Marketers in the Isle of Man are marking 100 years of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), as the world's leading professional body for marketers celebrates its centenary. The centenary comes at a time when the Isle of Man has seen an increasing presence of CIM activity, with Island-based membership numbers having increased markedly, reaching triple figures. In recognition of the significant inroads the local committee has made to enhancing the CIM's standing on the Island, full branch status was granted in 2008. Suzanne Kennaugh, Chair of the Isle of Man Branch, said: "Many local marketers have worked hard over the past five years to take the Isle of Man's links with CIM to the next level. This began with a new committee and chair in 2007 under Richard Slee, followed by Cathy Cowin. Over this time we've managed to attract new members and retain existing ones, by highlighting the value of professional membership and encouraging as many marketing practitioners to continue their journey to becoming Chartered Marketers. Just like other professions, we see professional development and links to a professional chartered body becoming a pre-requisite to practice." Since 2007 the Isle of Man has seen the introduction of professional marketing qualifications, available on-Island for the first time, at the International Business School. The CIM has also hosted numerous events to help members with their continuing professional development as well as one day training courses on a wide and varying range of marketing topics, from online marketing to the impact environmental credentials can have on marketing models and brands. The Branch is also a Freedom to Flourish Champion, using marketing to help develop and deliver on the Island's brand. The local Branch hosted the Island's first ever Marketing Clinic in late 2010. The clinic, which offered free, impartial marketing advice to small businesses on the Isle of Man, was heavily oversubscribed and work on planning future clinics is well underway. Diane Earles, Regional Director of the CIM for the North of England, who has overall responsibility for the Isle of Man's Branch, said "It's been truly rewarding to see how the CIM's presence in the Isle of Man has grown and flourished over the past few years. This wouldn't have been possible without the members of the local Committee who volunteer their time, or without the interest of the Manx people in the marketing profession. We've been able to take great strides forward in a short period of time, helping to develop a culture of excellence in marketing which I know the Island's CIM Committee see as fundamental to continuing to keep the Isle of Man competitive. Seeing recent achievements such as those made by the Isle of Man Branch really brings into context why we exist and what this first one hundred years has been about: driving marketing and our local economies forward. " The local Branch is planning a celebration evening later in the year to mark the Centenary and is also developing future workshops, short-courses and events for the autumn and winter months. Suzanne Kennaugh added: "Marketing as a profession both in the Isle of Man and further afield finds itself in rude health. As CIM enters its second century, we'll be doing all we can to continue to develop the profession locally; raising standards, improving skills through the provision of more on-Island training and ensuring that local marketers see the value in membership and continuing their professional development. The Isle of Man as a business centre continues to operate in challenging times, and I believe that the quality of our marketing and indeed the quality of our marketers will play a significant role in how the Island's future develops." About our Centenary With the completion of a century in winning professional recognition and status for the marketing professional The Chartered Institute of Marketing will continue throughout its next century as the marketer's lifelong career partner, and the champion of marketing excellence in all aspects of business and commerce. Events and celebrations planned during the centenary year will provide marketers with an opportunity to show off the positive power of marketing and demonstrate the beneficial contribution that marketing provides to both an organisation's bottom line and long-term future. ENDS