Why become an
IPC Accredited Service Provider
Who Is The IPC
The International Parking Community (IPC) is a DVLA Accredited Trade Association (ATA) representing organisations in the parking industry from both the public and private sectors. As a trade association and lobby group for industry professionals, the IPC's accreditation by the DVLA allows its Accredited Operator Scheme (AOS) members to access DVLA registered keeper data to enforce parking charges.
Types of Organisations
The IPC boasts over 170 members, including parking operators, debt resolution companies, solicitors, law firms, High Court enforcement agencies, technology suppliers, equipment manufacturers, universities, and airports.
Support we offer
Compliance
The IPC has always been a leader in compliance, launching the first IPC Code of Practice for the private parking industry in 2012. It has played a key role in creating the sector's single Code of Practice and developing the Private Parking Standards Advisory Panel (PPSAP) to further regulate the industry.
The IPC has also introduced the first Accredited Service Provider (ASP) schemes within the private parking industry. These schemes focus on organizations that provide essential services to parking operators, ensuring compliance with the sector's Code of Practice and protecting consumers.
Compliance for all schemes is managed via the IPC operator’s portal, a bespoke back-office system that has audited over:
- 54,000 sites
- 18,000 signs
- 2,000 notices
- 4,000 self-ticketers
The operator’s portal provides organisations with the ability to:
- Validate correspondence
- Upload the policies and procedures that will need to be evidenced to achieve conformity against the Code of Practice
- Upload and maintain the training records of their staff which is a requirement of the code of practice
- Self-report breaches of the Code of Practice
ASP Interest Group
The IPC also has a specific ASP interest group that is tasked to work towards:
- Review aspects of the code impacting debt resolution
- Work on specific projects relating to operators and providers
- Improving standards
- Sharing best practices
- Education of operators and motorists
Annual Conference & Charity Gala Dinner
The IPC hosts an Annual Conference and Charity Gala Dinner, providing excellent networking opportunities. This premier event brings together parking professionals to hear from industry experts. The gala dinner, the industry’s only designated charity event, raises funds for various charities and raises awareness about societal issues.
Advice and Support
The IPC offers regular bite-sized training sessions on relevant industry topics, making it easier for members to fit training into their busy schedules. The IPC also provides legal opinions through its in-house solicitor and has a customer-focused compliance team with a members-only phone line. The experienced leadership team brings considerable expertise to the organization.
Communication
The IPC values communication and engagement, hosting monthly webinars and distributing a monthly newsletter to all members. ASP members receive an introduction in the newsletter, including their company bio and a link to their website.
Social Media
The IPC offers industry-specific marketing via social media and email, with a highly engaged audience of over 9.5k across email and LinkedIn. Corporate members are introduced to the IPC’s LinkedIn audience and can have their social media posts shared or reposted by the IPC, provided the messaging aligns with the IPC’s brand.
Legislative Changes
The IPC actively monitors legislative changes, digital innovation, and consumer trends to influence the industry's direction. It maintains strong relationships with the DVLA and the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), holding regular meetings with both.
Lobbying
The IPC builds strong relationships with key MPs through regular communication and engagement, ensuring they are well-informed about the industry's goals and issues. By raising public awareness about parking issues, the IPC can indirectly influence MPs. Engaging with Select Committees and All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) amplifies the IPC's voice in policy decisions.
Training
The IPC has partnered with the Training and Development Academy (TDA) to offer discounted rates on all TDA courses, which meet the requirements of the sector's single Code of Practice and other regulatory frameworks. These courses ensure that staff performing various job roles are adequately trained.
Raising Public Perception of the Parking Industry
The IPC launched the Get Your Reg Right campaign in 2019 to raise awareness about the importance of correctly entering registration numbers when registering or paying for parking.
The IPC have also launched a consumer website to make it as easy as possible for motorists to understand about parking charges which have been issued on private land, and what they should do when you have received a parking charge. The website will help motorists understand whether they should appeal the charge, and the type of evidence they will need to provide.
The aim is to reduce the number of parking charges issued and help motorists understand the process to resolve parking charges, saving them money and stress.
