A new survey will aim to find out what learning and development wants from a professional body.

The survey, by self-employed trainers network Trainerbase, aims to look at the current bodies representing the profession and find out what independent trainers and those who contract them, want from those institutions.

Peter Mayes of Trainerbase said: "There has been quite a lot of discussion on TrainingZONE and other forums, about the merit of forming a new professional institute for trainers. This is in some way based on the perception within certain sections of the training community that the current incumbents, do not fulfil the needs of training providers.

"I got to thinking, what are the needs of trainers or the merits to be found in a professional institute? Answer - I don't know, does anyone?"

To take part in the survey click here .

The results of the survey are expected to be released in spring.