Two wins for CIPA at the Memcom Awards 2021!

We had twice the reason to celebrate after winning in two categories at the annual membership sector awards, organised by Memcom.

Two IPs In A Pod, hosted by Chief Executive Lee Davies and Honorary Secretary Gwilym Roberts, took the Best Podcast award and Membership Officer Frances Bleach won the gong for Outstanding Contribution to a Membership Organisation at the ceremony in Central London last week.

President Alicia Instone, Lee, Gwilym and CIPA staff attended the event, which recognises excellence in professional membership.

Best Podcast

Through isolation came innovation. Two IPs In A Pod was born in lockdown in April 2020 and has been going from strength to strength ever since. Lee and Gwilym chat with everyone from entrepreneurs and patent office bosses to the occasional judge to cover all corners of the global Intellectual Property landscape. Over its first four seasons, the podcast has received over 17,500 downloads – and around 10,000 streams on Spotify and Apple alone.

Listen to the latest pods here.

Outstanding Contribution to a Membership Organisation for Frances Bleach

Fran joined CIPA in June 2008 as an Administrative Assistant and Receptionist. Over the years her job has grown and evolved with her and has now developed into a role that includes:

• managing the annual renewals process
• handling all membership enquiries
• producing and editing Two IPs In A Pod
• working to improve member services
• organising regular induction days, and much, much more.

Fran is also a member of the Diversity & Inclusion group and is a trained Mental Health First Aider.

President Alicia Instone said:

“What a fantastic evening we had at the Memcom Awards! I am over the moon with CIPA’s achievements and want to congratulate Fran and the podcast team for all the work that they do behind the scenes to provide such great services for our members.”

The awards are so well deserved, especially after a particularly difficult 18 months. The hard work has really shined through. Congratulations all!

Date Published: 7 October 2021