India Business Group (IBG)

What India Business Group (IBG) does

India Business Group (IBG), trading as India Business Consultancy Limited, is a privately held UK-based business advisory consultancy founded in 2014 and headquartered in Southampton with a London office. The firm specializes in facilitating cross-border trade and investment between the United Kingdom and India, providing market entry and expansion strategy, partner selection and due diligence, cross-border transaction advisory (including JVs and M&A), project advisory, corporate events and trade delegations, and PR and strategic communications. Its target clients are UK and Indian enterprises, government trade bodies, sector-specific businesses, SMEs, and entrepreneurs operating in the UK-India corridor.

IBG's core offerings are bespoke consulting engagements rather than technology products; there is no proprietary software platform, API, or technology stack disclosed. The firm has built several branded platforms that complement its advisory work, including The Indian Awards (an annual UK-India relations ceremony held at the Houses of Parliament and House of Lords since 2017), the UK-India Business Summit, and the India Business Club membership offering. Notable client and partner relationships include the Department for Business and Trade, British Council, University of Southampton, TATA, HCL, State Bank of India, Taylor Wessing, Zee TV, Premier League, and Times Higher Education. The firm's leadership comprises CEO and founder Amarjit Singh, Chairman Professor Lord Patel of Bradford OBE, COO Lakbir Singh, and a senior advisory board including David Landsman OBE (former Tata Limited executive director).

The revenue model is professional services, monetized through per-project advisory retainers, event sponsorship and partnership fees (Indian Awards, Business Summits), and PR/strategic communications engagements. Pricing is bespoke and not publicly disclosed. Distribution is primarily direct sales through the founder, senior advisors, and institutional referrals from UK government trade bodies and chambers of commerce. The firm employs 1-10 people and operates without disclosed external funding.

Name

India Business Group (IBG)

Legal name

India Business Consultancy Limited

Website

https://theindiabusinessgroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

India Business Group (IBG) is a UK-based boutique advisory consultancy that helps enterprises and government bodies develop bilateral trade and investment between the UK and India, offering market entry, M&A, due diligence, events, and PR services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cross-Border Business Advisory

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Development & Strategic Partnerships Advisory (JVs, Alliances, Carve-outs) (BPAHAOAG)

Keywords

• Cross-border advisory
• Trade consulting
• Market entry strategy
• M&A advisory services
• International trade facilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Strategic Advisory Services: IBG provides strategic advisory services including market entry and expansion strategies, partnering, selection and due diligence, cross border transactions, JV's and M&A support, project advisory, development and management. These are bespoke consulting engagements tailored to each client's needs.
2. Corporate Events & Delegation Visits: IBG organizes and hosts corporate events, trade delegations, and business summits. This includes The Indian Awards ceremonies and UK-India Business Summits which bring together business leaders, officials and policy makers.
3. PR and Strategic Communications: IBG provides public relations and strategic communications services to help organizations manage their image and communications in cross-border contexts.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

India Business Group (IBG) is an independent business advisory consultancy that provides expertise, connections and cultural awareness to help organisations develop bilateral trade and investment opportunities between the UK and India markets. Core offerings include market entry and expansion strategies, partnering selection and due diligence, cross-border transactions including JVs and M&A support, project advisory and management, corporate events and delegation visits, and PR and strategic communications. The firm also runs branded platforms such as The Indian Awards ceremony and the UK-India Business Summit.

Product overview

India Business Group (IBG) is a business advisory consultancy, not a software technology company. Its core offering is a suite of consulting services designed to assist organisations with cross-border trade and investment within the UK and India markets. The primary service encompasses market entry strategies, partnering and due diligence, cross-border transactions (JVs and M&A), project advisory, corporate events, and PR and strategic communications. The company also operates branded initiatives including The Indian Awards (an annual awards ceremony celebrating UK-India business and cultural relations) and the UK-India Business Summit. The business model is services-based rather than product-based, with no software, platform, or API offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Indian Awards: Annual awards ceremony celebrating UK-India business, trade, investment and cultural relations, held at prestigious venues including the Houses of Parliament and House of Lords.

Quantifiable outcome

• IBG supported University of Southampton became first Russell Group university to establish branch campus in India
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of SouthamptoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 August 2024IBG provides strategic support to the University of Southampton for establishing a new branch campus in India - making it the first Russell Group university to do so. IBG assists with stakeholder engagement, industry liaison, and fostering business links. The partnership builds on the University of Southampton India Centre established in March 2019.
• Department for Business and TradecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 29 August 2024IBG works closely with the UK Government's Department for Business and Trade, supporting trade missions and providing expertise for UK-India trade relations.
• Sheffield City CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership to explore business opportunities between Sheffield and India, strengthening the city's international trade connections.
• UKREiiFminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023IBG partnered with UKREiiF 2023 (UK Real Estate Investment Forum) for investment-related activities and connections.
• Times Higher EducationcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 December 2022IBG announced as event partner for Times Higher Education India Forum 2023, hosted at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology in Odisha. IBG serves as content partner for this important higher education sector event.
• The Legal 500coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 November 2022IBG continues as Knowledge Partner for The Legal 500's GC Powerlist India, a globally eminent legal directory recognizing top 100 general counsels in India. IBG has supported this initiative since its inception in 2016.
• Odisha FCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 September 2021Historic MOU signed between Odisha Football Club and IBG to cement commercial relationships between India and UK. Partnership aims to create better health, social and economic benefits for Odisha's communities through sport.
• QS IGAUGEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 March 2021IBG CEO Amarjit Singh joined the international advisory board of QS IGAUGE - India's first nationwide education rating system. QS IGAUGE is a subsidiary of UK-based QS Quacquarelli Symonds, a world leader in rankings, ratings and analytics services for higher education.
• Southampton 2025 TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 December 2020Partnership to strengthen Southampton's position as a global trading destination and support the city's bid to become UK City of Culture 2025. IBG helps promote economic benefits, inward investment opportunities, job creation, and the city's diverse cultural heritage.
• David Landsman OBEcoreOthers · 30 July 2020David Landsman OBE, one of world's leading experts on UK-India trade relations, joined IBG as Senior Advisor. Former Executive Director of Tata Limited and key figure at UK India Business Council for seven years.
• World Snooker TourcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 November 2019IBG joined forces with World Snooker to help make snooker a truly global sport, celebrating the 145th anniversary of snooker's invention in India (1875). Partnership focuses on promoting the Indian Open tournament and increasing participation in India.
• England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 May 2019ECB became official partner for IBG's awards and summit in May 2019. Partnership aimed at cementing business and sporting relations between India and Britain, held on eve of ICC Cricket World Cup.
• Hampshire County CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2019Key partner for IBG's inaugural UK-India Business Summit 2019. Hampshire is the most export-intensive county in England and sees the partnership as critical for diversifying export markets and attracting foreign direct investment.
• Belgium / WalloniacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 November 2018High-level meeting organized by IBG in London with Wallonia's economy minister Pierre-Yves Jeholet. Partnership aimed at strengthening trade relations between Belgium and Indian diaspora entrepreneurs in Britain.
• BluPoint LimitedminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 August 2018IBG providing market development support for BluPoint's innovative offline internet solutions in the Indian market. Partnership supports BluPoint's global growth plans with focus on education, healthcare and civic engagement applications.
• The Ageas Bowl / Hampshire CricketcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 March 2018One-year partnership making IBG an official partner of the venue and Hampshire Cricket, coinciding with the Test match between England and India. IBG also became partner for The Indian Awards 2018.
• International Bar Association (IBA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2018IBG collaborated with IBA for their M&A Conference in Mumbai (March 2018), entitled 'Mergers and Acquisitions in India - New opportunities and challenges in a dynamic India'. Conference brought together leading lawyers, bankers and legal practitioners.
• India-Commonwealth SME Trade SummitcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 May 2017IBG appointed as strategic partner for first India-Commonwealth SME Trade Summit held in New Delhi. Summit gathered public and private sector leaders from more than 40 Commonwealth countries to promote trade and investment.
• Catch Your Breath India (CYBI)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 April 2017IBG formed strategic partnership with UK charity Catch Your Breath India, which was chosen as designated charity for The Indian Awards 2017. CYBI helps free children in developing countries from respiratory illnesses caused by pollutants.
• British CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017British Council supported The Indian Awards 2017 as a key partner, helping promote UK-India cultural and educational relations.

Scale indicators7 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Direct peers

• BritishAmerican Business (BAB): The premier bilateral business membership organisation linking UK and US companies. Closely comparable in operating model — events, networking, policy advocacy, senior-level introductions — and a useful comparison point for IBG's corridor specialisation and membership (India Business Club) potential.
• China-Britain Business Council (CBBC): Long-standing bilateral business body facilitating UK-China trade and investment. Operates the same 'corridor + events + advisory' model as IBG, just for a different bilateral, making it a structural analogue for understanding IBG's potential evolution or competitive threats.
• UK India Business Council (UKIBC): UK's primary government-supported bilateral business body promoting UK-India trade and investment. Closest direct peer to IBG in terms of corridor focus and client base, though UKIBC is a larger quasi-governmental body that IBG complements and competes with for advisory mandates.

Broad incumbents

• UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT): UK government department with overall remit for trade promotion, including UK-India. Both a partner (IBG formally works with DBT) and a competitive incumbent: DBT-funded programmes substitute for some advisory mandates IBG would otherwise win, but DBT endorses/referrals into IBG on projects it does not resource internally.
• Grant Thornton UK LLP: Mid-tier professional services firm with a dedicated India Corridor practice offering UK-India cross-border advisory, M&A and tax structuring. Comparable at the higher-value transaction end of IBG's service spectrum but with materially larger headcount and global platform.
• Confederation of British Industry (CBI): UK's principal cross-sector business lobby and membership organisation. Overlaps with IBG on policy advocacy, senior-level convening, and trade-relationship support, though the CBI is broader across all UK business rather than UK-India corridor specific.
• Deloitte LLP (UK India Practice): Big Four advisory firm with substantial India Services practice serving UK clients inbound and outbound India investment. Competes with IBG on cross-border transactions, JVs and M&A, but at a much larger scale and with broader service portfolio.
• KPMG LLP (UK India Practice): Big Four firm with a dedicated UK-India corridor offering tax, advisory, deals and consulting. Direct upstream competitor for IBG on UK-India M&A and market-entry mandates, especially when clients want international audit/tax compliance alongside cross-border advice.

Regional players

• PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry: Leading India-based business chamber with growing UK presence and Indo-UK trade facilitation initiatives. Comparable to IBG on the India-side, particularly around SME trade missions and policy advocacy for the UK-India corridor.
• Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI): India's largest business chamber, with UK liaison activity and a London presence. Mirrors the India-side 'business chamber + policy voice + events' model and is a natural counterpart partner for IBG rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/@_indiagroup
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCZzNXPL41NARguph23oppfQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/The-India-Business-Group/1012748728751498
• LinkedInuk.linkedin.com/pub/amarjit-singh/a/60a/138
• Instagraminstagram.com/theindiabusinessgroup

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

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 India Business Group (IBG)