The Institute for Turnaround

What The Institute for Turnaround does

The Institute for Turnaround (IFT) is the UK's leading membership organization for business turnaround and transformation professionals, headquartered in London and founded in 2000. Its primary members are turnaround and transformation professionals — including advisers, lenders, investors, lawyers, and corporate recovery specialists — who serve UK businesses experiencing stress, decline or failure. The IFT accredits these professionals through tiered categories (Fellow, Fully Accredited Member, Associate, Specialist), provides training through the IFT Academy (CPD Standards Office accredited), publishes the Swift quarterly magazine and an annual Societal Impact Report, tracks UK distressed-company activity via Quarterly Updates, and convenes regional/national conferences and the independently judged Annual Awards. The organization also provides the secretariat for the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Turnaround and Business Improvement, established in March 2026.

The IFT generates revenue through membership fees across its four tiers, ticket sales for events (notably the Annual Awards Dinner at the InterContinental Park Lane, with Tables of 10 priced £3,950–£4,250 and single tickets £320–£465 excluding VAT), the IFT Academy training programme, and corporate partner contributions from a roster of over 25 organizations including PwC, KPMG, Grant Thornton, BDO, Teneo, DLA Piper, FTI Consulting, Kroll, AlixPartners, Lloyds Banking Group and NatWest. There is no proprietary technology platform; the underlying "product" is a credentialed community, accreditation framework, events calendar and a UK corporate-partner ecosystem — measured in member outcomes of approximately 60,000 jobs safeguarded and £2.8 billion in shareholder value added in 2024-25. Distribution is entirely UK-domestic, executed through direct membership sales, event ticketing, the Find an Expert directory, and LinkedIn/X social channels.

Name

The Institute for Turnaround

Legal name

The Institute for Turnaround

Website

https://the-ift.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Institute for Turnaround (IFT) is a UK membership organization founded in 2000 that accredits turnaround and transformation professionals through tiered memberships, runs the IFT Academy training programme, publishes industry research, and convenes conferences and the IFT Annual Awards for the UK corporate rescue community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Turnaround Management Services

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (541690)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Restructuring & Turnaround Advisory (BPAHAOAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Turnaround, Restructuring & Crisis Management Consulting (BPAHACAO), Insolvency & Turnaround Advisory (SME/Mid-Market Debtor-Side) (FSAEAFAK), Change Management for Operations Transformations (EDABAKAM)

Keywords

• Turnaround management
• Business transformation
• Corporate restructuring
• Insolvency advisory
• Distressed company recovery

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: The IFT generates revenue through various membership tiers including Fully Accredited IFT Membership, Associates, Specialists, and Fellows. Members pay for access to events, conferences, networking opportunities, publications, and the IFT member logo usage.
2. Event and conference attendance: Revenue from regional conferences, national conferences, and the prestigious annual awards dinner. Ticket sales for events including Table of 10 (£3950-4250) and Single Tickets (£320-465).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Institute for Turnaround (IFT) is the UK's leading membership organization for turnaround and transformation professionals. It accredits individual practitioners (Fellows, Fully Accredited Members, Associates, Specialists), delivers training through the IFT Academy, publishes research and quarterly updates (Swift magazine, Societal Impact Reports), and runs the IFT Annual Awards alongside regional and national events connecting advisers, lenders, investors, and lawyers serving financially distressed UK companies.

Product overview

The Institute for Turnaround (IFT) is a membership organization offering a portfolio of professional services rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include: the IFT Academy, an accredited modular training programme for developing turnaround professionals; Swift, a quarterly publication featuring member insights; and annual Societal Impact Reports and quarterly updates providing research on UK turnaround activity. Additional services include a Find an Expert directory, national and regional events including an Annual Awards programme, the APPG for Turnaround and Business Improvement parliamentary engagement initiative, and tiered membership accreditation (Fellow, Member, Associate, Specialist). The organization connects turnaround professionals through events, publications, and networking rather than offering a technology platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IFT Academy: An accredited annual modular training programme designed to develop the next generation of leaders in the turnaround, transformation and restructuring community.
• IFT Members Portal
• Swift

Products and services

• IFT Membership Programme Accredited membership tiers for turnaround and transformation professionals including advisers, lenders, investors, and lawyers, providing website profiles, event access, discounts, networking opportunities, publications, and the IFT member logo.
• IFT Academy An accredited annual modular training programme developing the next generation of turnaround leaders, delivered through in-person sessions and led by IFT Fellow Shaun O'Callaghan and independent member Andrew Dixon.
• IFT Annual Awards The UK's premier independently judged turnaround awards ceremony celebrating skilled turnaround and transformation professionals, firms, and company transformation success stories across categories including Adviser, Legal Adviser, Rising Star, and company-size awards.
• National and Regional Events An extensive programme of national and regional events focusing on important issues in turnaround and transformation, including the IFT Funding Conference and IFT Next Conference held in London.
• Find an Expert Directory A searchable online directory of IFT accredited turnaround experts and transformation professionals that businesses can use to source professional assistance for distressed or transforming companies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 59,562 jobs safeguarded in 2024-25 by IFT members' turnaround expertise
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• BDO LLPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the key corporate partners providing turnaround and transformation services. BDO won Community Impact Turnaround of the Year at IFT Awards 2023 for HCT Group turnaround.
• PwCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK's largest Business Recovery Services practice with nearly 1000 staff in 24 offices. Won Large Company Turnaround of the Year at IFT Awards 2023 for Travelex turnaround.
• KPMGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor professional services firm and corporate partner of IFT providing turnaround advisory services.
• Grant ThorntoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner led by Shaun O'Callaghan, IFT Fellow and UK Head of Restructuring and Debt Advisory. Provides training for IFT Academy programme.
• TeneocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal CEO advisory firm with over 1600 employees in 40+ offices. IFT members include Chris Edwards, Clare Boardman, Diana Torres, Fiona Kaufman, John Berry, Jonathan Lees, and Sandy Duncan.
• DLA PipercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWon Legal Adviser of the Year at IFT Awards 2023 for work on Part 26A Restructuring Plans.
• FRP AdvisorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner providing company distress data for IFT quarterly updates. Specializes in restructuring and advisory services.
• AlixPartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal advisory firm and corporate partner of IFT.
• BTGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner providing turnaround expertise.
• CredebtcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent partner for IFT Annual Awards 2026 at InterContinental Park Lane.
• FTI ConsultingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal advisory firm and corporate partner.
• GallaghercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner providing insurance and risk management services.
• Gateley LegalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegal services firm and corporate partner.
• HCR LawcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaw firm and corporate partner.
• Katten Muchin Rosenman UK LLPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaw firm and corporate partner.
• KingsgatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner providing advisory services.
• KrollcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRisk and financial advisory firm and corporate partner.
• MacfarlanescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent law firm and corporate partner.
• Playfair PartnershipscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate partner.
• S&W (Evelyn)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK's leading integrated wealth management and professional services group with specialist Advisory Consulting team. IFT members include Chris Marsden, Claire Burden, Kevin Ley, Lynne Blakey, and Pranav Nadkarni.
• SEC NewgatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal strategic communications, crisis and advocacy firm. IFT member is Robin Tozer.
• Sullivan & CromwellcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational law firm with over 875 lawyers. IFT member is Georgina Thorpe.
• Swan PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommercial finance consultancy empowering businesses undergoing change with hands-on approach to restructurings.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• INSOL International: Global federation of insolvency and restructuring professionals with national member associations. Comparable to IFT in mission (accreditation, policy, events) but with a broader international footprint.
• R3 (Association of Business Recovery Professionals): The UK trade body for insolvency, restructuring, and turnaround professionals. R3 is the closest UK peer, with overlapping membership (Big Four restructuring partners), policy advocacy, and annual awards.
• Turnaround Management Association (TMA): The global membership association for turnaround and restructuring professionals, offering accreditation, awards (TMA Turnaround of the Year), and chapters analogous to IFT's UK offering. TMA is the most directly comparable international peer.
• RISA (Restructuring & Insolvency Specialists Association): UK-focused association for restructuring and insolvency specialists. Operates in the same niche as IFT with overlapping member firms (e.g., FRP Advisory) and competing events and training.

Others

• AlixPartners: Global turnaround and restructuring advisory firm that is both an IFT corporate partner and a major practitioner of the profession IFT represents. Not a direct peer as a membership body, but adjacent and influential in the same ecosystem.
• Teneo: Global CEO advisory firm with a major restructuring practice and multiple IFT members on staff. Functions as both a corporate partner and a competing practitioner; included as an ecosystem participant that materially shapes the IFT landscape.

Broad incumbents

• ICAEW (Restructuring community): Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which runs a restructuring and insolvency community and qualification routes. Much broader scope than IFT, but overlapping membership and competing for accreditation mindshare.
• ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants): Global accountancy body with restructuring, insolvency, and finance credentials. A broad incumbent that competes for the same professionals seeking restructuring credentials and CPD content.
• JRestructuring (a service of the American Bankruptcy Institute): US-based insolvency and restructuring membership organization with education and events. Comparable mission but US-centric and broader than turnaround specifically.

Regional players

• European Restructuring & Insolvency Practitioners Association (EIPA / APEEA): European-level restructuring and insolvency practitioners association. Comparable in mission but operates pan-European rather than UK-domestic, making it a regional counterpart rather than head-to-head competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/the_ift
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-ift

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 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 The Institute for Turnaround