partnership announced

Today sees a major step forward for all entrepreneurs and small businesses across the country
as the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM), the largest provider of management
and leadership qualifications in Europe, announced it is to form a strategic partnership with
the Small Firms EnterpriseDevelopment Initiative (SFEDI) the UK’s National Occupational
Standards setting and endorsement body for small business owners and those providing
support to them.

Kim Parish, chief executive of ILM said:

“This is an exciting business partnership because both SFEDI and ILM are committed to raising the
standard of learning, training, coaching and business support available to small and home
business owners. With this common aim, it makes sense for us to enter into a partnership which
will eventually lead to all SFEDI licensed centres and centres of excellence also gaining the
opportunity to become ILM centres. As such individuals will not only gain SFEDI certification
but ILM qualifications. We will also work to develop a Membership Academy specifically targeted
at entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Tony Robinson OBE, co-founder and chairman of SFEDI also welcomed the partnership:

”This partnership brings the backing of this leading professional body to SFEDI's network of centres.
SFEDI and ILM have worked together on enterprise development standards, learning and
qualifications for many years but this agreement significantly increases the speed at which we
can bring demand-led learning and support solutions to small and home business owners and
all those who support them. We are working to recognise all our licensed centres as joint
ILM/SFEDI centres by early March. As such joint ILM/SFEDI certificates will be issued to
business support personnel being assessed through these centres which will be a further
endorsement of the quality service we provide'.

-ends-

Further information

Matt Adcock on 020 7294 3054 (office)