The Institute of Emergency Management (IEM) was incorporated as a registered charity (No. 1056265) in 1996 in the United Kingdom by professional emergency planners and managers who recognised the need to research and improve the response to major incidents and their immediate and long-term co-ordinated management. In so doing it was also aware of the necessity of promoting the education and training of key members of the emergency services and others, including the public, in the essential skills to deal with civil emergencies.