The fee structure comprises:
- Application Fee
- Annual DA Accreditation Membership Fee
- Annual DA Accreditation Review Fee
Application Fee
The cost for the application is £750
This must be submitted at Stage 1
For applicants where 1 or more of the principal partners or directors are either a Member (MCSD) or Fellow (FCSD) of the Chartered Society of Designers, the application fee is reduced to £500.
NOTE: If the application is rejected following the Stage 2 Pre-Qualification assessment, applicants will receive a refund of £500.00. If the applicant is benefiting from a reduced CSD application fee, the refund will be £250.
It is therefore important that applicants fully understand the requirements in Stage 1.
Once an application has progressed to Stage 2, the application fee is non-refundable.
At this stage a VAT invoice is issued to the applicant.
Annual DA Accreditation Membership Fee
The annual cost of maintaining DA Accredited Member status is calculated using a base fee for businesses with up to 5 design staff and is incremental in multiples of 5 thereafter.
The annual accreditation fee for any business is based purely on design staff, whether a design business or in-house design team.
| No. of Design Staff | £ |
|---|---|
| 2 - 5 | 950 |
| 6 - 10 | 1400 |
| 11 - 15 | 1850 |
| 16 - 20 | 2300 |
| 21 - 25 | 2750 |
| 26 - 30 | 3200 |
| 31 - 35 | 3650 |
| 36 - 40 | 4100 |
| 41 - 45 | 4550 |
| 46 - 50 | 5000 |
| 51 - 100 | 7500 |
| 101 + | 9500 |
Although it is the business that is accredited and not the individual designers, DA is committed to promoting professional recognition for all designers and as a result offers companies discounts on their fees for any designers who are members of their professional body, the Chartered Society of Designers.
The discount is awarded for any member of the design staff who is a Graduate Member, Member (MCSD) or Fellow (FCSD) of the Society.
Design Managers are considered equally important by DA as integral to the development of a design business and the same discount is offered for Associate Members of the Society.
For companies paying fees at a level of £1400 or above a discount of £60 is offered for each member of the full time design staff who holds CSD membership.
The fee and any discounts are calculated each year following the Annual Accreditation Review, at which point members update the criteria.
Annual DA Accreditation Review Fee
Each year on the anniversary of the award of DA Accreditation, a member company must undertake a review.
The cost of the annual review is £250
For member companies that employ a member of CSD the cost is reduced to £200
General Note
All costs are subject to VAT at the prevailing rate.
VAT invoices will be issued at all stages
The Application Fee is payable in full by cheque or credit card prior to commencing Stage 1. A refund, less £250, is made to any applicant who is rejected at the Pre- Qualification Stage 2.
The Annual Membership Fee may be paid by cheque, credit card or by direct debit on a monthly basis. There is no additional charge made by DA for paying by direct debit.
The Annual Review Fee is payable by cheque or credit card.
