Irish Management Institute

What Irish Management Institute does

Irish Management Institute (IMI), legally IMI Leadership Limited, is Ireland's longest-established executive education institution, founded in 1955 and operating from a dedicated Sandyford Road campus in South Dublin. IMI delivers leadership and management development across four pathways: People Leadership, Performance Leadership, Strategic Leadership, and AI & Digital Leadership. Its portfolio comprises 50+ programmes spanning short courses, professional diplomas (awarded in association with University College Cork), micro-credentials, industry-specific programmes, and self-paced online courses, delivered on-campus, live online, on-site at client organisations, and via bespoke customised solutions. IMI also operates the Knowledge Centre, described as Ireland's most comprehensive leadership content library, plus a micro-learning platform and Canvas-based LMS, and provides event and venue hire through the South Dublin Convention Centre (up to 350 guests).

The institute serves a dual customer base: individual professionals (via open-enrolment programmes and €795 Solo Membership) and corporate organisations (via three-tier Corporate Membership — Inform, Transform, Transform+ — and project-based customised executive education). Named members and clients span Irish enterprise (ABP Food Group, Lakeland Dairies, Dalata Hotel Group, Smurfit Westrock, Mercury Engineering, Glenveagh, Alkermes), FDI multinationals (Ericsson), government and development agencies (Invest NI, IDA Ireland, Office of Public Works, African Development Bank), and non-profits (Alzheimer Society of Ireland). Pricing for open-enrolment programmes ranges from €795 to €2,399 per participant; corporate membership is quote-based with tiered facility and event allocations.

IMI's go-to-market combines direct website enrolment (imi.ie/ecommerce), consultative corporate sales targeting HR and L&D decision-makers, and a year-round event programme (Masterclasses, Breakfast Briefings, Peer Learning Seminars, National Leadership Conference) that drives both acquisition and retention. Four proprietary frameworks — the IMI Leadership Model, Jess Resilience Framework, PACT Trust-Building Model, and T.R.U.E. Presentations Methodology — underpin programme design. In May 2024, Kilcullen Business Post Group (K-BPG) acquired IMI from University College Cork, backed by a €6 million investment from Sweden's Bonnier News; Business Post is relocating to the IMI campus as part of post-acquisition integration, creating a media-and-education distribution ecosystem.

Name

Irish Management Institute

Legal name

IMI Leadership Limited

Website

http://www.imi.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Irish Management Institute is Ireland's longest-established executive education institution, delivering 50+ leadership, management, and AI-focused programmes to individual professionals and corporate clients from its Sandyford, Dublin campus. It operates tiered corporate memberships, bespoke customised solutions, and a Knowledge Centre content library.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Education

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Executive Education & Corporate Programs (Non-degree) (EDAHAHAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Strategy, Consulting & General Management Institutes (EDAHAHAI), Human Resources, Organizational Behavior & Leadership Institutes (EDAHAHAG)

Keywords

• Executive education
• Leadership development
• Corporate training
• Professional diplomas
• Management education

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Open Enrolment Programme Fees: Individual participants enrol in short programmes, professional diplomas, industry programmes, micro-credentials, and self-paced courses at published price points. Fees range from €795 for Solo Membership to €2,399 for multi-day programmes like Finance for Non-Financial Managers. Revenue is one-time per programme with no recurring element for individual buyers.
2. Corporate Membership Subscriptions: Organisations purchase annual membership tiers (Inform, Transform, Transform+) that grant access to events, the Knowledge Centre, campus facilities, peer learning, and advisory services. Membership is billed annually, providing recurring subscription revenue. Tier pricing is quote-based.
3. Solo Individual Membership: Individual professionals purchase annual Solo Membership at €795 + VAT, providing access to 4 Breakfast Briefings, 3 Peer Learning Seminars, the Knowledge Centre, and micro-learning platform for 12 months from enrolment.
4. Customised/Bespoke Corporate Training: IMI designs and delivers bespoke executive education programmes for individual corporate clients, co-created around the client's strategy, culture, and real business challenges. Revenue is project-based and negotiated per engagement, typically targeting enterprise and FDI multinational clients.
5. Campus Venue Hire: The Sandyford campus offers meeting rooms, training venues, and event spaces (up to 350 capacity) to external organisations for strategy days, conferences, and corporate meetings. Revenue is one-time rental per booking with optional catering and AV services.
6. CPD Certification: Leadership development programmes and in-person events are CPD-accredited. Participants receive e-certificates upon completion specifying learning hours undertaken. Revenue is bundled with programme fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

IMI delivers executive education and leadership development through short programmes, professional diplomas (awarded by UCC), customised corporate programmes, and tiered membership (Corporate and Solo). Programmes span AI, communication, finance, strategy, and people leadership, delivered in-person at the Sandyford Dublin campus, live online, or on-site at client organisations.

Product overview

Irish Management Institute (IMI) is Ireland's leading executive education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of leadership development programmes. The core offering includes Short Programmes (AI-focused and leadership courses), Professional Diplomas (awarded by UCC), and Customised Solutions for organisations. IMI provides multiple delivery formats including in-person at their Sandyford campus, live online, and self-paced learning through Canvas LMS. The organisation offers tiered membership options (Corporate Membership with Inform/Transform/Transform+ tiers, and Solo Membership for individuals), access to the Knowledge Centre digital resource library, and campus facilities for meetings and events. The institute has significantly expanded its AI-focused offerings recently, including programmes on building AI agents, leading human/AI workforce integration, AI strategy, and AI applications across procurement, finance, HR, marketing, and coaching. IMI is part of the Business Post Group following acquisition by K-BPG in 2024.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Short Programmes Leadership and professional development short courses covering AI, communication, creativity, strategy, change management, finance, and team leadership for managers and senior leaders.
• Professional Diplomas Professional diploma programmes in Executive Coaching, Leading Change and Transformation, Leadership, Management, Organisational Behaviour, and Strategy and Innovation, awarded by UCC.
• Summer Session '26 Festival of learning combining one-day programmes focused on human skills in an AI world, including AI, communication, creativity, and self/team management programmes with mix-and-match booking and group rates.
• Corporate Membership Three-tier annual membership programme (Inform, Transform, Transform+) providing organisations access to leadership events, Knowledge Centre, campus facilities, peer learning, and leadership development resources.
• Solo Membership Individual annual membership at €795 + VAT offering 4 breakfast briefings, 3 peer learning seminars, Knowledge Centre access, and micro-learning platform for independent professionals and entrepreneurs.
• Customised Solutions Bespoke executive education programmes co-created with client organisations, including needs consultation, programme design, and delivery tailored to organisational strategy and culture.
• Campus Facilities Meeting and event venue hire at Sandyford campus in South Dublin, ranging from 4-person breakout rooms to South Dublin Convention Centre (350 guests), including AV, catering, and free parking.
• Industry Programmes Tailored programmes addressing industry-specific challenges including Building Strategic Leadership, Emerging Tech Leaders, Graduate Development, Leading in Cybersecurity, and Women in Construction Leadership.
• Knowledge Centre Curated digital resource library providing Ireland's most comprehensive leadership and management collection with articles, research, videos, and thought leadership content for continuous learning.
• IMI/30% Club Network Mentor Programme Cross-company mentoring programme delivered with the 30% Club developing high-potential talent and engaging senior leaders through structured mentoring relationships.
• IMI Events Programme Year-round event programming including Breakfast Briefings, Masterclasses, Peer Learning Seminars, National Leadership Conference, Facilitated Workshops, and various webinar series.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ranked #1 in Ireland for quality of teaching on Custom programmes
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability9 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered former, minor and core.

• University College Cork (UCC)formerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024UCC owned and operated IMI prior to the sale. The sale to K-BPG included IMI's premises and ongoing operations. IMI continues to award Professional Diplomas in association with UCC, and its virtual learning platform (Canvas) is hosted on the UCC Canvas instance (ucc.instructure.com), indicating an ongoing academic relationship.
• TrigraphminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIMI collaborates with Trigraph experts for the delivery of the Driving Operational Performance programme. Trigraph contributes specialist faculty including Joe Houghton (AI, project management, strategic transformation), Patrick O'Callaghan (business transformation, IDA client advisory), and David Jones (lean and continuous improvement, Dell EMC, Wisetek).
• 30% ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIMI partners with the 30% Club to deliver the IMI/30% Club Network Mentor Programme — a cross-company mentoring initiative that develops high-potential talent and senior leaders through structured mentoring relationships. The programme is included in Transform and Transform+ corporate membership tiers and available as a complimentary add-on under Solo Membership.
• Business Post AppminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEligible IMI corporate members can activate 6 months' free Business Post app access, and members receive preferential rates at selected Business Post events. This cross-promotion drives value for both IMI membership and Business Post subscriptions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Henley Business School: UK-based executive education and management development provider with open-enrolment and custom programmes serving UK/Ireland corporates; competes with IMI for similar mid-market executive education budgets.
• Center for Creative Leadership (CCL): US-headquartered leadership development specialist focused on executive and leadership programmes, assessments, and coaching; closest international peer in pure leadership-development content focus.
• Chartered Management Institute (CMI): UK/Ireland professional membership body offering leadership and management accreditation, training, and CPD pathways; shares IMI's chartered-status, membership-revenue, and individual-learner proposition for management development.
• Institute of Directors (IoD) Ireland: Irish director-level membership organisation offering board development, custom programmes, and events; overlaps with IMI's senior executive audience and corporate membership model in Ireland.
• UCD Smurfit Executive Development: Executive education arm of Ireland's other leading business school (UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School); offers customised programmes, open-enrolment short courses, and corporate memberships competing for the same Irish HR/L&D budget as IMI.
• Trinity Executive Education (Trinity College Dublin): Executive education function of Trinity College Dublin's business school; directly competes with IMI for custom programmes, board-level development, and corporate memberships from Irish enterprises and FDI multinationals.

Broad incumbents

• London Business School Executive Education: Top-tier UK executive education provider targeting London-based multinationals, several of which also operate in Ireland; competes with IMI for cross-border custom programmes and senior executive development.
• IMD Business School: Switzerland-based elite business school renowned for executive education and custom programmes; competes with IMI when Irish multinationals procure senior-leadership development at global providers.
• IESE Business School Executive Education: Global executive education provider with strong custom programmes offering; direct competitor for Irish enterprise and FDI clients seeking senior leadership development.
• INSEAD Executive Education: Global executive education powerhouse; competing alternative for Irish multinational L&D buyers seeking global brand programmes in leadership, strategy, and AI.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IMI_Ireland
• Facebookfacebook.com/irishmanagementinstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/281364

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Irish Management Institute