Institute of Economic Development (IED) is a UK representative body for

economic development In economics, economic development (or economic and social development) is the process by which the economic well-being and quality of life of a nation, region, local community, or an individual are improved according to targeted goals and object ...

and regeneration professionals. IED was founded in 1986, largely to represent the interests of

local authority Local government is a generic term for the lowest tiers of governance or public administration within a particular sovereign state. Local governments typically constitute a subdivision of a higher-level political or administrative unit, such a ...

economic development officers. The membership organisation is now one of the UK’s leading independent professional bodies representing economic development and regeneration practitioners working for local and regional communities. The IED membership is a valuable network of economic development professionals from both the private and public sectors. It is a

non-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...

run by a Board elected by its membership. Board members are each elected for a three-year term. Details of Board members and branch representatives can be found on the IED website. IED exists to represent the views of its members and the interests of the economic development and regeneration sector more generally. It also sets standards of

professional conduct Professional conduct is the field of regulation of members of professional bodies, either acting under statutory or contractual powers. Historically, professional conduct was wholly undertaken by the private professional bodies, the sole legal a ...

and offers certified

education Education is the transmission of knowledge and skills and the development of character traits. Formal education occurs within a structured institutional framework, such as public schools, following a curriculum. Non-formal education als ...

and

training Training is teaching, or developing in oneself or others, any skills and knowledge or fitness that relate to specific useful competencies. Training has specific goals of improving one's capability, capacity, productivity and performance. I ...

as well as

continuing professional development Professional development, also known as professional education, is learning that leads to or emphasizes education in a specific professional career field or builds practical job applicable skills emphasizing praxis in addition to the transferab ...

. There are four categories of membership: Student, Associate, Full and Fellow. The criteria for each category are published on the IED website and acceptance of all membership application requires the approval of the Board. IED's current Chair is Dawn Hudd, Head of Commercial and Economic Development at Maidstone Borough Council and its Vice Chair is Mark Pearson, Chief Executive of Surrey Connects. Copies of IED responses to government consultations and other submissions to government are published on the IED website. This also contains other information that may be of interest to those employed in economic development/regeneration or considering a career in the sector. IED also publishes a Directory of Consultants and regular e-bulletins, both of which are freely available.

External links

* http://www.ied.co.uk {{DEFAULTSORT:Institute Of Economic Development Professional associations based in the United Kingdom