NICON Associate Membership Scheme
Become part of the only membership body for the whole of the health and social care (HSC) system in NI.
NICON represents all HSC bodies in Northern Ireland, including the six health and social care trusts. Our Associate Membership Scheme is designed to facilitate greater collaboration between the HSC system and the wider health and social care community in Northern Ireland. Membership is primarily by organisation.
Our Associate Members play a key role in shaping our work. You’ll be kept informed of new developments through our member communications and alerted to opportunities to influence the health and social care agenda in NI. We also prioritise the involvement of Associate Members in our annual conference and exhibition, which is attended by hundreds of delegates every year.
By joining NICON as an Associate, you will also gain access to additional events and resources offered by our parent organisation, the NHS Alliance.
Who can join?
Membership of the scheme is open to organisations that work in the health and social care sphere in NI in some capacity. We currently have just under 50 Associate Members, including commercial organisations, professional bodies (including royal colleges), and not-for-profit organisations. NICON aims to provide a unique forum in which colleagues from across these sectors can network and learn together.
Associate member benefits
The key benefits of associate membership include:
- Priority involvement in the NICON annual conference, including early access to exhibition and sponsorship opportunities.
- Subscription to our weekly newsletter, which covers the latest health and social care news, political monitoring, and updates from NICON and the wider NHS Alliance. Submissions from our Associate Members are welcome.
- Bespoke email updates for Associate Members from the NICON team.
- Free attendance at NICON seminars and webinars (usually six to ten per year considering topical issues), as well as access to a variety of free NHS Alliance member events.
- Access to recordings of past NICON events, including our recent ‘Grasping the Nettle’ and 'Reset' webinar series.
- Opportunities to sponsor NHS Alliance activities or work in partnership on key events.
- Access to our website, which includes all NICON and NHS Alliance publications, including reports and briefing papers on topical health and social care issues.
- Support and information from the NICON team, including signposting to useful connections within the HSC system, other regional networks, and the wider NHS Alliance.
- Opportunities to input into NICON’s work and share your views on health and social care policy in Northern Ireland with us.
How to join
The scheme is now open to new applicants. To request associate membership of the Northern Ireland Confederation, please download a copy of our associate membership application form (linked below) and return to Robyn Scott.
NICON Associate Member Application Pack 26 27
Membership runs from April to March and renews annually. Organisations interested in joining during the financial year can do so on a pro-rata basis. Membership renewal packs are sent to members at the end of each year.
NICON Associate Members 2026/27
Commercial
- Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry Northern Ireland (ABPI NI)
- BT
- Connected Health
- Novartis
- Pfizer
- The Access Group
Third sector
- Age NI
- Alzheimer’s Society
- Arthritis UK
- Belfast Healthy Cities
- British Heart Foundation
- British Red Cross NI
- Cancer Focus NI
- Centre for Independent Living NI
- Co3
- Healthy Living Centre Alliance
- Heart Failure Warriors
- Inspire
- Macmillan Cancer Support
- Marie Curie
- Mencap NI
- Motor Neuron Disease Association NI
- NI Chest, Heart & Stroke
- NI Health Collective
- NI Pancreatic Cancer
- Positive Futures
- Sense NI
- Stroke Association NI
- The Cedar Foundation
- The Gaitway Organisation
Representative Bodies / Other
- British Association of Social Workers NI (BASW NI)
- British Dental Association (BDA)
- British Medical Association (BMA)
- European Connected Health Alliance
- General Medical Council (GMC)
- Health Innovation Research Alliance NI (HIRANI)
- Institute of Public Health in Ireland
- National Institute for health and Care Excellence (NICE)
- NI Healthcare Leadership Forum
- Pharmaceutical Society NI
- Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care
- Resolute Public Affairs
- Royal College of GPs
- Royal College of Occupational Therapists
- Royal College of Paediatrics & Child Health
- Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists
- Royal College of Surgeons
Interested in membership?
If you are interested in learning more about NICON's Associate Member Scheme, please contact us.
Get in touch