The Chartered Institute of Public Relations is the professional body for public relations practitioners in the UK. Founded in February 1948 as the Institute of Public Relations, it today has over 9000 members involved in all aspects of the public relations industry, and is the largest body of its type in Europe. The CIPR advances the PR industry in the UK by making its members accountable through a code of conduct, developing policies for the PR industry, representing its members, and raising standards through education and training. The organisation operates a number of membership grades: