We are the
Trailblazers
Since our formation in 1911,The ISM Education has had one aim, to promote qualifications across the globe.
Since our formation in 1911,The ISM Education has had one aim, to promote qualifications across the globe.
Since 1911 the Institute has striven to be the authoritative voice of selling and the custodian of sales standards, ethics and best practice throughout its existence. Now rebranded as the Institute of Sales Management, it exists to promote the professionalism and integrity of sales by providing internationally recognised learning opportunities, thought leadership, peer to peer guidance and advice and industry related news and information.
Special thanks to those mentioned below including
Peek through our history below …
Initial Meeting of Sales Managers in London. The Sales Managers Association was then formed, and regular monthly meetings held. a group of Sales Managers decided to form an association especially for people who worked in the sales industry. Their aim was to help improve sales techniques and put their role on a more professional footing.
The SMA was incorporated under the Board of Trade Charter to become the Incorporated Sales Managers Association (ISMA).
ISMA Library formed - also, Affiliation with the American National Association of Sales Managers, also with the Associated Advertising Clubs of the World (AACW).
The ISMA produced first magazine especially for sales personnel.
Affiliation with the Advertising Association. ISMA name permitted to be used for a Masonic Lodge No. 5009 (100 members). Sponsored 4 students at the London Orphan School, then annual grant agreed. Benevolent Fund established. First Ladies night event attendance 634.
Ladies now admitted to Association events.
HRH Duke of York (later King George V) attended and spoke at the Annual Dinner - subject Statesmanship and Salesmanship. Also, First Certificate Examinations
Talk given on BBC Radio by a member on 'can salesmanship be taught'. Also, by this time 'representative' meetings had occurred in Russia, America and Canada.
HRH Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII/Duke of Windsor) spoke on 'Exporting - its importance' at the Annual Dinner.
ISMA Members Journal renamed 'Marketing' (now recognised as a new business science!) need to do away with the attitude that 'it was infra dig to try to sell anything'. Government Report on 'Education for Salesmanship' published (was headed by the ISMA President).
A group disgruntled because they considered those then running the corporation were placing too much emphasis on marketing, to the detriment of sales people.
HRH Prince of Wales gave the address at the ISMA 21st Anniversary Conference entitled 'Creating better business through Salesmanship'
First Overseas Exams held in India and South Africa.
Introduction of 3-year Syllabus for ISMA qualification. Also, Annual Dinner theme ‘Salesmen were Diplomats of Commerce'
The ISMA setup a system of special examinations for its members and encouraged them to attend meetings and seminars to increase their knowledge and experience.
ISMA Silver Jubilee and in August 1935 made an application for a Royal Charter!! There were 900 attendees at Ladies night that year. Duke of Kent attended and spoke at the Annual Dinner.
King George VI became Patron of ISMA. Also 1,000 Members & Guests attended Ladies Night.
Conference - Chairman's talk was on 'Sales Management as a Profession'.
March - Charter Status refused. Needed to wait until the Educational and Professional work of the Association was more established.
Lady Speakers would in future be invited at events, also Ladies can now be admitted as Members.
War broke out and so business life in the UK was very difficult. Many young salesmen went off to war and, of course, some failed to return. However, the ISMA managed to keep its wheels rolling.
The ISMA extended its definition of sales management and, as a result, membership increased considerably
The ISMA Annual Conference was addressed by the President of the Board of Trade - Harold Wilson (British Prime Minister 1964-1970: 1974-76:
Was an exciting year for the ISMA when HRH Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh became its Patron.
The ISMA Annual Conference was addressed by the President of the Board of Trade - Harold Wilson (British Prime Minister 1964-1970: 1974-76:
The ISMA was instrumental in founding the European Contact Group of Sales and Marketing Associations.
It was resolved to change the institute’s name again, this time to The Institute of Marketing (IM) which came into effect in 1968. ** It was around this time that a 'break-away' group of Sales Managers under John Fenton established a separate Body called the 'Institute of Sales & Marketing Management' {ISMM}. The ISMM continued under the leadership of John Fenton, David Waller and Sheila Watson Challis and developed and grew successfully over the next SO years providing its membership with specialist support for those engaged in the Sales Profession. This was either through correspondence courses, endorsing a wide range of Training courses, as well as organising regular seminars and the Annual Conference.
Reported by the CIM, it recognized that sales management is just a part of the overall marketing effort. It was then that many senior sales executives broke away to ensure that sales people had their own organisation. Many sales engineers were involved in building a new organisation especially dedicated to the work and interests of sales people, and so today's Institute of Sales & Marketing Management was born.
The people responsible for resuscitating the ISMM, worked extremely hard, providing much of their own time to ensure that the UK sales people had their own organisation to which they could be proud to be members. Three of the men involved are, despite being over usual retirement date, still alive and well and support today's ISMM with keen vigour.
Year of Selling - this was an idea of the ISMM which was endorsed by Margaret Thatcher MP (later Prime Minister of England) Without doubt with the help of the ISMM many companies sold more in '73 than ever
Second year of the British Sales and Marketing Award sponsored by British Airways. Adjudication panel chaired by Sir Ronald Halstead of British Steel Corporation. Computer-based sales prospecting system introduced for members to aid sales proficiency.
The ISMM reached agreement with City & Guilds, to provide its courses in Operational Salesmanship to colleges throughout the UK The pilot scheme was organised at Langlands College, Middlesborough, the success of which made courses in selling and sales management available in 1600 Colleges of Further Education.
Viscount Southwell agreed to be its first President together with leadership from Sir William Bentley and Lord Bathurst
HRH The Princess Royal accepted an invitation to become a Fellow of the Institute in recognition of her unceasing work in 'selling charities, and, Save the Children, to Heads of State, Governments and the general public everywhere.
Princess Royal presented BESMA Medals to winners at the ISMM Conference in Birmingham.
New grade of Internal Affiliate launched for those working in a support role.
ISMM 1st Annual Conference, Successful Selling 92 took place at the QEII Conference Centre in London – overwhelmingly successful.
A further change took place in 2016 when the Institute was reformed as The Institute of Sales Management (ISM) which has now adopted a new momentum to meet all the challenges of the future.
Also, for Students, the Institute developed a full range of Government Recognised Qualifications which were introduced. Links to several University Degrees in Sales were also established.
2020- Restructuring of ISM started with Devonshire Consulting Group becoming a major share holder. This was also the year when the COVID 19 pandemic broke and effected the whole world. We supported our centres through these tough times. It was also decided that ISM Education starts expanding into various sectors to broaden the portfolio of qualifications.
