International Regulator of Coaching and Mentoring CIC (IRCM CIC)
The International Regulator of Coaching and Mentoring CIC (IRCM CIC) is the only independent regulatory body for the coaching and mentoring industry, incorporated in England in 2011. It maintains directories of registered coaches, mentors, training organisations, and professional bodies, and operates an independent ombudsman service for consumer protection.
- Type
- Professional Accreditation Organization
- Founded
- 2011
- Headquarters
- United Kingdom
About
The International Regulator of Coaching and Mentoring CIC (IRCM CIC) is the only dedicated independent regulatory body for the coaching and mentoring industry. Founded by Andrew Haigh and incorporated in England as company number 07861572, the IRCM CIC holds its regulatory authority through a designation granted by the Secretary of State via Sensitive Words legislation and confirmed by the Registrar of Community Interest Companies. No other body holds the right to use the title "Regulator" in this industry context.
Its core remit is consumer protection: ensuring that coaches, mentors, training organisations, and professional bodies operating in the UK market are registered, visible, and accountable. The IRCM CIC does not credential coaches for competence. That function sits with recognised professional bodies such as ICF, EMCC Global, and the Association for Coaching. What IRCM registration signals is regulatory accountability, not training level or professional competence.
Origin and Governance
The IRCM CIC's origin traces directly to a parliamentary report. In November 2000, the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology identified the need for public protection through regulation of practitioners in emerging, unregulated industries. Coaching and mentoring were among the sectors named. Andrew Haigh founded the IRCM CIC in direct response, establishing it as an independent, community-focused regulatory body.
The governance structure is that of a Private Company Limited by Guarantee without Share Capital, registered as a Community Interest Company (CIC). The CIC model places the organisation's activities in service of the public, not private shareholders. In 2017, following the sudden passing of the then-Director, the Board of Directors updated the governance structure and re-affirmed the IRCM CIC's commitment to independent regulation and public protection. The current Board operates from Torquay, Devon, United Kingdom.
Registration Versus Accreditation: Understanding the Distinction
This distinction matters most for anyone choosing a coach or mentor. The IRCM CIC's original application included accrediting coaches, mentors, and training organisations. The current Board of Directors agreed, however, that accreditation — the process of determining professional competence — remains the responsibility of recognised professional bodies. The IRCM CIC does not test coaching skill, assess practice hours, or issue competence credentials.
What the IRCM CIC does is regulate. Practitioners and organisations who register with the IRCM agree to abide by the industry's published Standards and Ethics, Core Competencies, and Definitions and Terminology. They also accept the authority of the IRCM CIC's Ombudsman Service in disputes. Registration makes a practitioner or organisation visible and accountable. It does not certify their coaching ability.
When assessing a coach's qualifications, IRCM registration is a different signal from an ICF, EMCC, or AC credential. Those bodies represent an independent assessment of competence based on training hours, supervised practice, and examination. IRCM registration represents agreement to operate within a regulatory framework. A coach can hold both an IRCM registration and a professional body credential; many do.
The IRCM Directory System
The IRCM CIC maintains four directories: coaches and mentors, education and training providers (both formal education bodies and commercial training organisations), professional bodies and industry associations, and commercial organisations operating within the industry. Practitioners registered with a recognised professional body may be automatically listed. Those who are not registered with a professional body may still join, provided they supply detailed information for public review.
This approach gives consumers access to the full range of practitioners — not only those who are credentialed — while making all practitioners visible and subject to the regulatory framework. The directory is the primary transparency mechanism through which consumers can verify that a coach or mentor operates within a known regulatory structure.
Ombudsman Service
The IRCM CIC operates an ombudsman service as its core enforcement mechanism. Coaches, mentors, and training organisations registered with the IRCM agree to include the Ombudsman Service in their professional conduct framework, accepting the IRCM's authority to investigate complaints, make findings, and impose sanctions. Without this, IRCM registration would amount to a directory listing alone. The Ombudsman Service policy, procedure, and process documents are published at ircmcic.org.
Codes of Conduct and Industry Standards
The IRCM CIC publishes four standard documents available to all practitioners: Codes of Conduct, Standards and Ethics, Core Competencies, and Terminology and Definitions. Registered practitioners and organisations commit to these standards as a condition of listing. The Codes were developed to create cross-industry consistency across the full range of coaching and mentoring specialisations — from life and business coaching to executive, sports, and education coaching. A shared ethical and competency baseline applies regardless of specialisation.
What IRCM Registration Means for You
The IRCM CIC provides regulatory oversight for the coaching and mentoring industry in the United Kingdom, not competence credentials. A coach or mentor registered with the IRCM has agreed to operate within a published ethical framework and is subject to an ombudsman process if a dispute arises. Registration does not indicate training level, coaching methodology, or assessed competence.
For competence-related signals, look to credentials issued by professional bodies: ICF's Associate Certified Coach (ACC), Professional Certified Coach (PCC), or Master Certified Coach (MCC) designations; EMCC's European Individual Accreditation (EIA) levels; or AC's coaching credentials. These involve independent assessment of coaching skill. IRCM registration and professional body credentialing serve different purposes and are not interchangeable.
Coaching is not regulated in the way that medicine, law, or financial advice is. The IRCM CIC provides the closest approximation of a regulatory layer available in the industry. Its value to consumers lies primarily in the directory's transparency, the published standards framework, and the Ombudsman Service's accountability mechanism.
The IRCM CIC's remit is simply to protect the Consumer.
Questions about International Regulator of Coaching and Mentoring CIC (IRCM CIC)
Q.01What is the IRCM CIC?
What is the IRCM CIC?
The International Regulator of Coaching and Mentoring CIC (IRCM CIC) is the only dedicated independent regulatory body for the coaching and mentoring industry, founded by Andrew Haigh following the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology's November 2000 report. Incorporated in England as company number 07861572, the IRCM CIC operates as a Community Interest Company with consumer protection as its core remit. It maintains directories of registered coaches, mentors, training organisations, and professional bodies, publishes industry standards, and operates an independent ombudsman service.
Q.02Is the IRCM CIC the same as an accrediting body like ICF or EMCC?
Is the IRCM CIC the same as an accrediting body like ICF or EMCC?
No. The IRCM CIC is a regulatory body, not a competence-credentialing body. ICF, EMCC, and AC assess coaching skill through training hours, supervised practice, and examinations, issuing credentials such as ICF ACC or EMCC EIA. The IRCM CIC's function is regulatory: it maintains directories of practitioners, enforces a published standards framework, and operates an ombudsman service for disputes. Registration with the IRCM and holding an ICF or EMCC credential serve different purposes and are not substitutes for each other.
Q.03What does it mean when a coach is registered with IRCM?
What does it mean when a coach is registered with IRCM?
A coach or mentor registered with the IRCM CIC has agreed to operate within the regulatory body's published framework: the Codes of Conduct, Standards and Ethics, Core Competencies, and Terminology and Definitions. They are listed in the IRCM's directory and accept the authority of the IRCM's Ombudsman Service in any disputes. Registration does not indicate the coach's level of training, number of practice hours completed, or any assessment of coaching competence. For those signals, look to credentials from professional bodies such as ICF, EMCC, or AC.
Q.04Does IRCM accredit coaching courses or training programmes?
Does IRCM accredit coaching courses or training programmes?
No. The IRCM CIC's current Board of Directors agreed that accreditation — determining competence of coaches, mentors, and training organisations — remains the responsibility of recognised professional bodies. The IRCM CIC lists training organisations in its directories when they register and agree to its standards, but it does not assess or accredit training quality. Accreditation of training programmes is carried out by bodies such as ICF (which accredits Level 1, 2, and 3 programmes) or EMCC (through its EQA programme).
Q.05What is the IRCM's Ombudsman Service?
What is the IRCM's Ombudsman Service?
The IRCM CIC's Ombudsman Service is an independent complaints and dispute resolution mechanism available to consumers of coaches, mentors, and training organisations registered with the IRCM. Practitioners and organisations who register with the IRCM accept the Ombudsman Service's authority to investigate complaints, make findings, and impose sanctions. The Ombudsman Service is what makes IRCM registration carry real accountability, rather than functioning as a directory listing alone.
Q.06Where is the IRCM CIC based?
Where is the IRCM CIC based?
The IRCM CIC is registered in England and Wales as company number 07861572. Its registered office is at Watcombe Priors Lodge, Teignmouth Road, Torquay, Devon, TQ1 4SQ, United Kingdom. All information provided by the IRCM and all correspondence is currently conducted in English.
Q.07Who founded the IRCM CIC?
Who founded the IRCM CIC?
Andrew Haigh founded the IRCM CIC in direct response to the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology's November 2000 report, which identified the need for public protection through regulation of practitioners in emerging, unregulated industries including coaching and mentoring. The IRCM CIC was incorporated as a Private Company Limited by Guarantee without Share Capital and registered as a Community Interest Company. In 2017, following the sudden passing of the Director at the time, the Board updated the governance structure and re-affirmed the IRCM CIC's regulatory mission.
Q.08What does IRCM registration actually tell me about a coach?
What does IRCM registration actually tell me about a coach?
IRCM registration tells you the coach has agreed to operate within a published ethical and professional framework and is subject to an ombudsman process if a dispute arises. It does not indicate training level, coaching methodology, or assessed competence. For competence signals, look to credentials from professional bodies such as ICF (ACC, PCC, MCC), EMCC (EIA), or AC. A coach registered with the IRCM may or may not hold a professional body credential; the two are independent of each other.
Q.09What should I ask an IRCM-registered coach before hiring them?
What should I ask an IRCM-registered coach before hiring them?
Start by asking what professional body credentials they hold and at what level, since IRCM registration does not indicate training quality or competence. Ask how many supervised practice hours they completed during training, and how many coaching hours they have accumulated overall. Ask about their specialisation and whether they have experience with situations similar to yours. If you are considering coaching for a mental health or emotional wellbeing challenge, ask directly whether coaching or clinical support better fits your needs — coaching is not therapy, and no IRCM registration or coaching credential authorises a practitioner to provide clinical mental health treatment. An IRCM-registered coach should also be able to explain how the Ombudsman Service works should a dispute arise.
Q.10Is coaching legally regulated in the UK, and where does the IRCM CIC fit?
Is coaching legally regulated in the UK, and where does the IRCM CIC fit?
Coaching is not a statutory regulated profession in the United Kingdom. No law requires a coach to hold a particular qualification, register with a government body, or meet minimum standards before practising. The IRCM CIC is the industry's closest approximation to a regulator: it holds a designation from the Secretary of State confirming its right to use the title 'Regulator' under Sensitive Words legislation, and it operates as a Community Interest Company focused on consumer protection. But its authority is voluntary — it applies only to coaches, mentors, and organisations who choose to register with it. A coach who declines to register faces no legal consequence. For anyone choosing a coach, this means that the absence of statutory regulation places the entire burden of due diligence on the consumer. IRCM registration, professional body credentials from ICF or EMCC, and verified coaching hours are all signals worth examining precisely because no government body requires them.