Whilst speaking to an accountancy firm last week they mentioned as part of their start up package that they'd sign me up with an ICO membership. From the ICO website: "Under the Data Protection Act individuals and organisations that process personal information need to register with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), unless they are exempt."

Membership costs £35 a year and I just wondered if anyone has signed up. Taking their 'self assessment' : http://ico.org.uk/for_organisations/...elf-assessment leads me to think I'm obliged to take out membership.

This prompts me to ask what other professional memberships do people subscribe to and do you think it's worth your ££? Which are obligatory and which are voluntary?

Thanks