Institute of Business Ethics

What Institute of Business Ethics does

The Institute of Business Ethics (IBE) is a UK-based non-profit organization founded in 1986 and registered as a charity (no. 1180741) and company limited by guarantee (no. 11594672), headquartered in London. Its mission is to champion ethical behaviour in business by providing space and guidance for organizations and leaders to translate values into action across leadership, culture, and decision-making. The organization employs 11–50 staff and celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2026.

IBE's core offerings center on the proprietary Integrity and Business Ethics Framework (IBEF), an 8-element methodology for embedding ethics across organizational life, supplemented by leadership development and bespoke training, advisory services, benchmarking, and seven specialized peer networks (Business Ethics Leaders, Professional Associations, Academic Network, Public Institutions, Board and Chairs, Future Leaders, and a Legal Taskforce). It also publishes an extensive research library, including the international Ethics at Work Survey (covering 12,000 employees across 16 countries) and FTSE 350 Codes of Ethics benchmarking reports. Output is advisory and educational rather than software-based; no proprietary technology platform or AI product was identified.

The revenue model is supporter-driven: recurring corporate, public-institution/professional-body, and individual memberships; fees from training, events, and webinars (paid via SagePay, direct debit, or invoice); and select paid publications, alongside free Knowledge Hub content. Distribution is primarily through the website, Knowledge Hub, peer-network membership, and direct engagement with supporters. Governance is led by CEO Lauren Branston, with Flora Page KC as Chair of the Board of Trustees since 2 July 2025 and Dr Ian Peters MBE serving as a Director.

Name

Institute of Business Ethics

Legal name

Institute of Business Ethics

Website

https://ibe.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Institute of Business Ethics is a London-based non-profit founded in 1986 that provides research, advisory services, training, and seven specialized peer networks to help organizations and leaders embed ethics into leadership, culture, and decision-making.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Ethics Advisory

NAICS

Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Ethics, Integrity & Whistleblowing Program Advisory (BPAHAFAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Code of Conduct & Business Ethics (EDABADAB), Compliance, Ethics & Regulatory Training (EDAGANAD), Fraud Risk Management & Anti-Bribery/Anti-Corruption (ABAC) (BPAHAFAL), Regulatory Readiness & Audit Automation (e.g., EU AI Act, NIST AI RMF, ISO/IEC 42001) (HDAAAMAE)

Keywords

• Business ethics advisory
• Corporate governance consulting
• Ethics training services
• Compliance research publications
• Speak up culture guidance

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. Supporter Memberships and Donations: IBE operates as a registered charity (no. 1180741) and company limited by guarantee, generating revenue through supporter memberships and donations. Organizations and individuals become supporters to access the IBE's mission, expertise, practical tools, and peer network.
2. Training and Event Fees: IBE offers courses, discussions, seminars, and online events with associated fees. Payment is accepted via SagePay, direct debit, or selected credit/debit cards. Invoice options are available. Events include annual lectures, webinars, and training programs.
3. Publications: Some publications are free to download via the Knowledge Hub, while others are available for purchase through the shop as digital downloads requiring upfront payment via SagePay or invoice.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Institute of Business Ethics provides research, advisory services, training, and peer networks to help organizations embed ethics into leadership, culture, and decision-making. Its core product is the Integrity and Business Ethics Framework (IBEF), a structured 8-element approach to organizational ethics, supported by bespoke advisory, benchmarking, leadership development training, and a portfolio of specialist peer networks.

Product overview

The Institute of Business Ethics (IBE) is a non-profit organization that provides research, guidance, and professional networks to help organizations embed ethics in leadership, culture, and decision-making. The core offering consists of the Integrity and Business Ethics Framework (IBEF) — a structured eight-element approach to organizational ethics — supplemented by Leadership & Advisory services, Peer Networks, Knowledge Hub publications, Events, and specialized guidance on speak-up cultures and codes of ethics. The IBE's products are advisory, educational, and research-based rather than software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Integrity and Business Ethics Framework (IBEF): A structured approach to embedding ethics across all aspects of organisational life, comprising 8 elements from leadership and governance to integration and systems thinking.

Products and services

• Integrity and Business Ethics Framework (IBEF) Structured framework providing a systematic approach to embedding ethics across all aspects of organizational life, covering eight elements from leadership and governance to measurement and systems thinking. Used by organizations to build and review their ethics programs.
• Leadership & Advisory Services Provides leadership development, bespoke training, advisory services, and benchmarking to help organizations strengthen their ethical culture. Targeted at corporate supporters, public institutions, professional bodies, and individual leaders.
• Peer Networks Collaborative communities including Business Ethics Leaders, Professional Associations, Academic Network, Public Institutions, Board and Chairs, Future Leaders, and Legal Taskforce for knowledge sharing and best practices among ethics professionals.
• Knowledge Hub / Research Publications Repository of research publications, surveys, frameworks, and guidance materials on business ethics topics including codes of ethics, speak-up cultures, and AI ethics. Most publications are free to download; some are sold via the shop.
• Events Annual lectures, webinars, and training sessions on business ethics topics featuring academic experts and industry practitioners. Includes the 2026 Annual Lecture with Professor Guido Palazzo.
• Ethics at Work Survey International survey of employees examining workplace ethics, speak-up cultures, and misconduct reporting patterns across 16 countries, with the 2024 edition covering 12,000 employees.
• Speak Up Guidance Practical guides for organizations and individuals on effective speak-up frameworks, including checklists and step-by-step guidance for raising concerns.

Quantifiable outcome

• The 2024 Ethics at Work Survey found that one in three employees who knew about misconduct did not report it, with fear of retaliation (34%) and concerns that corrective action would not be taken (34%) being primary deterrents.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ActeoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint study with Acteon exploring the human and cultural dimensions of responsible AI use, examining behavioral aspects of the ethical use of Generative AI in organizations.
• Grant Thornton UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the 2025 Corporate Governance Review, with Claire Fargeot of Grant Thornton sharing insights on board ethics, AI, and internal controls for IBE knowledge resources.
• WhistleblowersUKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting Whistleblowing Awareness Month 2026, with Flora Page KC delivering keynote speech on whistleblowing law reform and the importance of speak-up cultures.
• Financial Reporting Council (FRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBE supports FRC's guidance for the UK Corporate Governance Code 2024, providing guidance for board members on developing an ethical business culture.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN): Global investor-led body promoting corporate governance standards — comparable in publishing governance codes and convening board-level networks, similar to IBE's Board and Chairs and governance reform work.
• Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland: Professional body for company secretaries and governance professionals offering ethics and board-effectiveness guidance — overlaps with IBE's Board and Chairs network and corporate governance remit.
• WhistleblowersUK: UK campaign and advocacy body supporting whistleblowers and speak-up reform — a known IBE partner with overlapping speak-up research and policy goals.

Direct peers

• Transparency International: Global coalition producing the Corruption Perceptions Index and anti-corruption advisory work — closely comparable to IBE's ethics and anti-corruption remit, especially the Legal Taskforce's kleptocracy work.
• Ethics & Compliance Initiative (ECI): US-based non-profit that runs the Global Business Ethics Survey and develops ethics program maturity frameworks — directly comparable to IBE's survey research and advisory role, just US-anchored.
• BSR (Business for Social Responsibility): Global non-profit advisory network helping businesses integrate ethics, sustainability, and human rights — comparable in mission, multi-stakeholder network structure, and advisory services to IBE.
• Ethisphere Institute: Publishes the World's Most Ethical Companies rankings and ethics & compliance benchmarks — overlapping with IBE's research, benchmarking, and corporate recognition offerings.

Regional players

• The Ethics Centre: Australia-based independent non-profit promoting ethical leadership through advisory, training, and an ethics helpline — same model as IBE but serving the Australian/APAC market.

Broad incumbents

• LRN Corporation: Provider of ethics & compliance training, advisory, and culture measurement to global enterprises — overlaps with IBE's training and benchmarking offerings but at much larger commercial scale.
• NAVEX Global: Leading software platform for ethics & compliance, whistleblower hotlines, and policy management — addresses the same problems IBE advises on but via integrated SaaS rather than advisory content.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institute-of-business-ethics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Institute of Business Ethics