Executive and Business Support from the IIB

Independent business owners may take some comfort from the fact that their needs and challenges have been faced by many. But each managing director/owner and their business have their own unique requirements. To meet such needs the Institute developed the Business Support Programme.

Through the Institute's accredited Executive Associates, qualifying businesses can have access to one of the most comprehensive, flexible and effective business support infrastructures available in the world, including:

• mature senior executives to use as 'sounding boards'
• mentoring by experienced business advisers

Executive Associates have helped countless businesses to find the right solutions to achieve the objectives of their owners.

Major consultancy practices are generally unable or unwilling to fulfil the needs of independent businesses, and their cost structures and style of consultancy are not appropriate to small to medium sized businesses.

Organisations purporting to supply help and information to independent businesses are poorly sign posted and largely governmental, bureaucratic or remote in nature.

In fact this situation has not significantly improved over time and the Institute has been in the forefront, successfully providing small to medium sized businesses with access to the most flexible and powerful business support available.

Mentoring

In 1984 the IIB initially introduced a 'company mentoring programme' whereby successful directors of established businesses undertook to act as mentors to owners, managers or directors of start-up businesses. This grew so successfully that it quickly became necessary to publish a directory of specialist advisers, and The Index of Experts was published early in 1989. In 1990 a larger edition was published and circulated to over 25,000 UK SME directors and managers. The mentoring and practical support made available was dramatically developed with a selection, training and accreditation process.

Consultancy Business Development Programme

In January 1991 the Institute established the Consultancy Business Development Programme to provide the right experienced and senior executives with a framework for developing their skills, focussed specifically at supporting small to medium sized businesses. To date over 5,000 executives have completed the distance learning and residential business school leading to accreditation.

Once accredited, Executive Associates continue to be supported by the Institute through monthly training workshops and an internet based system which provides a platform for exchange of information and the sharing of expertise. To maintain their accredited status, high standards of conduct and ethics are required by the Institute of its Executive Associates.

Business Support Programme

Of recent years the Institute's Business Support Programme provides the most flexible access to finding the solutions to every imaginable problem faced by business leaders today. Executive Associates can provide a wide range of support, drawing on the incredible and exclusive (Associate only) network of skilled and experienced advisers accredited by the IIB.

Standards and Ethics - Board of Trustees

The management and development strategy of the Institute is the responsibility of the board of Trustees, who work to ensure that the Aims of the IIB are maintained, and that the conduct and standards are upheld by Executive Associates.

A no-obligation meeting with an Executive Associate is the ideal way to discuss the challenges faced on a confidential basis, and to discover if the business qualifies for help under the Business Support Programme delivering practical advice that works. A meeting with an IIB Executive Associate can be one of the most important meetings ever.

To request such a meeting with an Executive Associate kindly do so here.