May 2026 – Strategic priorities update

| April 22, 2026

How we engage with, support and encourage our members

In this article I preview some high-level details of the priorities being defined within our newly refreshed Membership strategy, and how they will help serve and benefit our members.

As a membership organisation, how we engage with, support and encourage our members is the most important thing we do. It must permeate every aspect of our culture. It is therefore right that we take stock and refresh our membership strategy from time to time.

In my last strategy update in March, I mentioned that a membership strategy workshop had been held in January. This workshop, at which just about every aspect of our hobby and member-type were represented, helped to identify four priority areas for immediate focus.

A number of other ideas were also raised, and these have been captured for potential action later. Whilst we’re blessed with a dedicated HQ team and around 450 volunteers, it’s a very busy team. It’s therefore important that we focus available capacity in the shorter term upon those areas which will make the biggest impact for our members.

Four priority areas

I emphasise that these four priority areas will seek to build upon and grow our existing membership activities and benefits. We often cite our well-respected publications; RadCom, RadCom Plus and RadCom Basics, and rightly so as they’re enjoyed and held in high regard around the world. But of course, there’s so much more, including our vast collection of videos, planning and technical support, the opportunity to take part in our construction competition and Brickworks, access to webinars, contests, awards, consultations and briefings. The list goes on.

The four priority areas are grouped into the following workstreams:

  • Strengthening our regional engagement (in-person engagement)

  • Broadening our engagement model (virtual engagement)

  • Responding to members’ feedback

  • International opportunities

Whilst the detail of these streams is currently being worked on, I set out a high-level overview of their aims below. These four areas will comprise our strategic membership focus for the rest of this calendar year, and we’ll be sharing more updates and developments over the coming months.

Strengthening our regional engagement (in-person engagement)

Our regional teams do amazing work. Advising on a range of amateur radio matters, providing support for amateur radio clubs and groups, attending local rallies and helping to ensure that local views are heard by the Board and Volunteer Leadership Team.

Engaging on a local in-person model is a core part of our membership organisation. We will look for opportunities to continue to strengthen what we already have, as well as exploring the potential to expand the ways in which we connect locally, responding to the wishes and needs of our members.

Broadening our engagement model (virtual engagement)

Building upon the work of our regional team, we will seek additional ways to support our members. An initial focus for this workstream will be upon those taking their exams. Each year around 3,000 people take their amateur radio exams. Each candidate demonstrates their commitment, interest and enthusiasm. In an ideal world every one of them, if not already a member, would see membership of the Society as a natural next step. So, we will look for ways to help make their pathways clearer and more compelling, supporting and encouraging them on their journeys.

Responding to members’ feedback

With a passionate and committed membership base, we receive large amounts of members’ feedback both proactively and reactively. Whilst our teams seek to respond to feedback wherever possible, with so much data and in such a busy environment, we need to make sure that we’re identifying and responding to any larger recurring themes.

We will therefore commence with a data insights exercise designed to help identify key feedback themes; what are those ‘moments that really matter’ to our members where current arrangements could be changed and/or improved. The actions that follow will then be tailored accordingly to the theme.

International opportunities

We already have over 1,500 members outside of the UK based in around 50 countries.  However, given the international standing of the Society, and with our RadCom publications now available in digital format via our web platform and app, the opportunity exists to expand our international membership base for potentially relatively little cost.

We will begin by exploring possibilities, undertaking pilot activities to help test the potential and inform an overseas growth plan. Incremental revenues generated will be used to help fund activities and benefits for all our membership base.

I hope you found this high-level update useful, and reflective of the Society’s drive to be a truly membership-centric organisation. More details and updates on these four Membership priorities will be shared as work progresses.

Will Richardson, 2E0WYA

RSGB Board Vice Chair

strategy@rsgb.org.uk

Category: RSGB Notices, RSGB Strategic Priorities