AGI Sees Significant Membership Growth in £6 billion Geospatial Sector

The growth, experienced in the last 15 months, has been attributed to a growing number of outreach activities including the re-launch of the popular AGI Awards for Excellence in Geospatial, a high-profile Foresight Project looking at future impacts on the sector to 2030, and attendance at industry and partner events such as GEO Business, the annual Esri UK Conference, and the Ordnance Survey Innovation Festival.

“We are a membership organisation that exists to support members at every stage of their development and career,” commented Fergus Craig, Co-Chair of the Association for Geographic Information. “We are run by members, for members, and it is truly rewarding to see the hard work of Council and volunteers reflected in this growth.”

“We do however recognise that we are only still touching the tip of the iceberg,” added Peter ter Haar, also Co-Chair of the Association for Geographic Information. “A recent Government report estimated that there are in excess of 2,600 companies in the UK for whom the supply and provision of geospatial data is a core part of their offering, and that the geospatial sector employs at least 37,500 people.

“In addition, the geospatial sector is estimated to be worth at least £6 billion per annum and has attracted as a minimum £1.2 billion in fundraisings since 2013, so there is still plenty of room for future growth.”

The AGI is an independent and impartial organisation representing the UK geospatial sector. Working with members and the wider community, the AGI successfully influences government policy, delivers the highest quality of education and provides a lead for best practice across the industry.