Apply for Membership of the RPT

Apply for Membership of the RPT

You will be a woodturner, either self-employed or employed who adheres to a professional approach to your woodturning in all areas including selling, marketing and making and be willing to follow the RPT Code of Conduct. You will be offering a service of professional quality to the public, trade, galleries and museums.
If accepted onto the Register, you will be awarded a certificate, and you may use the post nominal RPT. You will be entitled to use the Register logo on business cards, letterheads, websites, social media etc, and may also refer to being on the roll of the Register of Professional Turners supported by the Worshipful Company of Turners of London. The Company has the right to withdraw these privileges at its discretion.

Application Procedure

  1. The membership secretary will be available to offer help and guidance to applicants.
  2. Complete the application form, paying particular attention to the Register’s selection criteria, and code of conduct. All of these can be found on this page. Please note, that for each application, there is a non-refundable administration fee of £25.00.
  3. Completed forms, along with six high-definition images each of four pieces (24 photos in total) of recently finished work, which were made solely by you, should be uploaded to the Membership Secretary using the application form below.
  4. This work will then be considered by the RPT membership committee.
  5. On successful selection from the photographic evidence, to move the application forward, it is required that three turned items to be forwarded the membership committee for scrutiny. These items will be shipped to and from the membership secretary at the applicant’s own cost and risk.
  6. Unsuccessful applicants will be informed in writing at either of these two stages. A feedback request from the applicant is encouraged. Unsuccessful applicants have a right to appeal the decision of the membership committee.
  7. If the application is deemed eligible, an assessment will be organised, which may be via an on-line video call or an in-person workshop assessment (adhering to any necessary Covid 19 restrictions and social distancing still required).

Each applicant will be assessed on the following five elements:-

  1. Informal interview
  2. Proof of compliance to health and safety guidelines
  3. Proof that the workshop and sale of goods is run in a professional manner
  4. Demonstration of turning. This is to include a commentary on the process being performed to illustrate a fundamental understanding of tools, processes, techniques and safety.
  5. Evidence of style, design, finish and quality within the demonstration piece and of completed works.

At the conclusion of the assessment, the assessor(s) will report their findings and recommendations to the membership committee. The committee will make its final decision based on all evidence and information received. The applicant will be informed of this decision as quickly as possible.

Once payment of the current annual subscription fee has been received, successful applicants will be accorded the benefits of inclusion on the roll of the Register of Professional Turners. These include a personal entry on the RPT website and the right to display of the RPT logo and the shield of the Worshipful Company of Turners.

Selection Criteria

Self Employed
  1. Quality of work – requisite skill level must be shown.
  2. Safe working practices are followed.
  3. Agree to adhere to the code of practice.
  4. Execution of work must be demonstrated to be of high standard.
  5. Confirmation that work is being sold.
  6. Certificate of Public and Products Liability Insurance must be held.
  7. Evidence must be shown of a professional outlook to accounting, letterheads, website, social media presence etc.
  8. Pass the workshop inspection.
Employed
  1. Quality of work – requisite skill level must be shown.
  2. Safe working practices are followed.
  3. Agree to adhere to the code of practice.

Code of Practice

Employed
  1. Public and Products Liability insurance must be held either by oneself or by employer.
  2. Must maintain high standards in their work.
  3. Must accept the obligation to hand out Demonstration and Teaching feedback forms.
  4. Must adhere to safety standards.
  5. Agree to comply with the disciplinary policy and procedure.
  6. Agree to comply with the complaints policy and procedure.
  7. Any member giving tuition in their workshop must comply with current recognised health and safety standards.
  8. Any member demonstrating at clubs, woodworking shows or events should always do so using best practice.
  9. Show an intent to responsibly source materials.
Self-Employed

As above and to include:-

  1. Charge reasonable hourly rates i.e. not undercutting other woodturners.
  2. Charge sensible rates for demonstrations and teaching.
  3. Must conduct their working practices in a professional manner.

Application Form

To be used for correspondence and website login.
Enter your business website URL including 'https://'
If you have or are known for any special products, techniques or skills, add them here.
Click or drag files to this area to upload. You can upload up to 24 files.
Please upload SIX high resolution images of four separate items you have recently turned in .jpeg format. Images must be no larger than 5MB each and ideally 3000px on the longest edge.
Terms and conditions:
By checking the 'Agree' box above, you are digitally signing the application form and you are confirming that you meet the selection criteria of the Register of Professional Turners and will adhere to the code of practice. You are also agreeing to maintain high standards of design, execution and finish in your work, and that you commit to uphold the craft of turning. You accept that the sole arbiter of your eligibility for membership of the Register is the committee of the Register of Professional Turners, and that if your name is entered in the Register, the Register may keep your craftsmanship and general conduct under review.
You are also agreeing to your personal details that you have supplied being kept on a data base for use by the Register. You details will not be passed on to a third party and are in agreement with the Register of Professional
Turners Privacy Policy which can be viewed on the RPT website.
By signing you are also confirming that you fully understand that if you fail to maintain the high standards of craftsmanship expected of you, or if you behave in a manner which, in the sole opinion of the Committee, is likely to bring the Register into disrepute or cause disharmony among its members, then your name may be removed, without liability, whether on the part of the Company, the Register, or any of their respective officers, and you will be required to return the certificate of Registration and any badges provided to you to the Clerk of the Company, and thereafter make no claim to membership.