The Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL) is the UK's Royal Charter body for linguists and languages.
The following three policy statements set out how we apply our Royal Charter in practice across our work with members, partners, stakeholders and the wider public.
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Not‑for‑Profit and Public Purpose
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Resource Stewardship
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Advocacy and Engagement
1. Not‑for‑Profit and Public Purpose
The Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL) is a UK Royal Chartered body, committed by its charter to promoting the effective study and practice of languages for public benefit.
Under our Royal Charter, CIOL's income and property are applied solely to support our objectives. We do not distribute income or assets to members or have any shareholders. All resources are used to deliver our professional and educational mission for the public's benefit.
Public purpose
CIOL's purpose is to serve the wider public interest and promote linguistic excellence, through:
International goodwill
We support international understanding and cooperation through the study and use of languages.
Knowledge sharing
We promote the exchange of information on language matters among linguists and wider audiences.
Professional standards
We maintain the Register of Chartered Linguists and promote standards for professional practice in languages.
Education and qualifications
We develop qualifications, support language teaching and learning and work with education providers.
Accessibility
We promote access to language services and language learning.
Professional standards
CIOL promotes professional standards across all its activities, through:
Professional conduct
We set and uphold a code of conduct for linguists.
Disciplinary processes
We maintain clear and transparent procedures to address complaints.
Integrity and transparency
Operations, including financial management and examinations, are conducted with integrity and appropriate oversight.
Impartiality
Qualifications, certifications and professional recognition are awarded on merit and demonstrated competence.
Governance
Our Council and executive bodies follow good practice processes to ensure effective governance.
Collaborative practice
We work with partners, including governments, public services, professional bodies and businesses, in a manner consistent with our Charter and professional standards.
Summary of the approach
This policy confirms CIOL’s commitment to operating as a not‑for‑profit organisation that delivers public value and maintains high professional standards.
Through this approach, we support the effective study and practice of languages for the benefit of society.
2. Resource Stewardship
CIOL operates with finite resources and a diverse, global membership. We seek to balance the needs of members, candidates, partners and the wider public.
Guided by our Royal Charter and commitment to public benefit, we act on a reasonable endeavours basis. We use time and resources carefully and proportionately, while seeking to maintain high standards of service.
Reasonable endeavours
Our approach is based on:
Clear prioritisation
When demand exceeds available capacity, we prioritise work based on legal obligations, public benefit and strategic alignment.
Collaborative engagement
We work with stakeholders to understand needs, agree realistic outcomes and, where appropriate, signpost to other sources of support where we are not able to help.
Continuous improvement
We review our services, seek feedback and improve processes, including through investment in the effective use of technology and online delivery.
Responsible stewardship
Members and stakeholders can expect CIOL to act professionally, courteously and in good faith. Delivery times and scope will reflect responsible stewardship of resources, guided by:
Purposeful use of resources
We seek to allocate time, expertise and funds where we believe they will have the greatest benefit for the profession and the public.
Proportionate responsiveness
We seek to respond within reasonable timeframes, taking account of the complexity and urgency of each request.
Concluding matters when appropriate
We recognise that some members, stakeholders and partners will want to continue to pursue a matter when we consider it closed. We respect that, but also reserve the right to end our engagement with it when we believe that is reasonable and proportionate.
Summary of the approach
This approach enables us to maintain sustainable, high‑quality services and to use our resources for the greatest overall benefit.
This policy reflects our commitment to responsible stewardship of limited time, people and resources.
3. Advocacy and Engagement
CIOL advocates for the value of languages and linguists in the public interest, guided by our Royal Charter and commitment to universal understanding.
We work collaboratively and apolitically through constructive engagement rather than campaigning.
Advocacy
Our approach is based on:
Standards and professionalism
Promoting clear standards and qualification frameworks for linguists.
Fair rates/pay and conditions
Supporting recognition of linguists’ skills and the need for sustainable rates/fees/salaries and working conditions.
Public benefit
Emphasising the role of qualified professional linguists in supporting justice, health, education, inclusion, prosperity and security.
Engagement
Our approach is:
Apolitical
CIOL is not a campaigning organisation or a trade union. We do not take party‑political positions, sign petitions or seek to engage in collective bargaining. We pride ourselves on the diversity of our membership and in our governance bodies. We respect and value diverse points of view, but political views expressed by individual CIOL members or members of CIOL's governance community are their own and not CIOL's.
Collaborative and evidence‑based
Our role is to support standards and the recognition of linguists through evidence and constructive engagement. We engage with governments, public services, professional bodies, universities and a wide range of stakeholders and partners to share expertise and foster dialogue, respecting confidentiality and with political neutrality.
We advocate for high standards, remuneration and recognition for linguists
We believe qualified professional linguists should be at the heart of the delivery of language services - and all the more so given the impacts of AI - with clear professional and qualification requirements, remuneration, terms and conditions and frameworks which recognise, reward and sustain the professional status of linguists and the sustainability of work and careers in professional languages.
Summary of the approach
This policy enables us to maintain constructive relationships with the widest range of stakeholders and to use our knowledge and resources for the greatest overall benefit.
This approach reflects our commitment to responsible long-term advocacy for linguists and for languages.
