What is The Institute for Independent Business?

The Institute…

The Institute for Independent Business (IIB) is a research and accreditation organisation established in the UK in 1984 to give independent businesses direct access to top business people and bring practical advice & timely ideas to the business.

The IIB is the largest organisation of its type with over 4,000 accredited Executive Associates in its ranks. These Executive Associates provide one of the most comprehensive support infrastructures for business in the world.

IIB Associates work with a range of businesses making available to them mature, senior executives to:

Act as 'sounding boards'

• Provide support and mentoring as required.
• Address any aspects of the business where support is needed

Research, both by the Institute and, more importantly, by several academic institutions has identified that the small business owner is one of the loneliest positions in business. The SME sector requires not only information and advice in order to survive and grow but, also practical assistance in the form of both process and expert business support. For support to be effective, practical implementation is also required.

The People…

All IIB Executive Associates are mature, experienced business people who have been Chief Executive, Managing Director or Owner/operators and have experienced first hand the pressures, stresses and joys of running a business.

Many IIB Executive Associates have started up, run and eventually sold their own businesses and others have run some of the best-known businesses in the world.

In short, the IIB Executive Associates have:

'Been there, seen it, and survived to tell the story'!