Finland What is the Institute for Independent Business?
The IIB is a not-for-profit organisation established in 1984 to provide information and practical advice to the small business sector. The IIB later developed the Consultancy Business Development Programme (CBDP), to train experienced business people to provide independent businesses with the help and advice they need to develop their businesses effectively.
So the IIB is now predominately a Higher Education Institute?
Yes, the Institute is now a well established education, training, research and accreditation organisation with graduates accredited and operating in many countries. In addition to the CBDP training, graduates can use CBDP credits for a UK university Masters Degree (MBA) programme - with special emphasis on mentoring and supporting growing businesses.
How many people have benefitted from the Institute's Training?
Since 1991 over 5,000 individuals from 28 countries have successfully completed the CBDP training and have graduated from the IIB's Residential Business School, gained accreditation and have become Executive Associates and part of the IIB Alumni™ .
So the IIB trains people to help independent businesses?
Yes, graduates of the CBDP are able to use a proven methodology to provide the independent business sector with practical advice that works ™ . The fact that accredited Associates become part of the IIB Alumni™ with access to such a huge network of colleagues, means that there are very few problems that someone in the network has not met and solved before. This provides a tremendous benefit to senior business professionals undertaking the path of the CBDP, and also for their clients who have an amazing level of support.
What is the IIB Alumni™?
This is the exclusive global community of thousands of senior business professionals that have graduated and gained accreditation. Associates are provided with an international network and forum to communicate and share ideas, experience and resources.
The IIB Alumni™is without doubt the largest business advisory, support and resource network in the world. The Institute's role is to facilitate and support the collaboration of its Executive Associates, so that they may work together and provide practical advice that works™. It also establishes s tandards of professional conduct which are important, as Mutual a ctivity and client support is actually run by Associates for Associates. Executive Associates are therefore expected to abide by a Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct to maintain their accredited status.
The Institute supports the IIB Alumni™ through the global network of IIB Regional Groups which mostly meet on a monthly basis and exist for mutual support, Continuous Professional Development (CPD), and assistance with business-to-business and client opportunities. It also supports National Workshops and International Conferences.
Do accredited Associates actually work for the IIB?
No, each Associate runs their own independent consultancy business / practice. The Institute supplies the initial training and facilitates ongoing CPD and networking between Associates within the IIB Alumni™. Associates are therefore in control of their own hours, income and destiny without the usual controls and politics of employment.
Who are the typical clients of accredited Associates?
Associates' clients are, predominantly, independently owned small to medium sized businesses with less than 250 full time employees - and so include every type of business imaginable.
How do accredited Associates go about helping Businesses?
An Associate spends time with Managing Director/Owners (MDOs) who have probably already set up a meeting to speak to an Executive Associate about their problems, needs, opportunities, concerns, or plans. A typical first meeting would normally last 2 to 3 hours.
What happens then?
After the meeting if the MDO has ongoing requirements, and if they qualify, they can join the IIB Business Support Programme ™, which provides general mentoring and specialist solutions as needed by the business from to time.
What is the IIB Business Support Programme ™?
Created in 1991, it is ideally suited for independent businesses. An MDO has access to the support from the complete IIB Alumni™ and can thus obtain a 'virtual board of directors' - with a lead Associate acting as a 'business friend', mentoring and facilitating solutions for all business needs - as and when required. The IIB Business Support Programme™ (or ‘BSP') provides the client with a known monthly affordable cost to draw down on hours of support as and when required, and the Executive Associate with a reliable client relationship and income. Many such BSPs last for years as MDOs gain significant benefits from this.
Would I be working with one business at a time in any year?
As an Executive Associate you may be mentoring 10 to 12 different businesses at any one time, as well as being engaged by other Associates on specialist assignments for their clients. However, you have total flexibility and may only wish to mentor one or two companies. As an independent advisor running your own practice you are free to choose your own assignment load.
Would I have to re-locate?
You build your business wherever you want to be. Associates are free to work either from home, or an office.
Would I have to travel abroad?
Only if you choose to be involved in some of the many international assignments arising from the IIB Alumni™ - the worldwide exclusive community of Executive Associates.
Do I have to work full-time or can I work part-time or take on only occasional work?
It's your business, so you are free to attend appointments as and when you wish, thus working either part, full time, or occasionally. A number of Executive Associates have already taken early retirement or have other business interests so they choose to work part time. Others already have a number of clients and use opportunities and assignments from the IIB Alumni™to 'top up' their workload. You control your own hours, income and destiny without the usual controls and politics of being employed.
What is the typical salary for an Accredited Associate?
Only employees get a salary. Associates are independent and run their own businesses and the income they generate is theirs - the Institute does not receive any percentage of an Associate's income. For those less confident of their abilities, the Institute does offer each new Associate a unique twelve month Minimum Income Guarantee. This is because the Institute is confident that the training and proven methods really do work - and expect that new Associates will quickly recoup their tuition costs and establish a profitable independent consultancy business.
What would be my earning potential?
It depends on how much time and work you wish to put in and how many appointments you decide to attend each month. There are Associates who achieve significant figures in their first year, but then there are those who do not! Starting your own business - working for yourself and building your own business whilst helping clients to improve their businesses, can be a challenge, but a rewarding one. The Institute's tuition and becoming part of the IIB Alumni™ provides unrivalled support and this certainly makes rapid success far more likely than going it alone.
How is someone selected as a suitable candidate for the CBDP?
The Institute applies rigorous entry standards and there is a four stage selection process before you can join a particular course intake:
How do I find out if I am eligible for the CBDP tuition– what's the first step?
Send us your CV / Résumé to register your interest.and we will contact you.