance that the design services offered are quality-assessed to meet the required industry standards for compliant professional practice.

      SBID also require its Accredited Designers to commit to an annual programme of continued professional development to maintain relevant skills and knowledge. Ensuring the designers commissioned are sufficiently trained, educated and experienced to perform at the highest level is essential for improving public safety, reducing industry complaints and driving professional standards.

      To find out more about SBID's professional accreditation for interior designers, click here.

      Become SBID Accredited

      Now in its fifth year, SBID's international franchise in Ukraine recently announced the winners of its latest student design competition for young designers. The Get Me 2 the Top 2020/21 award ceremony took place in the capital city, Kyiv. The main goals of SBID's annual youth competitions are to provide talented interior design students with opportunities to showcase themselves and gain valuable tools to help them kickstart their careers in the design industry.

      The event was opened by Peter Wickenden, the First Secretary, Energy Policy & Acting Country Director, Department of International Trade (DIT), British Embassy in Ukraine and Julia Danilova-Meretska, Regional Director of SBID Ukraine, who made the welcome speeches and congratulated the winners.

      Julia Danilova-Meretska, Regional Director of SBID Ukraine said: “The competition is an opportunity for a young specialist to meet the industry in practice, to get a valuable piece of advice from the best professionals in the industry. We are proud that for the fifth year in a row we are making our contribution in identifying the talents, as well as providing young generation with an opportunity to make their dreams come true."

      Among the guests of the Award Ceremony were the contest partners and jury members; Ruslana Bessarab, founder of St Sophia Homes; Helen Khilkova, CEO of DonStream Education Group and official representative of the University of The Arts London in Ukraine; Serhiy Makhno, architect, designer, ceramist and founder of the Sergey Makhno Architects studio; representatives of the Delavega furniture factory and D8 engineering, as well as architects and interior designers authorised by SBID.

      Overall Winner, Daria Utkina: Graduate of the Salvador Dali Academy of Contemporary Art

      From the shortlisted students, the international jury selected winners in the following categories:

      Private Space: Yulia Brazhnikova, Kyiv National University of Technology and Design

      Public Space: Oleksandr Rekhlytsky, Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture

      Product Design: Oleksandra Morgun, Kharkiv State Academy of Design and Arts

      Retail Design: Demidenko Anastasia, Mykhailo Boichuk Kyiv State Academy of Decorative and Applied Arts and Design

      The overall winner this year became Daria Utkina, a graduate of the Salvador Dali Academy of Contemporary Art who will receive a six-month paid internship at the British architectural firm Jestico + Whiles, including costs of flights and accommodation in London, and Visa support.

      Other prizes for the winners feature a trip to the Poliform LAB in Italy; gifts from Delavega furniture factory, D8 Engineering and Silpo supermarket chain; the Serif TV from Samsung Electronics TV; internship at St.Sophia Homes development holding; an annual subscription to ELLE Decoration Ukraine magazine; reproductions of works by famous contemporary Ukrainian artist Roman Minin from Abramovych.art; the training course "Marketing in Construction and Architecture" from the School of Construction Project Management PRO PM Construction, as well as a course from the University of the Arts in London (UAL) and DonStream education group.

      In addition, two competition finalists - Alina Chen, KhDADM, and Olena Grechko, Lviv Polytechnic National University - were also invited for an internship at the Sergey Makhno Architects studio.

      More detailed information about the competition, the international jury members and the works of this year's winners can be found on the SBID Ukraine website: www.sbid.org.ua/getme2thetop

      Why do designers need Professional Indemnity Insurance?

      Professional Indemnity Insurance provides financial protection against client non-payment or negligence disputes. If you’re alleged to have provided inadequate advice, services or designs, PI insurance covers legal costs and expenses incurred in your defence, as well as any damages or costs that may be awarded.

      The partnerships support members with the insurance solutions they need to provide their professional services with peace of mind. As a large membership organisation of interior designers, SBID professionals have varying needs and requirements right across the UK. Having access to a dedicated team with their wealth of specialist knowledge, experience and advice is vitally important in supporting its members in business; offering additional security and protection in the course of their professional duties.

      Holding valid Professional Indemnity Insurance is a condition of Accredited membership for SBID Designers.

      To find out more about SBID's professional accreditation for interior designers, click here.

      As a professional accrediting body for the Interior Design industry, the Society of British and International Interior Design (SBID) have formed a partnership with FRAME - the recruitment specialists in Interior Design, Architecture and Visualisation to support professionals working in interior design with career opportunities, career advice and guidance.

      The partnership was formed to provide an important link between SBID members and a trusted recruitment business, supporting interior designers with employment and recruitment opportunities.

      Awards 2020 CGI & Visualisation Finalist Project by Inside Studio - Parish View Development

      Dr Vanessa Brady OBE, founder & CEO of SBID says: “I’m delighted that we can now provide employment opportunities for SBID members through this partnership, whether to find their new team member or discover the latest interior design job vacancies. Finding new talent is time consuming and expensive, so it is important to recruit with care. It takes time to source an honourable partner and we are confident that FRAME Recruitment are the perfect match for the high standards we uphold, and our ever-evolving industry demands.”

      “We are honoured to form a partnership with an internationally recognised professional accrediting body for the Interior Design industry at this important growth stage in FRAME’s journey. We are pleased to be able to provide an important link between the esteemed members of SBID and some of the UK’s top Interior Design practices. Offering key career and recruitment advice to committed professionals is what the FRAME specialist Interior Design team does best.” Explains Martin Bennell, Managing Director of FRAME Recruitment.

      Join Vanessa and Martin at FRAME's Interior Design & Architecture Spring Update Webinar on Thursday 29th April 2021 at 12pm BST.

      Please contact Jasmine Stirling Jasmine.Stirling@frame-recruitment.com to secure your place.

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