Institute of Leadership (IOL)
UK-based professional membership body for leaders and managers, founded in 1947. Accredits leadership and management programmes through its Institute Approved framework, and maintains a community of 50,000+ professionals across four membership grades: AIoL, MIoL, FIoL, and Companion.
- Type
- Professional Accreditation Organization
- Founded
- 1947
- Headquarters
- GB
About
The Institute of Leadership (IoL) is a UK-based professional membership body for people who lead, manage, and coach in organizations of all kinds. Founded in 1947 and headquartered in Birmingham, England, it maintains a community of more than 50,000 leaders and managers. Its mission: to inspire great leadership everywhere.
IoL accredits training programmes through its "Institute Approved" framework, covering leadership, management, and coaching-adjacent development. Several coach training organizations — including Noble Manhattan Coaching — hold IoL programme accreditation alongside ICF accreditation, making this body a relevant credential reference point for coaches trained in the UK and internationally.
The body is distinct from the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and from the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC). IoL accreditation does not confer eligibility for ICF or EMCC credentials. The credential pathways are independent.
History
The Institute of Supervision and Management was incorporated in 1958, though it traces its founding to 1947. Over the following decades it became a recognized body for supervisory and management qualifications in the UK.
In 2001, it merged with the National Examinations Board in Supervisory Studies (NEBSS) to form the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM), operating under City and Guilds. The ILM name became well known across the UK for its management qualifications, particularly its Level 3, 5, and 7 leadership programmes.
In December 2016, the leadership and management professional membership functions separated from City and Guilds and relaunched as The Institute of Leadership. ILM qualifications and their certification pathways remained with City and Guilds. The Institute of Leadership continues as the independent professional body, focused on membership, accreditation standards, and community. In April 2023, the Association of Business Executives (ABE) became a subsidiary of the Institute.
Membership Grades
IoL offers four membership grades, each reflecting a different stage of career and professional development.
AIoL (Associate Member) is the entry point, suited to those beginning management or leadership roles.
MIoL (Member) recognizes established managers and leaders with demonstrable professional experience.
FIoL (Fellow) is awarded to senior leaders who have made a significant contribution to the leadership profession. Election to FIoL requires both experience and peer validation.
Companion is the highest grade. Reserved for individuals who have made an outstanding, sustained contribution at the highest levels of leadership practice or scholarship, it is awarded by invitation only.
Membership gives access to the Institute's professional community, its EDGE leadership magazine, CPD resources, and events throughout the year.
Institute Approved Programme Accreditation
Organizations that design and deliver leadership, management, or coaching programmes can apply for Institute Approved status. This accreditation signals that a programme meets the Institute's published criteria for quality and relevance.
Applications are assessed against those standards. Fees run from £1,500 to £3,000 plus VAT depending on programme scope. Once awarded, Institute Approved status appears on the accrediting organization's materials, and the programme is listed on the IoL website.
Among the organizations that have held Institute Approved accreditation: Siemens Energy, Network Rail, ASDA, Dogs Trust, and Parkinson's UK. Coach training providers seeking recognition from a UK professional body sometimes pursue IoL accreditation alongside or instead of ICF accreditation, depending on their curriculum focus.
Institute Approved accreditation does not map directly to ICF programme levels (Level 1 or Level 2). They apply different criteria and are granted by separate bodies. A programme can hold both, but holding one does not imply the other.
Research, Events, and Publications
The Institute publishes EDGE, a magazine covering leadership practice, research, and case studies for its membership. It runs events throughout the year focused on leadership development, organizational culture, and emerging practice. Members can access a library of CPD resources and contribute to the Institute's ongoing work on leadership effectiveness.
What This Means for You
If you are considering a coach trained through a programme with Institute of Leadership accreditation, the accreditation tells you the programme was assessed against IoL's quality standards, which focus on leadership and management development. It does not indicate that the coach holds an ICF, EMCC, or other independently verified coaching credential.
Coaching is not therapy or counseling. If you are navigating a significant personal challenge, a mental health concern, or a clinical diagnosis, speak with a qualified healthcare professional first. A leadership or executive coach can help you develop clarity, decision-making, and professional effectiveness, but this work sits outside clinical practice.
Good questions to ask a coach trained through an IoL-accredited programme: What does the Institute Approved accreditation cover, and what coaching modalities did the programme address? Do you hold any independently verified coaching credentials, such as an ICF ACC, PCC, or MCC? What is your approach when a client's challenges go beyond the scope of coaching?
The IoL website is at https://leadership.global.
To inspire great leadership everywhere.
Questions about Institute of Leadership (IOL)
Q.01What is the Institute of Leadership?
What is the Institute of Leadership?
The Institute of Leadership (IoL) is a UK-based professional membership body founded in 1947. It supports leaders and managers through membership grades, programme accreditation, events, and publications. Its community spans more than 50,000 professionals, and its headquarters are in Birmingham, England.
Q.02Is the Institute of Leadership the same as ILM?
Is the Institute of Leadership the same as ILM?
No. The Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) was a predecessor organization that operated under City and Guilds. In December 2016, the professional membership functions separated from City and Guilds and relaunched as The Institute of Leadership. ILM qualifications stayed with City and Guilds. The two organizations are now distinct.
Q.03What happened to ILM qualifications after the 2016 split?
What happened to ILM qualifications after the 2016 split?
ILM qualifications, including the Level 3, 5, and 7 leadership and management programmes, remained with City and Guilds after the 2016 separation. The Institute of Leadership does not award ILM qualifications. If you hold an ILM qualification, it was awarded by City and Guilds, not by the current Institute of Leadership.
Q.04What is Institute Approved accreditation?
What is Institute Approved accreditation?
Institute Approved is the Institute of Leadership's programme accreditation scheme. Organisations that design and deliver leadership, management, or coaching programmes can apply to have their programme assessed against the Institute's quality criteria. Accreditation fees range from £1,500 to £3,000 plus VAT. Approved programmes are listed on the IoL website.
Q.05Does IoL accreditation count toward ICF credentials?
Does IoL accreditation count toward ICF credentials?
No. IoL Institute Approved accreditation and ICF programme accreditation are independent frameworks with different criteria, governed by different bodies. Completing a programme with IoL accreditation does not make you eligible to apply for an ICF credential. ICF credentials require completing an ICF-accredited programme and meeting the ICF's own coaching hours and assessment standards.
Q.06What are the IoL membership grades?
What are the IoL membership grades?
IoL has four membership grades: AIoL (Associate Member), MIoL (Member), FIoL (Fellow), and Companion. Each reflects a different level of professional experience and contribution. AIoL is the entry grade; Companion is the highest and is awarded by invitation to those who have made an outstanding, sustained contribution to leadership practice or scholarship.
Q.07What is the difference between MIoL and FIoL?
What is the difference between MIoL and FIoL?
MIoL (Member) recognizes established leaders and managers with demonstrable professional experience. FIoL (Fellow) is a higher grade awarded to senior leaders who have made a significant contribution to the leadership profession. Election to FIoL requires both extensive experience and peer validation.
Q.08What is the Companion grade at IoL?
What is the Companion grade at IoL?
Companion is the highest membership grade at the Institute of Leadership. It is awarded by invitation to individuals who have made an outstanding, sustained contribution at the highest levels of leadership practice or scholarship. It is not applied for in the same way as other membership grades.
Q.09What is EDGE magazine?
What is EDGE magazine?
EDGE is the Institute of Leadership's membership magazine. It covers leadership practice, research, and case studies drawn from organizations and practitioners across sectors. Access to EDGE is a benefit of IoL membership.
Q.10Is IoL membership the same as a coaching credential?
Is IoL membership the same as a coaching credential?
No. IoL membership recognizes professional standing in leadership and management, not coaching specifically. It does not certify that a member is a qualified coach or that they have completed a coaching programme meeting any independent coaching standard. For independently assessed coaching credentials, look for ICF credentials (ACC, PCC, or MCC) or EMCC credentials (EIA or EMCC Global Individual Accreditation).
Q.11Which coaching schools have IoL programme accreditation?
Which coaching schools have IoL programme accreditation?
Several coach training providers have pursued Institute Approved accreditation alongside other accreditations. Noble Manhattan Coaching is one example that has held IoL accreditation. The current list of accredited programmes is on the IoL website at leadership.global. Always verify current status directly with the Institute, as accreditations can lapse or be renewed.
Q.12What should I ask a coach trained through an IoL-accredited programme?
What should I ask a coach trained through an IoL-accredited programme?
Ask what the IoL-accredited programme covered and whether it focused primarily on leadership, management, or coaching skills. Ask whether the coach holds any independently verified coaching credentials such as an ICF ACC, PCC, or MCC. Ask how they handle situations where a client's challenges go beyond the scope of coaching and into territory that may require clinical support.