Leeds Met opens doors to Institute of Directors as organisation relocates office

The branch will be permanently based at Old Broadcasting House from Monday, September 1.

It is currently based at No.1 Leeds on Whitehall Road.

Leeds Metropolitan University has worked in partnership with the IoD since 1991 when the university became the regional providers of the IoD Company Direction programme: a course aimed at developing company directors, entrepreneurs and aspiring board members.

The move will allow the programme and many of the IoD’s events to take place all within the same place. A business lounge will also be available to IoD members.

Professor Andrew Slade, deputy vice chancellor of Leeds Metropolitan University, said: “The IoD coming to Old Broadcasting House at Leeds Metropolitan University reinforces the strong relationship between our university and the Institute. Old Broadcasting House lies right at the crossroads between our university and the commercial heart of Leeds and is ideally suited for the collaboration between the economic powerhouse and the innovation drivers of both universities in Leeds city centre.”

Natalie Sykes, IoD regional director for Yorkshire & the Humber, added: “This will be the first time since the inception of our partnership with LMU that our hub, regional office and the delivery of our renowned Company Direction Programme will all be in the same location. We see this as an affirmation of our on-going commitment to developing exceptional directors throughout our region, and for those that wish to pursue it, onwards to the IoD’s Chartered Director qualification.”

The new office will be officially opened on October 21 by Simon Walker, director general of the IoD, and deputy chairman, Nimble Thompson.